PhD Scholarship: Evolutionary Plant Biology 1216 views

The Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is inviting applications for a PhD position related to the project “Linking the evolution of the CONSTANS gene family with a major niche transition in the grass subfamily Pooideae”. The scholarship is funded by NMBU.

Duration: 3 years

Tasks and responsibilities:

• The project consists of four sub-projects and will integrate biotechnological methods, bioinformatics and classic physiological growth experiments in a phylogenetic framework.
• The selected candidate will reconstruct the evolution of the CONSTANS gene family in Pooideae and profile gene and protein expression and of selected CONSTANS genes.
• Regulatory mechanisms of the CONSTANS genes will be identified through a bioinformatics approach combining genomic and transcriptomic data of selected Pooideae species.
• The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with the aim to completing a doctorate within the Ph.d. scholarship period.

Qualifications:

• Applicant must hold MSc degree within a relevant scientific area, preferably from plant ecology, plant evolutionary biology, plant biology or plant population genetics.
• Applicant must demonstrate expertise and interest in the research area.

Selection criteria:

• The quality of the MSC degree work
• Relevance of knowledge and expertise
• University level course grades
• References/recommendation letters
• An interview
• Experience with phylogenetic analyses, laboratory work and plant growth experiments will be an advantage.
• Strong background in statistics and bioinformatics will be considered positive.

Applications:

Applications must include (electronically) the following:

• Letter of intent
• CV
• Full publication list
• Copies of degree certificates
• Transcripts of academic records (all certified)
• 2 references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
• Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail.

Ref.no. 17/05764