Doctoral student in Biology, behavioural and computational ecology Full-time

Doctoral Student in Biology, Behavioural and Computational Ecology

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the human condition.

The research is conducted within the Department of Biology, Division of Functional Ecology, where a fish ecology research group constitutes the immediate scientific environment. The division comprises approximately 65 staff members with broad and diverse expertise spanning a wide range of research fields. The international research group includes around ten researchers specializing in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology, with a particular focus on fish and fish populations.

The doctoral position is based at Lund University, while the international network of collaborators provides opportunities to conduct parts of the research project in partnership with other universities and research institutions. The working environment is characterized by openness, collaboration, and intellectual dynamism, offering excellent opportunities for scientific exchange and interdisciplinary interactions across a broad spectrum of biological research questions.

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

Behavioural and computational ecology: individual and group behaviours, information transfer and fitness consequences in animal groups.

The social environment provides an important ecological stage for selection to act. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying group dynamics, and their fitness consequences for individuals, have seen major advances in recent years, where single-species groups have been analysed for social interactions, group structure, coordinated movement, and social learning. Surprisingly few studies, however, have analysed how mixed-species groups impact individual success, despite these groups being common in nature. Interactions in mixed-species groups are likely to differ from single-species groups, with consequences for group dynamics and individual fitness. This project will evaluate individual behaviours, group formation, collective movement, social learning and fitness proxies in the common and co-occurring mixed-species shoals of freshwater fish; common roach (Rutilus rutilus) and common bream (Abramis brama). The mixed-species groups will be evaluated under natural field conditions and over relevant time frames where proxies for fitness can be captured. Field studies are possible due to a unique infrastructure pond system, where ponds equipped with arrays of acoustic receivers can be emptied of water and fish, enabling manipulation and control of group composition of telemetry-tagged individuals. The high-resolution telemetry data on individual positions in fish groups require and enable development of big-data analyses and computational techniques to approach patterns and mechanisms in the mixed-species social environment. Evaluating these questions in this experimental set-up permits new approaches to understanding group dynamics and selective processes within mixed-species animal groups, and thereby allows extensive development opportunity.

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which mainly consists of writing a doctoral thesis with its appended chapters (manuscripts/publications). Your main duties as a doctoral student are to devote yourself to your research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties will also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%). Research work includes field work with catching and handling of fish, maintenance of telemetry equipment and retrieving/storing/analysing large data sets. Extensive computational analysis of big and high-resolution positioning data with development of scientific ideas and transforming them into scientific publications are core parts. The project is an international collaboration including occasional travel as an integrative part.

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in behavioural and computational ecology if the applicant has:

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits. The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and significant in-depth studies in certain areas, qualifications other than the applicant's subject-specific competence in behavioural and computational ecology may be taken into account.

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• we are seeking a highly motivated and meticulous PhD student with competence and interests encompassing both computational biology and evolutionary behavioural ecology. A MSc in either computational biology or evolutionary behavioural ecology (or equivalents) is required, as is also thorough and documented interests and skills on the topic lacking a formal education.
• documented ability to handle big data and interpret it from a behavioural/evolutionary viewpoint is fundamental for project completion.
• understanding of experimental design and analysis as well as experience from running scientific experiments and field studies are highly desired
• a successful candidate should be creative, curious, enterprising, social, problem solving, structured, and independent with high ability to cooperate and work in groups
• good written and oral communication skills
• very good knowledge of English, spoken and written
• driving licence for car
• education in handling of experimental animals with ethical considerations is desired

The selection of eligible applicants will be made taking into account the ability to benefit from the training based on the following criteria:

• thorough and documented knowledge and experience of retrieving, handling and analysing big positioning data
• knowledge and understanding of evolutionary behavioural ecology and animal group living
• experience and interest in fish ecology
• ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems
• written and oral communication skills.
• other experience relevant to the third cycle studies, for example professional experience.
• personal qualities that fit the international research group as above
• consideration will be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. The research group is part of the division Functional ecology at the Department of Biology, that offer an academically diverse, vibrant and international research environment with high quality research education.