Doctoral Researcher in Macroevolution and Phenotypic Diversification of Dung Beetles Full-time

Doctoral Researcher in Macroevolution and Phenotypic Diversification of Dung Beetles

The University of Helsinki is an international research community of 30,000 students and researchers and ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide. The Finnish Museum of Natural History, part of the University of Helsinki, is a leading center for systematic and evolutionary biology and hosts a vibrant and collaborative research environment.

We invite applications for a fully funded three-year Doctoral Researcher position at the Finnish Museum of Natural History. The successful candidate will join the research group of Dr. Sergei Tarasov and an international network of collaborators. The position is part of a broader project on dung beetle evolution funded by the Research Council of Finland.

About the job: The PhD project will aim to uncover the macroevolutionary mechanisms driving dung beetle phenotypic diversification. The PhD candidate will investigate how dung beetle phenomes evolved during adaptive radiations by integrating phylogenomic and phenotypic data, high-dimensional phenotypic datasets, and advanced evolutionary models. A central focus will be on testing how major environmental transitions—such as the K–Pg extinction and the Late Miocene grassland expansion—reshaped dung availability and triggered shifts in phenotypic evolutionary rates.

The appointee will be encouraged to undertake short research visits to collaborators in the USA and Australia and will participate in the supervision of undergraduate students. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated candidate to conduct cutting-edge research on insect evolution, morphology, comparative phylogenetics and natural history collections.

The successful candidate will work closely with the project's Principal Investigator and international collaborators. The appointee will take primary responsibility for conducting research, performing data analyses, preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting results at international conferences. In addition, there will be opportunities to contribute to science communication activities, including participation in the development of a popular science book for children about dung beetles, mammals, and dinosaurs.

Requirements: Applicants should hold an MSc degree (or equivalent) in biology or a related field. The successful candidate will have a strong background in, or demonstrated interest in, entomology and comparative phylogenetics, as well as a clear motivation to apply state-of-the-art statistical methods. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required. The following qualifications are considered advantageous but are not mandatory:

• Programming in R
• Good understanding of statistics
• Research experience and publications

Details of the job: The position will begin in spring 2026 (negotiable). This is a full-time appointment for three years. The salary is ca. €2,600 per month (before taxes), in accordance with the University of Helsinki salary system for doctoral researchers.

In Finnish universities, the teaching and research staff belong to the 1,612 annual working hour system, in which the annual amount of paid holiday is app. 5-6 weeks on average per year.

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How to Apply? Please submit your application in English, including:

• Cover letter describing motivation and research interests (max. 1 page)
• CV with publication list
• Study transcript of the master's (or related) degree
• Contact information of two potential referees (letters requested later)

Applications must be submitted via the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system (Apply now). The position will remain open until March 16th, or until a suitable candidate is found.

Further information: For inquiries about the position, please contact:

Dr. Sergei Tarasov Curator of Coleoptera (beetles) Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS) Email: sergei.tarasov[at]helsinki.fi

For help regarding the recruitment system, please contact recruitment[at]helsinki.fi