PhD scholarship in cormorant and seal predation - DTU Aqua

Are you looking for a career as a natural scientist with strong analytical skills, fieldworking and an applied focus? This could be a position for you. A PhD Scholarship in the interplay between natural predators, cormorants and seals, and the population development of coastal fish species like cod and flounder is available at the National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua), Denmark, with starting date June 1st, 2024. The project includes both field work and using mathematical and statistical models on marine resources. The scholarship is part of a project financed by the EHFAF program. The project will be carried out at DTU Aqua in collaboration between Section for Freshwater Fisheries Ecology, which is situated in Silkeborg, Denmark, and the Section for Ecosystem Based Management, situated in Lyngby. 

Project background
The natural mortality – i.e. the mortality that takes place due to predation, lack of oxygen, old age or disease – is generally of decisive importance for the size of fish populations in the sea. Despite the critical role natural mortality plays in understanding the dynamics of fish populations, and thus of management, knowledge about this is still lacking. It is now important to obtain precise knowledge about which factors cause natural mortality to a particular extent. Increasing populations of cormorants and seals in particular lead to an increasing loss of fish, but at population level there is still no overview of the importance of these predators' consumption for the fish stocks in inner Danish waters. In this project, we gather the existing expertise on cormorants and seals (including knowledge of food choices and estimates of the number of predators), after which we make an analysis of the significance of predation in inland Danish waters for fishing and the general status of fish stocks. The inner Danish waters are defined here as the western Baltic Sea (west of Bornholm), the Belt Sea and the Kattegat. The populations of fish-eating predators in Denmark have increased sharply in the past 40 years, and the population of cormorants has been on the rise since the Bird Protection Directive came into force in 1980. For example, the breeding population in Denmark grew from 2,000 pairs in 1980 to 42,600 pairs 20 years later. In addition, the number of visiting cormorants from neighbouring countries grew significantly, and it is estimated that up to 250,000 cormorants stay in Denmark during the fall, when there are the most. The populations of harbour and grey seals have likewise increased considerably, since their protection in the seventies.. In this project, we will concentrate research on cormorants, grey and harbour seals, which for many years have been the subject of significant conflicts of interest both in Denmark and our neighbouring countries.

Responsibilities and qualifications
Your job will be to participate in a larger EU-funded project focusing on the predation on coastal fish. You will explore, analyze, and publish studies on the impact of predation on coastal fish like cod, flounder and eel. Part of your work will be collecting and analyzing seal-scats and cormorant pellets and estimate the total predation on different species using state of the art modeling techniques. You will be provided with a substantial dataset from earlier analyses and data on predation of PIT-tagged cod, flounder and eel from a pilot study. You will also be involved in teaching including supervision of BSc and MSc student projects. One of the work packages in the project focus on incorporating the results of predation quantifications into fisheries management models, so you will also become familiar with single- and multi-species models and their use in modern fisheries management. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

You should hold a M.Sc. degree in Biology, Aquatic Science & Technology or similar. It is also a prerequisite that you familiar with animal behavior and/or freshwater/marine ecology and have experience and keen interest in data science and statistical analyses (preferably using R). 

Additionally, it would be an advantage if you have:

• Documented interest in predator/prey interactions.
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience with (or interest in) biological field work 
• Proficiency in written and spoken English 
• The ability and experience of working in teams and alone.

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
The assessment of the applicants will be made by Lotte Kindt-Larsen, Anders Koed, and Nis Sand Jacobsen

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

Starting date is August 1st 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position. 

The PhD student will be based at DTU Aqua in Silkeborg, Denmark, and will be integrated in the Freshwater Fishery and Ecology section, DTU Aqua. A certain amount of field work and stays abroad can be expected.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .

Further information  
Further information may be obtained from: Senior Researcher, Niels Jepsen, tel.: +45 29285028, email: [email protected]

You can read more about the institute at www.aqua.dtu.dk

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 24 May 2024 (23:59 Danish time).

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

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DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.