Doctoral student in Biology with a specialisation in vertebrate migration Full-time NEW

Doctoral Student In Biology With A Specialisation In Vertebrate Migration

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 position is located at the Division of Evolutionary Ecology and Infection Biology, Department of Biology, Lund University. The department employs over 300 people, making it one of the largest departments in biology in the Nordic region. There is a large number of research areas and competences within the five departments, making the Department of Biology a creative and stimulating workplace. This doctoral student position means that you will be part of the “Animal Flight Lab” where we research animal flight performance, energetics and migration in animals.

Being a doctoral student

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 adequate 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 the writing of a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at Doctoral studies | Faculty of Science

Subject and project description

Most bird species fly with muscle-powered active flight, which gives them great mobility that, for example, enables efficient habitat utilization and long-distance migration. The cost of flight (power consumption) can be theoretically described using a mechanical model, which results in a U-shaped relationship between power and speed. Until recently, it has been difficult to measure mechanical power in flying animals and thereby test the validity of the mechanical model. Evaluating the flight mechanics model is of great interest because it is used in other models related to flight and migration strategies in birds. By using high-speed cameras for kinematic studies of body and wing movements, it is possible to determine the cost of flight, as well as it is possible to measure, with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), the kinetic energy that a bird or bat adds to the air by flapping.

In this doctoral project, different methods for determining flight power will be used, partly how it varies with flight speed and partly how it varies between species of different sizes and shapes. The overall goal is to evaluate the validity of flight mechanics models and flight efficiency with a special focus on birds and/or bats. The studies will be mainly conducted at Lund University's wind tunnel facility for animal studies, which is equipped with modern equipment well suited to the planned research. We will also test predictions based on results from the wind tunnel studies regarding bird migration strategies by tracking birds using GPS and multisensory loggers.

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which mainly consists of writing a doctoral thesis. During the training you will learn different methods to study and measure vertebrate flight costs in detail, advanced analysis methods and to write scientific papers. You are expected to actively participate in the research projects in the wind tunnel facility and to plan and carry out field work in connection with studies of bird migration strategies. As a researcher, you will also present your research by participating in seminars and international conferences. The doctoral training also includes a number of mandatory courses and voluntary special courses that contribute to your development in solving and presenting scientific questions.

In addition to studies, a maximum of 20% of working time may be spent on teaching and other departmental work. Depending on your background, you may teach basic courses in biology and advanced courses in ornithology and zooecology.

Qualifications

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

Admission requirements

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.
• The applicant must have a master's degree, or equivalent, in a biological subject such as ecology, zoology or functional morphology, alternatively in an engineering subject such as aeronautics, fluid mechanics or mechanics. Both theoretical and practical skills are of great importance. Documented skills in programming are a meritorious requirement.
• Being able to read and write academic texts in English is a requirement.
• Important qualities are also creative problem-solving ability and being independent and persistent, as well as a burning interest in the proposed thesis topic.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Biology if the applicant has:

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits and have good oral and written proficiency in English.
• 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 physics or engineering may be taken into account.

Additional requirements

• good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• good written and oral communication skills
• good ability to cooperate
• very good knowledge of English, spoken and written
• driving licence is a requirement

Selection criteria

Selection for doctoral education is based on the assessed ability to benefit from the doctoral education. The assessment of ability is primarily based on the study results at the undergraduate and advanced levels. The following are taken into account:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the dissertation work and the educational subject.
2. Assessed ability to work independently and ability to formulate and address scientific problems.
3. Ability to communicate in writing and orally. Other experiences relevant to the doctoral education, e.g. professional experience and field work.
4. Consideration will also be given to good cooperation skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through their experience and competence, is assessed to have the ability needed to complete the doctoral education.

Theoretical as well as practical skills are highly valued, such as the ability to analyze and develop theoretical models and to design and perform experiments. Documented programming skills are an asset.

We offer Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Our department offers a non-hierarchical, inclusive, dynamic and creative work environment where you have the best conditions to develop. The research group has regular meetings where we discuss current issues related to research, both theoretical and practical, as well as current research news in the field. The department also offers exciting guest lectures every week.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se: www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

About the employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting according to agreement. Third cycle studies at Lund University consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University's Staffpages: www.staff.lu.se/research-and-education/research-support/doctoral-education/terms-employment-doctoral-students

How to apply

The application should be written in English and you must attach to your application:

• CV and personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the training place/employment and in what way the research project matches your interests and your educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or diplomas. These should prove your basic and special eligibility for the doctoral education subject and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral education project.
• Other information that you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation,