The University of Groningen provides top-quality educational programmes. We offer a wide variety of interesting, highly regarded degree programmes that rank well internationally. As our student, you will receive high-quality supervision and have many programmes to choose from. As an exceptionally motivated and talented student, you could join our Honours College for an extra challenge.
The Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) of the University of Groningen and the Department of Coastal Systems (COS) of the Royal NIOZ are accepting applications for PhD scholarships. Scholarships are open to excellent, highly motivated PhD students with a keen interest in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, and/or animal personalities.
Course Level:Â Scholarships are available to pursue PhD programme.
Available Subject:Â Scholarships are awarded to highly motivated PhD students with a keen interest in evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, and/or animal personalities. You will help create an integrative perspective on the adaptive capacity of organisms to environmental change.
Scholarship Benefits:Â We are offering a 4-year fulltime position with a pension scheme, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, a year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions. Working conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centres (WVOI). The position will be located on Texel. Cost of relocation and help with housing is provided by the Royal NIOZ.
Number of Scholarships:Â Two scholarships are available.
Eligibility Criteria:Â The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for the scholarship:
- PhD Student Royal Nioz (Lab and Field Work)
In the empirical part of the project at the Royal NIOZ headquarters on Texel, we aim to investigate to what extent and by which cues individual differences in behavioural tendencies originate early in development, and what their consequences are for the life history, social behaviour and spatial distribution of Red Knots in the field. - As our Ph.D., you will answer several research questions, focusing on behavioural strategies. You will be testing theoretical predictions in the field. You will be based at the Department of Coastal Systems (COS), where controlled experiments in the Experimental Shorebird Facility can be combined with the latest technology for tracking Red Knots in the field.
- Competencies? We are looking for a PhD candidate with an MSc in Biology and a keen interest in behavioural ecology. Preferably, this candidate has strong analytical skills and experience with designing experiments and/or fieldwork. Good English oral and written skills are required.
- Since you will closely collaborate with the PhD in Groningen and become part of a multidisciplinary team, broad interests, a cooperative mindset, good communication abilities, and flexibility are also essential.
- You will be supervised by Dr. Allert Bijleveld and Prof. Theunis Piersma from the Royal NIOZ, and Prof. Ton Groothuis and Prof. Franjo Weissing from the University of Groningen.
- You will obtain your doctorate at the University of Groningen with Prof. Theunis Piersma as the promoter.
- PhD Student Gelifes, University of Groningen (Modelling)
In the theoretical element of the project, at the Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences group (Prof. Franz Weissing) of the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), we aim to investigate how environmental conditions determine the evolution of individual response strategies and to derive testable predictions on how these strategies affect the short- and long-term capacity of Red Knots to cope with various types of environmental change. In this part of the research, important questions will focus on the development and analysis of theoretical models that are tailored to the biology of Red Knots. - The PhD candidate in Groningen will work at the Theoretical Research in Evolutionary Life Sciences group (Prof. Franjo Weissing) of the Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES). You will combine analytical approaches (Adaptive Dynamics, Quantitative Genetics, Life-History Theory) with conducting individual-based evolutionary simulations.
- For the research project in Groningen, we are looking for a motivated candidate with an MSc in Biology or an MSc in a field related to mathematics and the computer sciences. The perfect candidate has a strong, multidisciplinary interest in evolutionary theory. We have a preference for candidates that have experience with computer simulations and/or the analysis of theoretical models.
- In order to be successful in this position, good English oral and written skills are a requirement. You will closely collaborate with the PhD on Texel and be part of a multidisciplinary team. Broad interests, flexibility, and good communication abilities are crucial.
- You will be supervised by Dr. Allert Bijleveld and Prof. Theunis Piersma from the Royal NIOZ, and Prof. Ton Groothuis and Prof. Franjo Weissing from the University of Groningen.
- You will obtain your doctorate at the University of Groningen with Prof. Franjo Weissing as your promoter.
Eligible Nationalities:Â International students are eligible to apply for this scholarship programme.
Method of Application: Please send your entire application (in English) as a single PDF-file until the deadline of 5 November 23:59 pm/before 6 November 2017 Dutch local time, by means of the application form (click on ‘Apply’ below on the advertisement on the university website). Please upload your entire application as “letter of motivationâ€.
The submission should contain the following:
- A cover letter introducing yourself, describing your motivation to conduct scientific research and in particular the topic of the project above
- A brief proposal (500 words) related to the topic of the project, including a hypothesis and a sketch of an approach
- A full CV demonstrating academic excellence, including publications and presentations (if applicable), and a copy of your passport
- A sample of academic writing (MA thesis, publication)
- A certified copy or scan of your MA diploma (or equivalent) and academic record
- Names and contact details of two academic references.
Scholarship Application Deadline:Â November 5, 2017.
