Job announcement
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Stockholm University and Swedish Museum of Natural History, Dep.of Zoology

application deadline: February 15, 2010
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http://www.zoologi.su.se/en/Betreff: Graduate Position: StockholmU.SystematicZoology
Datum: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:27:03 -0500 (EST)
Von: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca
Antwort an: brian@helix.biology.mcmaster.ca
An: Sabine.Giessler@lrz.uni-muenchen.de



Ref nr 2/10JB

Announcing a PhD position in Systematics and Evolution, at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University and placed at the Entomology Department, Swedish Museum of Natural History.

Project description: “Taxonomy och phylogeny of Parasitengona mites”
The often bright red terrestrial Parasitengona mites live on the ground and in litter, often close to water, as predators and (as larvae) parasites on other arthropods. Only 29 species are known from Sweden but comparison with neighbouring countries indicates that the true fauna is substantially larger maybe up to 100 species. With support from the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative the main aim of the project is to explore the Swedish species of this poorly known group of mites in three steps:

I) Inventories in the field, identification, taxonomic description of new species.
II) Use DNA to connect the parasitic larval stage and the free-living adult stage and thereby solve some of the problems of a double classification in the group; many species are described only as larvae or adults why different names can refer to the same species.
III) Infer the deeper phylogenetic relationships in the group including the water mites, and this is done on a world basis.

It will include molecular labwork with DNA extractions sequencing and analyzing genetic data to reveal the evolutionary relationships between different terrestrial and aquatic families. Studies will be based on both already collected material in various projects, museum collections and on newly collected material in the field. Collecting and collaboration with (and training by) foreign experts will require some travelling.

Qualifications: To be qualified for research studies in systematic zoology the applicant needs to have passed in at least 120 hp of biology studies, including an approved independent project in systematic zoology of at least 30hp at advanced level. Applicants who have in principle acquired the corresponding competence in Sweden or abroad are also qualified.

Criteria for selection: Among qualified applicants, selection is made according to ability to profit from the studies. The criteria to be used are the applicant's documented knowledge in subjects of relevance for the research area, ability to master language (including both spoken and written English), analytical ability, creativity, initiative, independence, and ability to cooperate. The basis for judgement of how well the applicant fulfils these criteria is: the relevance of earlier studies for the research area, grades on courses at the university level, the quality of the independent project, references, interviews and the applicant's letter of intent. Previous experiences in molecular (DNA) laboratory work and documented entomological/arachnological/acarological studies are considerer as additional qualifications and meriting.

To be included in the application: Maximum one A4-page of personal presentation and your reasons for applying (letter of intent). Curriculum vitae. Copy of independent project report (master thesis, degree thesis). Copy of degree certificates, or transcripts of academic records (LADOK-excerpt). Also provide a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).

Terms of employment: The research education comprises 48 months at full time. The position is financed by a fellowship ("utbildningsbidrag") for the first two years, and then continues with a PhD-employment (“doktorandtjänst”) for the last two years.

More Information: Johannes Bergsten, Swedish Museum of Natural History. Telephone: 08 5195 4192. e-mail johannes.bergsten@nrm.se Union representatives: Bo Ekengren, SACO, Lisbeth Häggberg, ST and Gunnar Stenberg, SEKO. Phone +46 (0)8-16 2000 (switchboard) You are welcome with your application with the specified ref.nr no later than 15th of February 2010 to: Stockholm University Prefekten Department of Zoology 106 91 Stockholm Sweden