MedPlant announces openings for 13 PhD (early stage researchers, ESRs)  
and 2 Postdoc (experiences researchers, ERs) positions across Europe.

MedPlant is a Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) supporting a
new generation of science researchers in Phylogenetic Exploration  of
Medicinal Plant Diversity. The successful candidates will participate
in the MedPlant Marie Curie international training network and will
work in a highly interactive international environment with other
Marie-Curie PhD students, researchers, authorities, NGOs and industry.

All positions are fully funded by the European Commission under the
FP7 People program. Candidates of any nationality can apply. Deadlines
November 15th or November 30th, 2013. Candidates must be able to start
March 1st,  2014 at the latest. Mobility and other eligibility
criteria apply. See details at www.MedPlant.eu.

PhD positions:
ESR1. Correlating evolutionary and chemical space using ChemGPS-NP.
Uppsala University.
ESR2. Phylogeny and phytochemistry of Icelandic lichens and club
mosses. University of Iceland.
ESR3. Domesticating deadly carrots. Predicting the biosynthetic
pathway of Thapsigargins for the treatment of solid tumours.
University of Copenhagen.
ESR4. Plantago major L. Travel tales of a worldwide weed. Predicting
chemotypes from migration routes and habitats. University of Copenhagen.
ESR5. Phylogenetic exploration of antitumor compounds in the giant
genusEuphorbia L. University of Copenhagen.
ESR6. Transmission of knowledge: a Nepalese case study. University of
Reading.
ESR7. Ethnobotany with the Chimalapas Zoque (Oaxaca, Mexico).
Reconstructing pre-Columbian Macro-Mayan medicine. University of
Cagliari.
ESR8. History of medicinal plant use in Europe: A phylogenetic and
organoleptic approach. University of Cagliari.
ESR9. Phytochemistry and phylogeny of incense plants. University of
Zürich.
ESR10. Cultural consensus and bioprospecting for anti-Chagas medicinal
plants in Bolivia. University of Bern.
ESR11. Tools for identification in support of legal and safe use of
medicinal plants. University of Reading.
ESR12. EDGE-MED. Identification of evolutionarily distinct, globally
endangered and potentially valuable medicinal plant species.
University of Reading.
ESR13. Substitution and adulteration of complexes of medicinal roots.
University of Oslo.
Postdoc positions (2 years):
ER1. Correlating evolutionary and chemical space usingChemGPS-NP.
AstraZeneca AB
ER2. Predicting in vivo CNS activity. High content evaluation of
physiological network-effects of complex plant extracts using
Caenorhabditis elegansas model organism. Dr. Wilmar Schwabe
Pharmaceuticals.

Nina Rønsted, Msc. PhD.
Science Coordinator of MedPlant ITN Network
www.MedPlant.eu
Associate Professor
Natural History Museum of Denmark
Sølvgade 83, Opg. S.
DK-1307 Copenhagen
Phone: +45 35 32 22 48
nronsted@snm.ku.dk
http://snm.ku.dk/english/forskning/projects/phylogenetic_prediction/

A fully-funded 3-year postdoctoral research position is available in the Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften at the Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria.

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on an interdisciplinary project funded by FWF. This project takes a comprehensive approach that combines phylogenetics and population genetics tools to study evolutionary processes in a lichen species complex (Pyrenodesmia). Previous work has uncovered high levels of diversity in Pyrenodesmia in the European Mediterranean region, whose heterogeneous landscape of complex geological and climatic history represents a globally significant hot spot of biodiversity. Yet, little is known about the influence of local ecological heterogeneity and environmental changes on the diversity of fungi, including lichens. In this project we will explore which processes have driven the extensive diversification of lichens, as a model for extremotolerant eukaryotic microorganisms.

Applicants should have a PhD in biology or closely related field and a strong interest in biology and evolution. Applicants shall have basic knowledge in lichen and fungal systematics. Experience in molecular techniques and phylogenetics and/or population genetics is required. Culturing skills are advantageous, but not essential. The post-doctoral researcher will be responsible for this study on a day-to-day basis and will participate in most aspects of the project (i.e., taxon sampling, data recording, photobiont culturing, molecular work, data analyses, paper writing).

This is a FWF funded project and it is part of an international collaboration including associated groups at the Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften at the Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Austria and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK. The candidate will join the research group of Martin Grube and Helmut Mayrhofer in Graz with periodic visits to Ester Gaya at RBG, Kew.

To ask questions or apply please e-mail to: e.gaya@kew.org or martin.grube@uni-graz.at or helmut.mayrhofer@uni-graz.at.

Materials must be received by 1st of December 2013, but late applications will be considered until the position is filled.

This post is available from 1^st February 2014, for a period of 36 months, full-time.

*Applications should include:*1) letter of interest / background (2 pages max); 2) complete CV; 3) the names and e-mail addresses of three referees.

Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz is committed to promoting equality and diversity.

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung has an international reputation in all fields of Natural History research. It runs six research institutes and two museums in Germany and is also in charge of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Messel.

The Department of Botany, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, seeks a Head of Mycology Division (full time)

Your tasks:

• Heading the section mycology
• Research in taxonomy, systematics and evolution of fungi, mainly in the Palaearctic
• Developing collection and research profile of the section
• Initiating and developing own research projects, acquisition of research grants
• Cooperation with other research teams, especially within Senckenberg (e.g. working groups on soil organisms, phytoparasitic fungi)
• Continuous publication activities in peer-reviewed journals
• Academic teaching (courses and candidates)

Your profile:

• PhD in the respective field
• Outstanding expertise in taxonomy and systematic of Palaearctic fungi
• Experience in microscope techniques; knowledge on raster electron microscopy and related fields is an advantage
• Skills in organizing and curating scientific collections
• Experience in supervision of students and handling of projects
• German language skills are desirable but not mandatory

Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-L E13, 100%) and will initially run for 5 years with the possibility of extension depending on the candidate’s performance.

The Senckenberg Research Institute supports equal opportunity of men and women and therefore encourages women to apply. Equally qualified handicapped applicants will be given preference as long as the type of disability does not prevent work needed to conduct the research.

The place of employment will be Görlitz, Germany. The employer is the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung.

Interested? Please send your application before June, 11th, 2013 preferably by e-mail (as a single pdf attachment, including a letter outlining your motivation to apply, a detailed CV, and, if available, publications, to the Head of Personnel and Social Affairs:

Mrs. Britta Werner, Leiterin Personal & Soziales, Senckenberg Gesellschaft, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Email: recruiting@senckenberg.de

In addition to that, we would like you to indicate in your application the source that brought our job advertisement to your attention.

For scientific enquiries please get in contact with PD Dr. Karsten Wesche Karsten.Wesche@senckenberg.de, Tel. 0049 3581 4760-5300

Please draw this exciting PhD opportunity to the attention of suitable applicants. Deadline for applications: May 3rd.

Project: The evolution of land plants and the assembly of the plant bodyplan

Project Details:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/earthsciences/courses/postgraduate/plantbodyplan.html/view

Apply Here:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/2013/apply.html

Dr Paul Kenrick
Head of Invertebrates & Plants Division
Department of Earth Sciences | The Natural History Museum | Cromwell Road |
London

The Finnish Museum of Natural History – LUOMUS (www.luomus.fi) is an independent institute of the University of Helsinki and the national museum in the field of natural history in Finland. The museum’s duties are to maintain, augment and display its collections, and to conduct related research and education. Natural Sciences Unit is a part of LUOMUS and performs research related to geology, palaeontology and chronological and isotopic methods within a broad operating environment. The institution has a staff of c. 150, of which 15 work in the Natural Sciences Unit.

The Finnish Museum of Natural History is inviting applications for the permanent position of

CURATOR

specialising in palaeontology. The appointment will begin on 1st of October in 2013, or on a later date as agreed.

The curator will be part of the Geology Team of the Natural Sciences Unit. The team is responsible for the mineral, rock, and fossil collections, for participation in the digitising and data management work related to the collections, for research on geology and palaeontology, for teaching in its field, and for participation in the geological survey of Finnish nature. The permanent staff of the team contains two researchers (Curator and Senior Curator) and a Senior Museum Technician.

The Curator performs independent research in the field of palaeontology. As a part of the team, the Curator is responsible for the organisation, management, and expanding of the fossil collections, and for collections-related database work. The Curator participates in the administrative tasks of the Unit. As an expert in the field, the Curator will participate in LUOMUS’s tasks related to societal interaction. The Curator is expected to be active in obtaining external funding, and in supervising research students and junior colleagues. The duties include an annual average teaching load of two ECT credits.

The Curator must hold a doctoral degree in the field of palaeontology and have an international publication record demonstrating competence in research in the field. In addition to scientific merits, general knowledge in geology and palaeontology, readiness for collections-based research and for collections management tasks, activity in obtaining external funding, teaching and supervising experience, proven success in popularisation of research, as well as readiness to support research-based exhibitions, capabilities of societal interaction and good teamwork skills are considered further assets.

The official languages of the University are Finnish and Swedish. Applicants of non-Finnish origin may be exempt from formal language requirements. Proficiency in English is essential.

The salary will be based on levels 5-7 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities (a senior position equivalent to University Lecturer). The salary includes a component based on personal work performance. The position is filled with a 4-month trial period.

Henkilöstö- ja lakiasiain osasto PL 33 (Yliopistonkatu 4), 00014 Helsingin yliopisto Hallintovirasto Puhelin (09) 1911, faksi (09) 191 23993, www.helsinki.fi/yliopistoApplicants should enclose with their applications a CV and list of publications, or an academic portfolio containing the same information, and a research plan, as well as any other documents that demonstrate their merits.

Applications should be addressed to the Director of the Finnish Museum of Natural History – LUOMUS, and they must be submitted, together with the required enclosures, to the address: Registrar of the University of Helsinki, P.O. BOX 33 (Yliopistonkatu 4), 00014 UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, Finland, or by e-mail to hy-kirjaamo@helsinki.fi. The deadline for applications is 15th May 2013 at 15.45 Finnish time.

Further information about the duties and salary can be obtained from Dr Markku Oinonen, Director of the Natural Sciences Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History – LUOMUS, email: markku.j.oinonen@helsinki.fi.

This is an unofficial translation of the official announcement, which can be found at http://www.helsinki.fi/rekrytointi/index.html?id=65637 (in Finnish).

Curator, Professor, and Director of Comparative Biology Initiative

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York invites applications and nominations for an outstanding scholar at the Full Curator & Full Professor level with internationally-recognized research and leadership credentials, and demonstrated, ongoing high-impact research productivity and grantsmanship, to provide innovative leadership for a new museum-wide initiative in comparative biology. This initiative will incorporate the work of multiple investigators at the Museum and at collaborating institutions in genomics and phenomics (large-scale phenotypic analysis), aimed at understanding the evolution and relationships of organisms in ways that clarify and illuminate the architecture of life. The successful candidate for this position should show experience and interest in managing large–scale, interdisciplinary, collaborative, multi-institutional projects and is expected to qualify for and be appointed as a tenured full curator in either the Division of Invertebrate Zoology or Vertebrate Zoology, and as a full professor in the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the AMNH. We seek a creative, active, broad-based researcher and dynamic academic leader who interacts well with others and who will utilize the extensive resources the Museum has to offer in the way of collections, research instrumentation and laboratories, teaching and mentoring, exhibition, and public education.

We particularly seek applications from, or nominations of, candidates with a compelling vision for the future trajectory of their science, and for comparative biology in general, and whose research addresses fundamental, cross-disciplinary questions. In addition to the above-noted expectations for high productivity and grantsmanship, the successful candidate will have outstanding communication skills in engaging diverse communities and demonstrated capabilities in management of collaborative projects and decision-making. Experience in interacting with governmental and non-governmental agencies and in fundraising are highly desirable, as are collection-based, field-based and/or computational research. Other responsibilities or opportunities include advising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, offering courses in the Comparative Biology Ph.D. Program of the Museum’s Richard Gilder Graduate School, institutional service, development activities, and participating in Museum-sponsored exhibits and educational programs.

In addition to applications, we invite recommendations or nominations of potential candidates, and request that these include a resume and contact information for the nominee. Nominations or applications can be submitted to

seniorcuratorsearch@amnh.org. Applicants should submit the following materials electronically, preferably as PDF files, via a single email message to seniorcuratorsearch@amnh.org (Subject line: Senior Curator IZ-VZ Search Committee: your name): 1) a cover letter in which you indicate your interest, experience, and qualifications for the position; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) PDF files of up to five recent publications; and 4) names and contact information for five referees (to be contacted by the Museum only for the process of tenure review in the case of a pending appointment). Inquires should be directed to John Flynn, Chair of the Search Committee and Dean of the Richard Gilder Graduate School: dean-rggs@amnh.org. Applications or nominations should be received no later than May 10, 2013.

Employer Information:

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education and exhibition. The Museum’s research collections include more than 33 million natural history and cultural objects, and AMNH scientists undertake more than 100 expeditions annually. Science at the Museum includes five academic divisions, the Richard Gilder Graduate School, Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, 1 million specimen-capacity Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, high performance computational facilities, Microscopy and Imaging Facility, Southwest Research Station, the largest independent natural history library in the Western Hemisphere, and an array of other scientific facilities and resources.

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. The Museum encourages Women, Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, Vietnam Era and Disabled Veterans to apply. The Museum does not discriminate due to age, sex, religion, race, color, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law.

If special accommodations are needed in applying for this position, please contact the Office of Human Resources at

hrdesk@amnh.org

or 212-768-5108.

Highly motivated and skilled applicants from all countries are invited to apply for a post-doc opportunity in the group of Alexandre Antonelli (http://antonelli-lab.net) at the University of Gothenburg, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Sweden, in close collaboration with researchers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the USA. You will participate in a dynamic and international research environment aimed at disentangling the evolutionary processes underlying biological diversity and its future.

Work tasks

You will help selecting fossil calibration points for dating higher-level phylogenetic trees of all animals and plants. These fossils will be linked to the bioinformatic pipeline in SUPERSMART (Self-Updating Platform for Estimating Rates of Speciation and Migration, Ages and Relationships of Taxa; see www.supersmart-project.org). You will then use time-calibrated phylogenies to test for correlations between age, species richness, range sizes and extinction threats; temperature fluctuations and changes in diversification rates; among other empirical tests and analyses.

Evaluation criteria

Requirements: Candidates are required to have a PhD and at least two scientific publications and solid experience handling phylogenetic trees. You must also be fluent in English and have excellent communication skills.

Other advantageous skills: The ideal candidate will also have experience in some or several of the following skills: molecular dating; palaeontology; biogeography; bioinformatics including programming/scripting in R, Python or Perl; statistics; GIS; ecological theory and methods.

We are seeking a candidate who is independent, self-motivated, and interested in the use or development of new methods and approaches, in short, a person willing to go beyond the state-of-the-art in the field. We will attach great importance to personal characteristics and independence in learning and working, creativity and documented productivity.

Starting date, duration and conditions

The position is available immediately or upon agreement. Please note that funding for this particular project is provided by a stipend and is therefore not associated with a formal employment at the University, which will nevertheless provide a working desk and all the working facilities given to regular employees.  The grant (in total SEK 240,000) covers a 1-year full-time working duty. There is the possibility to apply for a 1-year extension. Commuting is a possibility if there are special reasons.

Application

The application should consist of a single pdf and include: 1) A short letter with the applicant’s motivation for the application that describes how the applicant meets the selection criteria (max. one A4 page); 2) A list of relevant qualifications (CV; max 5 pages); 3) Complete list of publications, including submitted and accepted manuscripts.

Deadline for applications

Please submit your application, or let me know your interest in the position, as soon as possible. The evaluation process will begin on April 17^th. The position will be filled as soon as an appropriate candidate is chosen.

Additional information and enquiries

Associate Professor Alexandre Antonelli. University of Gothenburg, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences. E-mail alexandre.antonelli@bioenv.gu.se

Naturvårdssveriges intressantaste uppdrag!

Är du den engagerade och visionära ledare vi söker som tillsammans med medarbetarna vill vara med att utveckla denna viktiga, spännande och dynamiska verksamhet?

ArtDatabanken är ett kunskapscentrum som bedömer tillståndet för landets arter, naturtyper och deras livsmiljöer samt är en brygga mellan forskning, miljöövervakning, näringar, naturvård, amatörbiologer och samhället. ArtDatabanken värnar Sveriges arter, naturtyper och deras livsmiljöer genom att tillhandahålla fakta och sprida information baserad på analyser, observationer och miljöövervakning.

Lär mer om oss på www.artdata.slu.se.

Som chef för ArtDatabanken har du ett övergripande ansvar för ledning, utveckling, planering, budget och uppföljning av hela verksamheten som omfattar cirka 80 anställda och omsätter cirka 110 miljoner per år. En spännande utmaning är att driva den förändringsprocess där Nationalnyckeln ska digitaliseras och att integrera hela ArtDatabanken i det arbetet.

Sista ansökningsdag är 22 april. För mer information kontakta Andrea Bergkvist på 073-944 50 75. Läs mer här: https://www.poolia.se/lediga-jobb/chef-till-artdatabanken-vid-slu-uppsala-35014/