Overview
The Centre for Social Evolution addresses general questions about the evolution, structure and functioning of societies, and uses mostly social insects as model systems. All research programs are interdisciplinary and use approaches from genetics (DNA analysis, genomics), evolutionary theory (kin-conflicts, geographic mosaics, host-symbiont conflicts), organic chemistry (recognition compounds), epidemiology (disease pressure), and microbiology (interactions with fungal or bacterial mutualists).
The Centre has vacancies for PhD fellowships in the following areas:
Project 1:
An interdisciplinary approach to decipher communication and recognition strategies in social insects
Social insects live in a world of odours and use complex patterns of cuticular hydrocarbons for recognition. Chemical analysis, mathematical models and behavioural experiments will be used to understand the nature and the structure of the signal that can communicate colony identity in the most efficient and parsimonious way. Ants and other social insects (wasps, bees) will be used as model organisms. This is a project in collaboration with the Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (University of Paris 13, France) and the Center for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium). Further information: PDEttorre@bio.ku.dk
Project 2:
Conservation genetics of large blue butterflies – the interaction of life history and host ant specificity
The large blue butterflies have an unusual life history in which they spend most of their lives as social parasites within nests of Myrmica ants. This, together with their reliance on specific host plants, means that they are naturally rare, particularly sensitive to environmental disturbance, and hence the focus of much conservation effort. This project will examine how the generally low genetic diversity found in these butterflies is related to their life history strategy (feeding method and dispersal) and the number of species of Myrmica ants that they parasitize. The project will aim to provide concrete guidelines for the conservation of genetic diversity of large blue butterflies. Further information: DRNash@bio.ku.dk
Project 3:
Invasive supercolonies of ants – analyzing the costs and benefits of losing family structure
Some ants are among the world's worst invasive species. The key to their success appears to be a special form of social organization where colonies are not based on families but form large networks of collaborating nests. The project will seek to understand the evolution of such supercolonial ants by applying a wide range of methods, including population genetics and genomics, chemical analyses of communication cues, and breeding and behavioral experiments. The project is comparative in outlook and will use the pharaoh ant as model system, to take advantage of CSE's collection of laboratory colonies representing worldwide genetic diversity. Further information: JSPedersen@bio.ku.dk
Project 4:
Conflict and cooperation in fungus-farming symbioses
The fungus farms of attine ants and macrotermitine termites are among the most spectacular mutualisms that evolved. Earlier studies have shown that these symbioses have likely been evolutionary stable because they have various means to secure monoculture farming, so that life-time commitment between a single ant family and a single clone of fungal symbiont is the norm. The project will focus on the fungal symbiont of leaf-cutting ants and seek to clarify the genetic mechanisms by which these interactions are maintained. It will involve a combination of laboratory-based molecular and mycological techniques and field-work in Central America. Further information: JJBoomsma@bio.ku.dk
Qualifications required
The scholarships are open to both Danish and international applicants. Normally, we will expect applicants to have obtained an MSc degree in evolutionary biology or a related field, to have a good grasp of theoretical concepts, and at least some expertise in the one or several of the practical fields and approaches listed in the introduction of this advert. It is also possible to enrol candidates at the 4+4 scheme with a 3-year BSc degree and 1 MSc year behind them. However this will involve additional years of study, a midway qualification exam, and lower wages for the first two years.
An assessment committee to evaluate the applications will be appointed. Each applicant will be notified of the composition of the committee and will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns her/him. The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant, but project-relevant experience will be an advantage. The final selection of successful candidates will be made by the Head of the Centre for Social Evolution and Head of Department, based on the recommendations made by the evaluation committee.
Successful candidates will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science, University of Copenhagen and to start their enrolment not later than 30 September 2010.
Terms of appointment and payment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Federation of Professional Associations (AC). The starting salary for candidates with an MSc degree will be a minimum of DKK 300,174 per year (April 2010 level) plus pension contribution and the possibility to negotiate wage.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Further information can be obtained via the email addresses attached to the project descriptions.
Applications and deadline
Applicants are requested to submit their application by filling in Part 1 of the application form that can be downloaded from “Application for scholarship and admission”: http://www.science.ku.dk/phd/applying/forms/
How to apply
Applications should be e-mailed as a single pdf-file to vacancy@bio.ku.dk Please mark the subject field with your name and the project number that you apply for. Deadline for applications is 7 June 2010 at 12:00 noon.
Applications received after the deadline or with insufficient documentation or otherwise not complying with the above requirements will not be considered.
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
The Centre for Social Evolution addresses general questions about the evolution, structure and functioning of societies, and uses mostly social insects as model systems. All research programs are interdisciplinary and use approaches from genetics (DNA analysis, genomics), evolutionary theory (kin-conflicts, geographic mosaics, host-symbiont conflicts), organic chemistry (recognition compounds), epidemiology (disease pressure), and microbiology (interactions with fungal or bacterial mutualists).
The Centre has vacancies for PhD fellowships in the following areas:
Project 1:
An interdisciplinary approach to decipher communication and recognition strategies in social insects
Social insects live in a world of odours and use complex patterns of cuticular hydrocarbons for recognition. Chemical analysis, mathematical models and behavioural experiments will be used to understand the nature and the structure of the signal that can communicate colony identity in the most efficient and parsimonious way. Ants and other social insects (wasps, bees) will be used as model organisms. This is a project in collaboration with the Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (University of Paris 13, France) and the Center for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems (Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium). Further information: PDEttorre@bio.ku.dk
Project 2:
Conservation genetics of large blue butterflies – the interaction of life history and host ant specificity
The large blue butterflies have an unusual life history in which they spend most of their lives as social parasites within nests of Myrmica ants. This, together with their reliance on specific host plants, means that they are naturally rare, particularly sensitive to environmental disturbance, and hence the focus of much conservation effort. This project will examine how the generally low genetic diversity found in these butterflies is related to their life history strategy (feeding method and dispersal) and the number of species of Myrmica ants that they parasitize. The project will aim to provide concrete guidelines for the conservation of genetic diversity of large blue butterflies. Further information: DRNash@bio.ku.dk
Project 3:
Invasive supercolonies of ants – analyzing the costs and benefits of losing family structure
Some ants are among the world's worst invasive species. The key to their success appears to be a special form of social organization where colonies are not based on families but form large networks of collaborating nests. The project will seek to understand the evolution of such supercolonial ants by applying a wide range of methods, including population genetics and genomics, chemical analyses of communication cues, and breeding and behavioral experiments. The project is comparative in outlook and will use the pharaoh ant as model system, to take advantage of CSE's collection of laboratory colonies representing worldwide genetic diversity. Further information: JSPedersen@bio.ku.dk
Project 4:
Conflict and cooperation in fungus-farming symbioses
The fungus farms of attine ants and macrotermitine termites are among the most spectacular mutualisms that evolved. Earlier studies have shown that these symbioses have likely been evolutionary stable because they have various means to secure monoculture farming, so that life-time commitment between a single ant family and a single clone of fungal symbiont is the norm. The project will focus on the fungal symbiont of leaf-cutting ants and seek to clarify the genetic mechanisms by which these interactions are maintained. It will involve a combination of laboratory-based molecular and mycological techniques and field-work in Central America. Further information: JJBoomsma@bio.ku.dk
Qualifications required
The scholarships are open to both Danish and international applicants. Normally, we will expect applicants to have obtained an MSc degree in evolutionary biology or a related field, to have a good grasp of theoretical concepts, and at least some expertise in the one or several of the practical fields and approaches listed in the introduction of this advert. It is also possible to enrol candidates at the 4+4 scheme with a 3-year BSc degree and 1 MSc year behind them. However this will involve additional years of study, a midway qualification exam, and lower wages for the first two years.
An assessment committee to evaluate the applications will be appointed. Each applicant will be notified of the composition of the committee and will receive the part of the evaluation that concerns her/him. The main criterion for selection will be the research potential of the applicant, but project-relevant experience will be an advantage. The final selection of successful candidates will be made by the Head of the Centre for Social Evolution and Head of Department, based on the recommendations made by the evaluation committee.
Successful candidates will then be requested to formally apply for enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD school of Science, University of Copenhagen and to start their enrolment not later than 30 September 2010.
Terms of appointment and payment are in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Federation of Professional Associations (AC). The starting salary for candidates with an MSc degree will be a minimum of DKK 300,174 per year (April 2010 level) plus pension contribution and the possibility to negotiate wage.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
Further information can be obtained via the email addresses attached to the project descriptions.
Applications and deadline
Applicants are requested to submit their application by filling in Part 1 of the application form that can be downloaded from “Application for scholarship and admission”: http://www.science.ku.dk/phd/applying/forms/
How to apply
Applications should be e-mailed as a single pdf-file to vacancy@bio.ku.dk Please mark the subject field with your name and the project number that you apply for. Deadline for applications is 7 June 2010 at 12:00 noon.
Applications received after the deadline or with insufficient documentation or otherwise not complying with the above requirements will not be considered.
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this scholarship
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