TWO NEW POSITIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Available at http://antonelli-lab.net (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

Closing date: February 28, 2013

1) PhD Position. Fixed-term employment, four years

You will test competing hypotheses of diversification for explaining the outstanding diversity in tropical America (including soil specialisation, temperature increases, polyploidy, habitat shifts, biome conservatism and range expansion). To achieve this goal you will carry out extensive fieldwork in Latin America, especially the tropical Andes and Amazonia, to collect plant and soil samples. You will then produce molecular data using next-generation sequencing techniques. Your analyses will include estimation of phylogenies, divergence times, species trees from gene trees, diversification rates, species distribution modelling, and biogeographic reconstructions.

The choice of plant group will depend on the candidate’s previous experience and interests (e.g. during the Masters project). Ideally, the study group should have a wide Neotropical distribution with a centre of species diversity in northern South America, have been recently revised taxonomically, be already relatively well collected, and included in phylogenetic analyses. Please indicate your suggestion of plant group in the motivation letter (this is recommended but not mandatory).

Good communication skills (written and spoken) in English are necessary. Priority will be given to those candidates who have co-authored at least one scientific publication. Fieldwork experience in the tropics, experience working with molecular phylogenetics and/or next-generation sequence data, and language skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese is advantageous. 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.

For more information and on-line application click HERE 

2) Post-doc. Fixed-term employment, two years

You will carry out research focused on speciation mechanisms in Amazonian plants, particularly palms. Although sympatric speciation is recognized as a driver of ”island” biodiversity (Howea palms, Cichlid fish, apple maggots), it remains to be discovered how it contributes to the mega-biodiversity in Amazonia. The understory palm Geonoma macrostachys is highly suited for this study because significant progress has been made to quantify and understand its complex variation. Responsibilities include extensive fieldwork across western Amazonia (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru); development of next-generation sequence data, analyses and publications; and the training and supervision of graduate students.

Highest priority will be given to candidates with a strong publication record who have fieldwork experience in the tropics and experience with next-generation sequence data. Due to intensive fieldwork in Latin America good language skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese is necessary as well as good communication skills (written and spoken) in English.

A strong background in phylogenetics, biogeography, and species delimitation as well as research experience with palms (taxonomy, phylogenetics, and/or ecology) is meritorious.

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.

For more information and on-line application click HERE

Best wishes

The Natural History Museum of Denmark is searching for a Collections Manager to help coordinate and oversee its zoological, botanical, palaeontological, and geological collections. This position will be supervised by the Head of Collections and is open from April 1st 2013.

About the Natural History Museum of Denmark

The Natural History Museum of Denmark is the Danish national museum for zoology, botany and geology, and it contains large global scientific collections of preserved animals, plants, fossils, and minerals. In its current form the museum was established on January 1, 2004 by the merging of four long-standing institutions: the Botanic Garden, the Botanical Museum & Central Library, the Geological Museum, and the Zoological Museum.

Even though the Natural History Museum of Denmark is young, the history of the individual departments and collections can be traced back to the 17th century. A new museum of natural history in the Botanical Garden is being planned (http://nyt.snm.ku.dk/english/) and will present the museum with a number of big challenges in relation to the coming move of the collections, the establishment of new storage facilities and new exhibits.

The collection support staff collaborates with the Head of Collections, the scientific curators of the museum and the members of the exhibitions department in the curation of specimens, including preparation, preservation, registration, etc.  The collection support staff is organized in a cross-cutting unit under the Head of Collections. The Natural History Museum of Denmark is part of the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, and therefore host and supervise undergraduate, graduate and PhD students as well as postdocs that use the museum collections for their research. The museum is an international institution with many foreign students and researchers and English is widely used as working language.

Primary tasks

*          To assist the Head of Collections with the coordination and management of the zoological, botanical, and geological collections. 

*          To help facilitate the use of these collections by all users, e.g., NHMD Curators and other Scientific Staff, exhibits, students, visiting scientists, and to support the collection management activities of all divisions.

The Collections Manager’s specific responsibilities will include:

*          Management and coordination of collection curation in conformance with NHMD policies and procedures.

*          Help define, formulate and prepare collection management policies, standards and procedures.

*          Actively participate and if required head various collection management committees.

*          Represent the Head of Collection in various committees and professional organizations.

*          Plan, coordinate and implement the move of collections from the old museums storages to new facilities when the new museum is built.

*          Participate in the planning and coordination of new collection facilities in the new museum.

*          Assist with grant-writing to support museum operations and improvements.

*          Coordinate and produce internal as well as external reports on collection matters.

*          Supervision and coordination of collections compliance activities including internal and external reports.

*          Help coordinate the stockroom and the purchase of supplies for collection management.

*          Coordinate the conservation care of the collections.

*          Administrate the loan database at NHMD (users, passwords, reports etc.).

*          Initiate and coordinate relevant tests and measurements of materials and equipment.

*          Other collection related duties as required.

*          If required assist with the curation of selected collection(s) (depending on professional background).

*          If desired participate in fieldwork in Denmark and abroad.

Qualifications

*          MSc in biology, geology, conservation and restoration or related field is required;

*          Collections management experience (from natural history museums).

*          Relevant computer skills.

*          Must be self-directed and have the ability to work independently.

*          Strong social and collaborative skills.

*          Good English language skills are required (spoken and written).

*          Good abilities to communicate orally as well as in writing.

*          Driving license is advantageous.

Additional information

More information about the position can be obtained by contacting the Head of collections, Nikolaj Scharff (phone: +45 35 32 11 07; e-mail: nscharff@snm.ku.dk). More general information about the Natural History Museum of Denmark is available from our website http://www.snm.ku.dk.

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Academic Trade Union. It is possible to negotiate additional salary according to documented previous experience and special qualifications.

Applications

Only electronic applications are accepted. Applications can be submitted in both English and Danish. Send the application including a C.V. and documentation of relevant experience by clicking the ”Apply online”-button at http://employment.ku.dk/administrative/. Deadline for applications is Friday February 15 2013.

The University of Copenhagen welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of personal background.