A position in Minnesota is available for a researcher in fungal evolution/phylogeny:

https://www.cbs.umn.edu/facres/cluster-hiring-cbs/fungal-evolution/position-description

PhD-student position in Biology with specialization in Systematics at the Department of Organismal Biology.
Application no later than 2012-11-01. UFV 2012/2245

Starting date: As agreed upon.

The overall objective of the PhD project is to improve quality in identification of traded plant wildlife using molecular barcoding. The project aims to develop tools and reference libraries for accurate species identification of traded plant material such as roots, powders and mixtures, using both standard and experimental DNA barcoding markers; and to use next generation sequencing for the identification of individual ingredients in processed products such as powders and mixtures. The project will look specifically at the regional and international trade of wild harvested medicinal plants and orchids in/and from Tanzania.

In addition to the objectives above the project aims to conduct quantitative investigations of wild-harvested traditional herbal medicines to identify diversity and volumes of medicinal plants traded in Tanzania. Surveys to monitor the chain of commercialization will give insights into the processing, collection, identification and availability of plant species traded.

The project includes fieldwork in Tanzania, studying herbarium collections in Leiden and St. Louis, and molecular lab work in Uppsala and Leiden, as well as phylogenetic analyses and taxonomical studies. The student is expected to follow appropriate courses in systematics theory and practice, including molecular barcoding, next generation sequencing, phylogenetics, bioinformatics, statistics, taxonomy, ethnobotany, participate in the research school in biosystematics (ForBio), and have no moral objections to carry out experiments with zebrafish embryo’s.

The PhD student will be supervised by a team of researchers on a collaborative TASENE funded project: Hugo de Boer, Uppsala University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, NHM-Oslo; Sandra Baldauf, Uppsala University; Barbara Gravendeel, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, University of Applied Sciences Leiden; Tinde van Andel, Naturalis Biodiversity Center; and Joseph Otieno, ITM-MUHAS Dar es Salaam.

The applicant should have a Master of Science degree in Biology or similar qualification. A strong academic record and training in molecular barcoding, quantitative ethnobotany, systematics, or molecular sequence analyses is preferable. The project will require an independent and dedicated person, proficient in both written and spoken English. She/he should be able to work well as part of a team but also independently; be flexible and willing to travel for field and labwork; and have excellent communication and reporting skills. In filling this position the university aims to recruit the person who, in the combined evaluation of competence, skills and documented qualifications, is judged most suitable to carry out and develop the work-in-hand and to contribute to a positive development of the department.

The PhD-student will primarily devote the time to his/her own research studies. The PhD student ship consist of a 1-year study grant followed by a 3-year appointment. Furthermore other departmental work, such as teaching or administration, can be included in addition to the appointment (max 20 %). Salary placement is in accordance with local guidelines at UppsalaUniversity. The applicant must be eligible for PhD studies at UppsalaUniversity. Information about research education can be found at the web site of the Faculty of Science and Technology, http://www.teknat.uu.se/Doktorand/. Regulations for Swedish PhD-students can be found in Högskoleförordningen 5 kap.§§1-7 and in the regulations and guidelines of Uppsala University http://regler.uu.se/.

The application should be written in English and should include a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, two support letters from referees, addresses and phone numbers of two academic reference persons, copies of the diploma, and the master thesis. The letter of intent (no more than two pages) should describe yourself, your scientific/educational background, and your interest in and competence for the position.

More information about the position can be obtained from Hugo de Boer hugo.deboer@ebc.uu.se , tel: +46 18 471 29 32, +46 704 666 139 or Sandra Baldauf Sandra.Baldauf@ebc.uu.se , tel: 018-471 64 52. Union representatives are: Anders Grundström, Saco-rådet, tel: 018-471 53 80, Carin Söderhäll, TCO/ST, tel: 018-471 19 96, and Stefan Djurström, Seko, tel: 018-471 33 15.

You are welcome to submit you application no later than November 1st, 2012, UFV-PA 2012/2245. Use the link below to access the application form.

http://www.uu.se/jobb/doktorander/annonsvisning?tarContentId=206432

A friend at RBGE urged me to re-post this announcement to elicit more applications from qualified systematists. Do not hesitate to apply for this position.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE)
Biodiversity Scientist (two vacancies)
Permanent, full-time based in Edinburgh
Salary range £24,543 to £31,815 with appointment dependent on experience

We have an exciting opportunity to appoint two permanent Biodiversity Scientists.  We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate they have excellent potential as future research leaders and who make a persuasive case that they will develop a research programme that is complementary to, and supportive of, our science.

Specifically, the successful candidate(s) will develop a research programme, undertake research, write papers/publications, prepare funding proposals, and undertake supervision of MSc and PhD students as required. The successful candidate will also make a contribution towards teaching on our MSc course.

Applicants must be educated to PhD level (with PhD already obtained or about to be obtained) in a biodiversity science related discipline. You should be an excellent researcher with a proven track record appropriate for your career stage, and have strong scientific writing ability. You’ll also need to be an effective communicator with the ability to clearly articulate the relevance of your research to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, and good interpersonal skills will be essential to develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues.

In addition to the above, you should have experience in a specialised area of biodiversity science, be able to place your work programme into the broader context of RBGE’s science and the more general landscape of biodiversity science, and understand key questions and challenges in one or more of the following fields: taxonomy, conservation, ecology, evolution and/or general biodiversity science.

Full details of the post, including a job description and person specification can be downloaded from this page. Further details of RBGE’s science can be obtained from www.rbge.org.uk/science. Candidates are encouraged to look at the web-pages of the different science sections and also the RBGE biodiversity strategy in developing their applications (www.rbge.org.uk/assets/files/science/Science_Strategy_summary.pdf). Informal enquiries or questions with regards to these posts should be sent to Nicole McGregor on n.mcgregor@rbge.org.uk.

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter, outlining the skills and experience they could bring to the post, as well as a completed equal opportunities form to Nicole McGregor in our  HR team at 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR or n.mcgregor@rbge.org.uk by close of business on Friday, 7 September 2012.

If you have not heard from us by the 5 October, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. No recruitment agencies please.