211-1808/24-2H PhD fellowship in ecology

PhD fellowship in ecology
PhD Project on grassland restoration through soil inoculation
Department of Biology
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Biology invites applicants for a PhD fellowship on Restoration Ecology Using Soil Inoculation (project RestINOC). The PhD position is funded by the Aage V. Jensen Foundation.

Start date is (expected to be) 01.10.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The overall aim of this PhD project is to study if restoration of species rich grasslands from arable fields can be done succesfully using soil inoculation as an active restoration method. The project will use inoculation of arable soils with soil from intact grasslands, inclusing the soil microbial community, plant seeds and soil microarthropods.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of ecology and conservation science. Applicants can have a background from biology, ecology, or a closely-related field. Applicants should hold a MSc degree or equivalent. As criteria for assessment of your qualifications, strong emphasis will be put on relevant work experience and previous publications (if any).

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual with good interpersonal and communication skills. Previous experience in field experimental work, database and GIS work on biodiversity (in particular plants) and ecosystem processes, soil microbial communities and carbon cycling, as well as statistical modelling will be considered assets.

Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement. Ability to communicate seamlessly with practitioners in Danish nature management is necessary.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The successful applicant will be based in the Section for Freshwater Biology and will have a co-supervisor at the Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology (BIO). The section for Freshwater Biology focusses on biodiversity and organismal biology, community - and ecocsystem ecology. The section offers a vibrant multinational environment of faculty members, laboratory technicians, Post Docs, PhD candidates and MSc and BSc students.

The group is a part of the Department of Biology, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Lars Båstrup-Spohr, [email protected], Direct phone: +4535321166

The PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. biology or nature management. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in area-based nature conservation
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position (max. 2 pages)
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if relevant)
6. Reference letters (optional; a maximum of two)

Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 28 April 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 24.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.