PhD student in plant evolution

The Department of Ecology and Genetics (IEG) is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. We are part of  the Evolutionary Biology Center (EBC)which is a prime environment for graduate students interested in addressing fundamental and applied biological questions through an evolutionary perspective. Learn more about our department at www.ieg.uu.se.

We are now looking for a PhD student in plant evolution to join us at the Plant Ecology and Evolution program, Department of Ecology and Genetics.

The Plant Ecology and Evolution Program comprises several independent research groups working at the interface between ecology and evolution, with plants as central study systems. We strive to nurture a welcoming and friendly research environment, and value collaborations and interactions across the program, and across career stages. PhD students are an integral part of the program and are expected to actively engage in our academic activities.

Project description
Project title: Why does buzz pollination evolve?

Bees and flowering plants share an ancient evolutionary history that has given rise to striking adaptations in both flowers and their pollinators. Among them, is the evolution of buzz-pollinated flowers, i.e., flowers that depend on vibration-producing bees to reproduce. Buzz-pollinated flowers have repeatedly evolved across many independent plant lineages, yet we know little about why buzz pollination evolves.

In this project, the PhD student will compare species from four different origins of buzz-pollinated flowers to test several general hypotheses of why buzz pollination evolves. Specific tests will include glasshouse and common garden experiments at Uppsala University but may also be extended to field localities in Sweden and abroad. The PhD student will have access to excellent plant growth facilities, flight arenas to study bee behavior, particle counters, as well as specialized equipment to study the effects of bee vibrations on flowers (e.g., accelerometers, shakers, lasers, micro-robots). The planned tests represent an ambitious and unprecedented evaluation of the evolutionary reasons for buzz pollination and will provide crucial insights into the mechanisms driving the convergent evolution of buzz-pollinated flowers.

Duties
The PhD student will be responsible for a variety of greenhouse and common garden experiments, and gain experience and skills in a range of approaches used in plant-pollinator studies. Specific tasks will include obtaining seed and plant material, maintaining plants in the growth facilities, designing and executing experiments with live flowers and live bees, measuring bee vibrations in both field and laboratory settings, estimating male and female components of plant fitness, quantifying pollen viability against different abiotic and biotic stressors, and conducting behavioral observations of bee interactions with flowers. The PhD student is also expected to actively participate in the academic activities of our research group (including attending weekly meetings), develop analytical frameworks, prepare manuscripts for publication, and present their work at national and international meetings.

Qualifications required
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• Hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in biology, evolutionary biology or plant biology, or
• Have completed at least 240 credits in higher education with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• Have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.
• Be able to work closely with plants and bees.

We attach great importance to personal qualities such as motivation, independence, and problem-solving analytical skills. We value highly other personal qualities including initiative, creativity, and the ability to cooperate and collaborate with others. Candidates must be able to express themselves fully in spoken as well as written English.

Qualifications desired

• Knowledge of ecological and evolutionary theory
• Experience with statistical analyses and associated software (e.g., R)
• Demonstrated capacity to design and troubleshoot experiments
• Previous experience with field and common garden work
• Academic writing skills appropriate for their career stage
• Familiarity with pollination biology
• Capacity to work as part of a team
• Ability to drive a car for fieldwork

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 §7. Scope of employment: full-time. Starting date 2024-10-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

For further information about the position, please contact
Professor, Mario Vallejo-Marin, mario.vallejo-marin@ebc.uu.se

Application instructions
The application should include 1) your research interests, and a motivation of why you want to pursue a Ph.D., your interest in this specific project, and your suitability for the position, 2) your CV including your education, research experience, and references to publications, if applicable, 3) names and contact details of two referees (email addresses, institution, and phone numbers). The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 18 September, 2024. UFV-PA 2024/2664

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