Postdoctoral Fellow in sexual selection and epidemiology

The Department of Zoologyis one of the oldest institutions at Stockholm University and has a long history of basic and applied research on animals, from articles to large mammals. The department is a dynamic research environment and consists of about 80 employees, including permanent employees, professors, researchers, doctoral students and administrative staff. There are several research groups that work with fishing ecology, evolution and behavior and with sexual selection in other biological systems.

More information about us can be found at: Department of Zoology.

Projektbeskrivning

The Department of Zoology at Stockholm University recruits a postdoctoral project within the project "Episex: The Effects of Sexual Selection on Epidemic Outcomes". The project is financed through starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), which was awarded Jessica Stephenson.

The project aims to examine two consequences of sexual selection for epidemics development and dynamics. First, infectious diseases are spread through contact between individuals. Reproduction is an important driving force behind such contacts, as partner numbers can affect which individuals interact and thus the possibilities for parasite transfer. If individuals prefer partners with well-developed sexual ornaments, which generally indicate high resistance to parasites, this can lead to reduced spread of infection. Secondly, individuals who choose partners with high resistance to parasitic infections can obtain indirect advantages by their offspring get increased genetic resistance to parasites. If individuals consistently choose genetically resistant partners for reproduction, the genetic resistance of the population can gradually increase over generations, which in turn can have significant epidemiological consequences.

The project will combine experimental epidemist studies in artificially selected guplylines with AI-assisted behavioral tracking, mathematical modeling and complementary laboratory experiments. The purpose is to investigate how the female's partner valley affects epidemics dynamics and spread of infection. The postdoctor will have a leading role in the experimental work, the data collection and the quantitative analyzes and contribute to international research collaboration. The employment also offers the opportunity to carry out field work in Trinidad.

Tasks

The employment is primarily focused on research. The postdoctor will work on establishing and further developing existing protocols for experimental epidemics and experimental design for application within the project. Hen will work together with a team consisting of doctoral students, master's students and research techniques to carry out experiments. The postdoctor will be responsible for and monitor the use of tracking software to extract behavioral data. In addition, they will carry out breeding experiments and phenotype analyzes to understand the outcome of sexual selection during epidemics. In addition to the project's core issues, there are several additional research orientations that the postdoctor can develop depending on interest and competence.

Eligibility requirements

In order to be authorized for employment as a postdoctoral doctor, the doctoral degree or foreign degree is deemed to correspond to the relevant doctoral degree. The degree must be completed by the employment decision.

Criteria

It is merit, if a doctoral degree or equivalent is exceeding three years before the last application date. If there are special reasons, a previously completed degree can also be considered merit. With special reasons, leave for illness is meant due to illness, parental leave, trust assignments in trade union organizations, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances and clinical service or the subject area relevant service / assignment.

At the appointment, special emphasis will be attached to scientific skills relevant to the project. Experience of demanding experiments with small fish - preferably Guppy - and behavioral tracking data, quantification of sexual ornaments and behaviors and development of new experimental structures are merit. Documented ability to use such data to answer current and important issues in ecology and evolution is particularly merit. We are looking for a person who can synthesize ideas and data from different research fields, has strong statistical and computational skills (Python and R for the use of tracking software and analysis of the data generated) and has a publication list showing high scientific expertise in these areas Very good ability to communicate in speech and writing is also a requirement.

If the employment

The employment relates to full-time and applies until further notice, at least two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension if there are special reasons. Access as per agreement.

We are offering

With us you get the dynamics of the interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University to an exciting and creative environment. You work in an international environment and receive preferential terms. The university is located in the National City Park with good connections to the city.

Stockholm University is worth being a workplace that is free from discrimination and gives equal rights and opportunities for everyone.

Contact

Disclosures on the employment are left by Jessica Stephenson, jess.stephenson@zoologi.su.se.

Application

You are looking for the employment via the Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach personal letter and CV and the annexes requested in the application form. You as an applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete and that it is the university with the latest date of application.

Instructions for applicants are available on the website: To seek an employment.

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