Research Position at the Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology is one of the oldest institutions at Stockholm University and has a long history of fundamental and applied animal research, from invertebrates to large mammals.

The department constitutes a dynamic research environment and consists of approximately 80 employees, including professors, researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff. There are several research groups working on evolution and behavior, as well as population genetics and evolutionary genomics. More information about us can be found at: https://www.su.se/zoologi/ (https://www.su.se/zoologi/).

Project Description

The Department of Zoology is seeking a researcher to conduct behavioral experiments and data analyses. The position is linked to an ongoing project investigating the impact of ecology and genetics on sexual conflicts in Drosophila melanogaster. The project is funded by research grants from the Swedish Research Council awarded to Axel Wiberg.

Sexual selection and sexual conflicts are fascinating processes in evolutionary biology that drive the diversification of many traits and organisms. However, they do not act in isolation. There is a growing interest in how ecological and environmental variables affect sexual conflicts in natural populations. For example, in D. melanogaster, it has been shown that the effects of male damage on females depend on, among other factors, the temperature at the time of mating. Furthermore, we have recently shown that co-evolution between the male and female components of the “sex-peptide” network affects the outcomes of mating interactions in laboratory conditions. If interactions between genes and the environment are common in sexual conflicts, we expect that populations should be adapted to the local social (gender conflicts) and ecological (climatic, e.g., temperature) conditions. To test this expectation, we will conduct “common-garden” experiments with wild D. melanogaster to investigate how interactions between genetic covariation within the SP network and temperature affect the outcomes of mating interactions.

More background on the project can be found in the following publication: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.686516v1 (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.04.686516v1).

Responsibilities

The researcher will collaborate with the group leader to plan and conduct behavioral experiments with Drosophila melanogaster and perform PCR amplification and amplicon sequencing of selected genes. Additionally, the researcher will lead analyses and publication of data from the experiments.

Eligibility Requirements

A researcher is primarily employed for research and must hold a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree.

Assessment Criteria

In the appointment process, special emphasis will be placed on scientific competence. The researcher should have:

• Previous experience with mating and behavioral experiments with Drosophila.
• Previous experience in DNA extraction and PCR amplification.
• Strong skills in statistical analyses of experimental data.
• A strong background in the themes of sexual selection and sexual conflicts.
• Documented and strong skills in communicating in English (both written and spoken).

About the Position

The position is full-time and is limited to a maximum of 9 months. Start date is 2026-06-01.

We Offer

With us, you will experience the dynamics of the interplay between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You will work in an international setting and receive favorable conditions. The university is located in the National City Park with good connections to the city.

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

Contact

Inquiries about the position can be made to Axel Wiberg, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Application

You apply for the position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the requested documents in the application form. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete and that it reaches the university by the application deadline.

Instructions for applicants can be found on the website: 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).

Stockholm University contributes to the development of a sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment, and the pursuit of truth.