PhD Candidate in 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 evolutionary biology, molecular and population genetics, genomics, conservation biology, and behavioral science. More information about us can be found at: https://www.su.se/zoologi/ (https://www.su.se/zoologi/).

Research Subject

Our research focuses on the role of social learning in sexual selection and speciation processes. More specifically, we are interested in the complex song of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Central questions concern how and why songs vary among individuals, populations, and species, and what consequences this variation has for mating, population differentiation, and interactions between species. We combine acoustic analyses and deep learning with experiments in the field and captivity, as well as neurogenomics. See https://wheatcroftlab.com/ (https://wheatcroftlab.com/) for more information.

Possible Research Questions Include:

• variation in song among individuals, populations, and species, and how this variation relates to behavioral responses
• cultural evolution of song within and between populations
• consequences of cultural evolution for genetic differentiation between populations
• how experience and genetics drive variation in response to song.

Eligibility Requirements

To be admitted to PhD education, the applicant must have basic and specific eligibility. The eligibility must be fulfilled at the beginning of the employment.

You have basic eligibility if you have completed a degree at the advanced level, or fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (hp), of which at least 60 hp at the advanced level, or otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge within or outside the country.

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

Selection

Selection among applicants is 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
• collaborative skills
• ability to express oneself verbally and in writing in English.

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

About the Position

We offer a fixed-term 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 also include limited work with teaching, 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 provides equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information is provided by David Wheatcroft, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Application

You apply for the PhD position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the requested documents in the application form. You, as the applicant, are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it reaches the university no later than the last application date.

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

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