Vacant job

Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology is one of the departments at the Faculty of Science and has approximately 80 employees, including researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff.

Research and education at the department take place in an international environment and focus on animal biology. Outstanding and high-quality research is conducted in a range of subjects, including animal behavior, evolutionary biology, ecology, genomics, and conservation biology. More information about us can be found at: Department of Zoology (https://www.su.se/enheter/zoologiska-institutionen).

PhD Research Subject

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student for an international research project led by Professor John Fitzpatrick that investigates sexual selection in females. Few studies have examined how sexual selection operates on female sexual ornaments, and this project aims to fill this knowledge gap using a unique model system: the pygmy halfbeak (Dermogenys collettei).

The females of halfbeaks have a striking sexual ornament – an orange belly spot, the so-called “gravid spot” – that males use in mate choice. We can experimentally manipulate the females' gravid spot, providing an exceptional opportunity to test central evolutionary hypotheses. The PhD project will combine laboratory experiments, fieldwork in Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Singapore), and AI-assisted behavior tracking to investigate the costs, benefits, and ecological drivers behind female sexual ornaments in halfbeaks.

The PhD student will play a leading role in experimental work, data collection, and quantitative analyses, as well as contribute to international fieldwork and collaborations. The project integrates evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and sensory ecology and employs advanced methods for automated tracking and phenotypic manipulation.

This PhD position offers broad training in experimental design, animal behavior, evolutionary theory, advanced data analysis, and scientific writing. The training and work will take place in a resource-rich research environment and within an internationally active research network. More information about our research and laboratory environment can be found here: laboratory environment (https://www.su.se/english/profiles/j/jfrit).

Eligibility Requirements

To be admitted to the doctoral program, the applicant must have basic and specific eligibility. The eligibility must be fulfilled by the application deadline.

Basic eligibility is met if you have completed a degree at the advanced level, or completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (hp), of which at least 60 hp at the advanced level, or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.

For specific eligibility to be admitted to doctoral education in zoology, the applicant must have passed courses totaling at least 120 hp in biology, or equivalent, and have completed an independent project in biology, or equivalent, of at least 30 hp at the advanced level with a passing grade. Exceptions to specific eligibility may be made.

Selection

Selection among applicants will be made with regard to the ability to benefit from doctoral education. Criteria used to assess this ability include:

• documented knowledge in animal behavior and evolutionary biology
• analytical and creative thinking
• initiative
• independence
• collaboration skills
• ability to express yourself in spoken and written English
• experience in fieldwork is an advantage but not a requirement.

Admission Regulations (https://medarbetare.su.se/vart-su/styrning/regelboken/utbildning/antagningsordning-for-utbildning-pa-forskarniva)

About the Position

We offer a temporary position as a PhD student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a PhD student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral education, but the position may include limited work with education, research, and administration (maximum 20%).

A new PhD position is valid for a maximum of one year, and the position is renewed thereafter for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free from discrimination and providing equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information can be obtained from John Fitzpatrick, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Application

You apply for the PhD position through Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the documents requested in the application form. As the applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted to the university by the application deadline.

Instructions for applicants can be found on the webpage: Instructions for Applicants (https://www.su.se/om-universitetet/jobba-p%C3%A5-su/att-s%C3%B6ka-en-anst%C3%A4llning).

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