Currently open positions at SFEG
Open positions
DOCTORAL STUDENT
in arctic community ecology for a fixed term of four years.
The position is part of Project VEGA: Vegetation dynamics of the Arctic, and the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/spatial-food-web-ecology). The successful applicant will be part of the Research Centre for Ecological Change https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/research-centre-for-ecological...) at the University of Helsinki.
The project, to be initiated in September 2019, aims to apply recent conceptual frameworks in community ecology to Arctic vegetation dynamics. By partitioning impacts on community structure into the four basic processes of selection, drift, speciation and dispersal, the doctoral student is expected to contribute to a novel synthesis of Arctic community dynamics. The project combines laboratory and field experiments with recent molecular techniques, and draws on joint species distribution modelling for uniting patterns and processes.
The PhD project will be broadly set, combining elements of phylogeographic reconstruction, comparisons of trans-arctic dispersal routes for plants and their associated taxa (see e.g. Tiusanen et al. 2019. Molecular Ecology doi.org/10.1111/mec.14932), experimental assessments of dispersal through time (via the seedbank), and experiments aimed at quantifying competition or facilitation. We provide extant links to arctic field sites (through the INTERACT network, https://eu-interact.org/), data from pilot sampling, and access to all relevant facilities.
To these aims, we are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in community ecology, and who is actively pursuing an academic career in ecology. As no applicant can be expected to master all elements from before, we put prime emphasis on documented enthusiasm towards scientific research, good numerical, writing and presentation skills, and an eagerness to learn. Meriting, but not required, are skills in empirical ecology, as is experience with data generated by DNA barcoding and with statistical analysis. (Whether this past experience relates to plants, animals or microbes does not matter.)
The candidate is expected to be capable and willing to take initiative and work independently as well as in a team. Extensive and sometimes demanding field periods away from home are to be expected, as are repetitive experiments under both laboratory and field conditions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the ability to think independently and creatively are required.
As a team, we collaborate extensively with research groups at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark), and University of Montana (USA), among others, and with research stations across the Arctic. The Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group itself is composed of twin teams in Helsinki, Finland, and Uppsala, Sweden. Altogether, the group consists of a dozen fellow researches and has a decade-long experience on working with Arctic ecosystems, as well as the necessary personnel and contacts to help with the practical, statistical and molecular aspect of the work. The group sustains several activities stimulating interchange of ideas, efficient supervision and peer support, and is used to both the vagaries of the Arctic climate and to applying DNA-based methods to ecological questions. Thus, the group offers a strong platform for the thesis in terms of logistics, experience and supervision.
During the thesis work the candidate will belong to one of the doctoral programmes (e.g. Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology Research; Finnish acronym LUOVA, https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/doctoral-schools-...) of the Doctoral School in Environmental, Food and Biological Sciences (Finnish acronym YEB, https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/doctoral-schools-...). The doctoral school and the doctoral programmes will provide support through the doctoral studies (40 ETCs) and offer useful courses in e.g. statistics, science communication, leadership and project management.
The starting date is flexible, with the optimal date being September 1, 2019.
The salary for the doctoral candidate position is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee shall be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. Depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience, the salary is ca EUR 2200–3050 per month (starting salary EUR 2200-2400). The appointment starts with a probationary period of six months.
Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply link. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application via the SAP HR portal.
Please attach the following documents as a single pdf file: your CV with publications included and a letter (max 2 pages) with a description of your research interests and career plans and, in particular, why you would be a suitable candidate for the project. The application letter should also contain possible starting dates and contact information of two persons who can provide a reference letter based on request.
The deadline for submitting the application is July 3, 2018.
For more information, please contact Prof Tomas Roslin by email: tomas.roslin(at)helsinki.fi
In case you need support with the recruitment system, please contact recruitment(at)helsinki.fi.
Due date
03.07.2019 23:59 EEST
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
in arctic community ecology for a fixed term of two years.
The position is part of Project VEGA: Vegetation dynamics of the Arctic, and the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/spatial-food-web-ecology). The successful applicant will be part of the Research Centre for Ecological Change (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/research-centre-for-ecological...) at the University of Helsinki.
The project, to be initiated in September 2019, aims to apply recent conceptual frameworks in community ecology to Arctic vegetation dynamics. By partitioning impacts on community structure into the four basic processes of selection, drift, speciation and dispersal, the post doctoral researcher is expected to promote a novel synthesis of Arctic community dynamics. The project combines field experiments, large-scale surveys and the most recent molecular techniques with joint species distribution modelling, thereby uniting patterns and processes.
Importantly, much of the post doctoral project will be built on coordinating distributed experiments implemented across the research stations of the Arctic, thus generating global synergies from point efforts. For longer-term deliverables, we aim to establish long-term experiments yielding insights well beyond the funding period. At the same time, the post doctoral project will be structured to provide the faster deliverables needed for a scientific career. We provide extant links to arctic research stations, data from pilot sampling, and access to all relevant facilities.
To these aims, we are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in community ecology, and who is actively pursuing an academic career in ecology. The successful candidate has a solid interest in both theory and statistical methods in community ecology and wants to apply these skills to explore real world problems. Meriting, but not required, is experience with data generated by DNA metabarcoding or metagenomics. Applicants should have PhD / postdoctoral experience within the fields of community ecology, and a strong interest in working with natural plant communities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and the ability to think independently and creatively are required. The candidate must demonstrate ability to take initiative and work independently as well as in a team.
As a team, we collaborate extensively with research groups at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University (Denmark), and University of Montana (USA), among others, and with research stations across the Arctic. The Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group itself is composed of twin teams in Helsinki, Finland, and Uppsala, Sweden. Altogether, the group consists of a dozen fellow researches and has a decade-long experience on working with Arctic ecosystems, as well as the necessary personnel and contacts to help with the practical, statistical and molecular aspect of the work. The group sustains several activities stimulating interchange of ideas, efficient supervision and peer support, and is used to both the vagaries of the Arctic climate and to applying DNA-based methods to ecological questions. Thus, the group offers a strong platform for the proposed research in terms of logistics, experience and backup.
The starting date is flexible, with the optimal date being January 1, 2020.
The salary of the successful candidate will be based on level 5–6 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The starting salary will be ca. 3300–3800 euros/month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The appointment starts with a probationary period of six months.
Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply link. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application via the SAP HR portal.
Please attach the following documents as a single pdf file: your CV with publications included and a letter (max 2 pages) with a description of your research interests and, in particular, why you would be a suitable candidate for the project. The application letter should also contain possible starting dates and contact information of two persons who can provide a reference letter based on request.
The deadline for submitting the application is July 3, 2018.
For more information, please contact Prof Tomas Roslin by email: tomas.roslin(at)helsinki.fi.
In case you need support with the recruitment system, please contact recruitment(at)helsinki.fi.
Due date
03.07.2019 23:59 EEST
Microclimatic impacts on Arctic biodiversity
Description:
Over the next few decades, the climate of the Arctic is predicted to change faster than for any other biome. Thus, we need to explore how arctic landscapes are currently warming, and how species distributions are likely to shift with a changing climate. We study the impact of anthropogenic warming on microclimatic conditions within Arctic landscapes, and dissect the consequences for the most diverse component of Arctic biodiversity, the arthropods. We then use this new understanding to develop scenarios of future ecosystem change.
The PhD-student will engage in extensive, field-based sampling combined with molecular tools to generate high-quality data on the distribution of Arctic species, and microclimatic modelling to generate high-quality data on the Arctic microclimate. The project aims at mapping current Arctic climatic variation at multiple scales, at establishing the relationship between current microclimate and biodiversity, at projecting future changes in microclimatic conditions, and at determining how the latter will affect future biodiversity distribution at multiple spatial levels.
The successful candidate will enter a research team with thorough experience on arctic ecology in general and arctic arthropods in particular (www.slu.se/en/cv/tomas-roslin), set in a strong international network of researchers on climate and arctic biodiversity. Much of our work is based on using molecular tools to describing arthropod communities and ecological interaction networks.
Qualifications:
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in community ecology, and who is actively pursuing an academic career in ecology. The right candidate has a solid interest in ecology, holds good numerical skills, and wants to apply these skills to explore real world problems. To qualify you need an MSc degree, equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits in ecology, biology, environmental sciences, geophysical sciences or similar fields. Written and oral proficiency in English is required. Meriting, but not required, are skills in empirical ecology, as is experience with data generated by DNA barcoding and with statistical analysis. The candidate is expected to be capable and willing to take initiative and work independently as well as in a team. Extensive and sometimes demanding field periods away from home, and a working visit to the University of Exeter, UK, are to be expected.
The selection among the eligible applicants will be based on their past performance and recommendations, their ability to collaborate, as well as their creativity, initiative, and independence. Particular emphasis will be placed on your written motivation, which should outline your research interests and expectations for the project, and describe what makes you a motivated and suitable candidate for pursuing a PhD program in general and for this position in particular.
Place of work:
Uppsala, Sweden.
Forms for funding or employment:
Fixed-time employment (4 years)
Starting date:
By agreement.
Application:
We welcome your application no later than 30 June 2019. Apply here:
https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I017/1114/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=8...
Applications must be written in English and contain (i) a statement of scientific interests and motivation for applying to this position (max 8000 characters including spaces), (ii) Curriculum Vitae including a complete publication list, (iii) contact information to at least two reference persons, and (iv) certified copies of previous university degrees and transcripts of completed courses.
A person has basic eligibility for third cycle education if he or she has taken a second cycle qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second cycle education. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.
Please observe that applicant/s called for an interview shall hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or university college) and transcripts in connection to the interview. If the applicant is a foreign citizen we require a certified copy of the page in your passport with your personal data and photography.
Read more about PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/
Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources. The university ranks well internationally within its subject areas. SLU is a research-intensive university that also offers unique degree programmes in for example rural development and natural resource management, environmental economics, animal science and landscape architecture.
SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.
SLU is an equal opportunity employer.
Contact person
Tomas Roslin
Professor
+46 18 672 383