PhD position Systematic Botany, specifically orchid systematics and conservation genetics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 40 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Systematics, colonization history och conservation strategies for two Scandinavian orchid species, Nigritella nigra and Pseudorchis albida

The task of documenting biodiversity and implementing such knowledge in conservation programmes requires good knowledge about within-species variation patterns, how genetic diversity is distributed within species, how genetic diversity is correlated with other factors of importance, and how genetic diversity matters in long-term evolution and conservation. Knowledge about the genetic level is frequently lacking in conservation planning, but here we will extract critical data that help us to preserve two specis of orchids that have become increasingly rare in Scandinavia during the last century, Pseudorchis albida and Nigritella nigra.

The project is based on molecular data obtained by modern sequencing technology. For each species we will describe the genetic diversity structure overall, compare populations from original and semi-natural growth sites, and compare historical and extant populations from the cultural landscape. We will also clarify taxonomic positions and colonization history.

The project involves field collection of samples for DNA extraction in Scandinavia, laboratory studies by hy-RAD and RAD sequencing, bioinformatics, population genetics and phylogenetic analyses. The results should be used, i.a., to formulate recommendations for continued conservation projects and possibly also reintroduction programmes.

The project requires collaboration with local conservationists as well as nature protection agencies at both regional and national levels.

Admission requirements

  • A MSC in Biology with emphasis on systematic botany, evolutionary botany, conservation genetics, phylogenomics or a related field.
  • Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
  • Demonstrated ability for analytical and independent work.
  • Practical experience of and aptitude in molecular laboratory work.
  • Practical experience of and interest in conducting biological field work.

In addition to the mandatory requirements, documented experience in the following areas will be considered as strong merits:

  • General knowledge and interest in floristics and systematic botany
  • A particular interest in the systematics and the conservation of indigenous orchids in Northern Europe
  • Driving license.
  • Sufficient capability in Scandinavian languages to read texts written in Swedish or Norwegian and to enable oral communication on the general level in the subject area.
  • Experience of biological field work
  • Experience of data management and bioinformatics.
  • Experience of hands-on molecular DNA work including DNA extraction, DNA library preparation and quality assessment.

For a full description of the position, and how to apply, see:

In English:

https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:557391/?lang=en

In Swedish:

https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:557391/?lang=se

Please remind your collegues to create a profile at the web page!

Dear members of Svenska systematikföreningen,

Those of you who receive this message have obviously registered your contact details at our web page. However, you may have some collegues of yours who have paid the membership fee, but have not created any profile at the web page. That is unfortunate, because then we cannot keep track of which years these people have paid for, and they cannot check their membership status at the web page. So please remind the collegues you know to be members of the Systematikföreningen to create a profile if they have not done so.

All the best,

Mikael H

Biosyst.eu in Gothenburg August 15-18 – register now

Dear systematists,

This is to remind you that the deadline for Early Bird registration to the Biosyst.eu conference in Gothenburg is June 1. You can also register after this date, but the fee would be higher. Also for the subsequent planning of the conference, it would help us if you can register before the deadline.

The program has developed considerably and will cover very interesting topics in the wide field of systematics. You can find an updated version of the program and much more on the conference website: www.biosyst.eu.

Feel welcome to Gothenburg in August!

Mikael H

Systematikdagarna 2015

Welcome to Systematikdagarna 2015!

This year Systematikdagarna will take place at Arkivcentrum Syd in Lund, Monday November 23 – Tuesday November 24.

Systematikdagarna is the yearly conference on systematics arranged by the Swedish Systematists Association. The meeting is open for anyone interested in systematics; amateurs, working systematists, and users of systematics in any form.

Arkivcentrum Syd is the new location of the Biological Museum at Lund University and include the botanical collections and part of the zoological collections. Conference localities and other facilities are also located within Arkivcentrum Syd.

We are aiming at a diverse program covering several recent advances in systematics. Topics included so far are the role of epigenetics in species separation, new findings on paleontology, updates on the implementation of the Nagoya protocol, and more, but not the least, we also hope for interesting contributions by you participants.

The conference will be mainly held in English so that non-Scandinavian participants also can benefit from the conference. The annual meeting of Svenska Systematikföreningen will be held in Swedish.

Arkivcentrum Syd is located at the southeastern part of Lund, but connections to the city center are frequent and fast. There are possibilities to stay at hotels close to the Arkivcentrum Syd or in central Lund. Lunches will be served close to Arkivcentrum, but late afternoon on Monday 23, activities will be arranged at the Botanical Garden and the Historical Museum with the Sven Nilsson exhibition in central Lund, and the conference dinner will be served at AF, Akademiska Föreningen in the historical city centre.

The website for the formal registration will open after the summer. We will then also give more information on lodging and other practical matters, including registration fee.

See you in November!

The organization committee of Systematikdagarna 2015