PhD fellowships in Marine Science

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet

Lyngby-Taarbæk, 15 stillinger

Centre for Ocean Life (http://www.marmaed.eu). The project’s main aim is to investigate how combined anthropogenic and climatic changes affect different harvested ecosystems (terrestrial, freshwater, and marine – particularly, but not only, in Arctic regions) and how management strategies can be improved to ensure sustainable exploitation and resilience. MARmaED will provide salary for 15 PhD projects.



The specific PhD project of this position will “develop a trait-based approach for predicting fish community structure, function and services under different scenarios of climate change and exploitation”. The project will build on characterizing fish community composition based on a number of key functional traits and relate spatio-temporal changes in these traits to internal (biotic) and abiotic processes and drivers. This multivariate trait-based model will be based on observed data on community composition, in one or several data rich case studies, e.g., the North Sea. Once fitted and cross-validated the model framework will be used to explore future changes in community composition and its associated effects on ecosystem functioning (e.g., productivity) and services (e.g., fisheries yield) under different scenarios of exploitation and climate change, informed by climate model projections. To that end, the approach will not only provide novel insight into the processes shaping functional community composition but act as a practical decision-support tool for evaluating the success or failure of various management strategies under climate change.



Qualifications

We invite applications from students interested in marine ecology with an emphasis on trait-based ecology, and biodiversity with relevant background in statistics. Candidates should have a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline.



Approval and Enrolment

The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.



Assessment

The assessment of the applicants will be made by a committee consisting of Martin Lindegren, Thomas Kiørboe and Ken H. Andersen, all at the Centre for Ocean Life, DTU Aqua.



We offer

We offer an interesting and challenging job in an international environment focusing on education, research, public-sector consultancy and innovation, which contribute to enhancing the economy and improving social welfare. We strive for academic excellence, collegial respect and freedom tempered by responsibility. The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is a leading technical university in northern Europe and benchmarks with the best universities in the world.



Salary and appointment terms

The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students at DTU. The period of employment is 3 years.



An annual salary of about 55,000 Euro (including pension scheme) can be expected. Starting date is flexible but has to be before 1st of March 2016.



Further information

For further information please contact the Principal investigator, Martin Lindegren (mli@aqua.dtu.dk)



Please do not send applications to Principal Investigators, instead apply online as described below.



You can read more about DTU Aqua at <a href='javascript:openLinkWindow("http://www.aqua.dtu.dk")' "="" data-cke-saved-href='javascript:openLinkWindow("http://www.aqua.dtu.dk")'>http://www.aqua.dtu.dk



Please note that at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.



Application procedure

We must have your online application by 1 December 2015.



Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online," fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one pdf file. The file must include:

•A letter motivating the application (cover letter)

•Curriculum vitae

•Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (an official translation into English)

•Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)



Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.



Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.



All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.



Centre for Ocean Life is a Villum Kann Rasmussen Centre of excellence for the study of life in a changing ocean. The Centre is a collaborative effort between the Technical University of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, and Roskilde University. The goal of the Centre is to develop a fundamental understanding and predictive capability of marine ecosystems through the use of trait-based approaches, involving observations and experimentation as well as modelling. The Centre brings together biologists, physicist, chemists, and mathematicians, funds PhD and postdoctoral fellows, offers PhD summer schools international workshops, and operates a Researcher Visitors Centre.



DTU is a technical university providing internationally leading research, education, innovation and public service. Our staff of 5,800 advance science and technology to create innovative solutions that meet the demands of society; and our 10,300 students are being educated to address the technological challenges of the future. DTU is an independent academic university collaborating globally with business, industry, government, and public agencies.