2018: Post-doc position in Climate change & warming impacts on Fish populations & communities

Exciting Post-doc position in ecology open:
Climate Change & Warming impacts on Fish Populations & Communities
at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.


Want to contribute to novel model-based research on how climate change affects fish populations and communities?

More info on https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=1079&rmlang=UKand the ad below.    Welcome to visit our group! www.slu.se/fishinfoodwebs

Applications welcome until August 19th.

This is one of three exciting postdoctoral positions in advanced ecology and genomics initiated at the same time at the Department of Aquatic resources. If you’re interested in genetic basis of dark-water adaptation in perch, or genomics of parasitic disease in salmonids, please visit https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/jobs-vacancies/

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Postdoctoral position in Climate Change & Warming impacts on Fish Populations and Communities
Ref SLU ua 2018.2.5.1-2401

The Department of Aquatic resources produces key knowledge in limnic, brackish-water and marine ecology, with a focus on fish and shellfish. We conduct research, education, environmental monitoring and assessment, and provide biological advice to promote sustainable use of aquatic resources. The department has more than 180 employees at three divisions located outside Gothenburg (Lysekil), Uppsala (Öregrund) and Stockholm (Drottningholm) and at four field stations. Our combination of science and management advice, from local to international scale, provides a vibrant environment for applied research and education. Welcome to visit us at www.slu.se/aquaticresources!

We are seeking a dedicated postdoctoral fellow to study the consequences of warming for the structure and dynamics of fish populations and aquatic food-webs. Climate change induced warming of lakes and oceans affect fish directly, by acting on their physiology. However, the net responses of fish populations to such warming depend also on how the direct impacts are mediated and modulated by interactions among individuals, within and between species. How climate warming via these feedbacks affects the dynamics and structure of fish communities and food-webs is an emergent field, requiring novel modelling approaches to allow for predictions and mechanistic understanding, combined with experiments. This position provides an opportunity to contribute to this novel model-based research on how climate change affects fish populations and communities.

You will be part of our research group (www.slu.se/fishinfoodwebs; Gårdmark & Huss) studying the dynamics of fish communities and aquatic food-webs, and their ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change, exploitation and other human pressures.

The position is one of three exciting postdoctoral positions in advanced ecology and genomics initiated at the same time at the Department of Aquatic resources (SLU Aqua, www.slu.se/aquaticresources). All of these projects will resolve key ecological issues and produce knowledge needed for responding to a major societal challenge: sustainable food production in future climates.

Research task:

To analyze how fish populations and -communities respond to climate warming, and how these responses result from and modulate individuals’ intra- and interspecific interactions using multi-species dynamic models. Responses can include e.g. population size composition, ecological dynamics, phenological shifts, and trait adaptations & eco-evolutionary dynamics. In our team you will develop physiologically based models from existing experimental data and analyze population responses to changing environmental conditions to resolve underlying mechanisms. An explicit aim is to link the model development and results to our team’s laboratory and field experiments on fish-zooplankton interactions, and available fish monitoring data. You are expected to contribute to presenting the results as scientific papers.

Qualifications:

Required: PhD degree in quantitative ecology, population ecology, applied mathematics or statistical modelling, applied physics, or related discipline.

We are looking for a highly motivated person with strong quantitative skills in ecology or theoretical biology. Expertise in, and documented skills in and experience of, quantitative analyses of population dynamics are required, as are documented skills in dynamic modelling. Expertise in population ecology, community ecology theory or dynamic population modelling is advantageous. Particular attention will be given to scientific merits relevant for the position, including demonstrated independent scientific work and experience of working in scientific teams. Skills in R or Matlab-programming are also considered merits. You are fluent in spoken and written English, a good collaborator and have good communication skills. We place great emphasis on personal qualities such as ability to work in teams as well as independently.

Place of work:
Öregrund
Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 24 months.
Extent:100%
Starting date:2018-09-17 or by agreement.

Application:

We welcome your application, at the latest by 19th August 2018 via the application button below.

Your application should be written in English and include (1) motivation letter describing how you fit the description and how the project and focus of our research team fits you (max 1 page), (2) curriculum vitae documenting your academic career and education, (3) copies of doctoral degree diploma and masters and/or bachelor educational certificates, with transcript of records, (4) list of publications and submitted scientific manuscripts, (5) scientific merits, with special account of merits in dynamic population- and/or community modelling and quantitative ecology, and (6) contact details of two references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).

Union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources. The university ranks well internationally within its subject areas. SLU is a research-intensive university that also offers unique degree programmes in for example rural development and natural resource management, environmental economics, animal science and landscape architecture.
SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.
www.slu.se

SLU is an equal opportunity employer.
Contact person
Anna Gårdmark
Professor
+46104784125
anna.gardmark@slu.se, www.slu.se/annagardmark
Magnus Huss
Docent
magnus.huss@slu.se
Johanna Mattila
Head of Division (Inst. of Coastal research), Docent
+46104784142
johanna.mattila@slu.se