Ph.D. position newt demography and population genetics

[Benedikt]

University of Bielefeld, Department of Animal Behaviour, Unit Molecular
Ecology and Behaviour, Germany
& Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of
Zurich, Switzerland

PhD Position in population genetics and demographic analysis of newt
populations

Application deadline: 18.12.2011

Due to their limited dispersal ability amphibians are generally considered
to be structured as metapopulations. However, new studies show that the
dispersal propensity of amphibians has been vastly underestimated in the
past, thus challenging this common view. Aimed as a case study on a
typically pond-breeding amphibian species this research project analyses the
population structure of crested newts (Triturus cristatus) in the north of
Germany (Hamburg). By applying new and powerful molecular approaches to
determine the spatial extent of crested newt populations without any a
priori assumption on the level of three spatial scales this project will
explore the real spatial extent of crested newt populations by overcoming
potential biases of past approaches. The chosen study design will allow to
identify the degree of population connectivity and gene flow between
breeding sites of crested newts and to combine these genetic data with
demographic parameters estimated from mark-recapture data (birth, death,
immigration and emigration) of breeding sites on a local scale. The results
of the study will provide new and deep insights into the population dynamics
of a typically pond-breeding amphibian species in evolutionary and
ecological terms without confounding past a priori assumptions on the
structure of amphibian populations.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who is willing to
perform intensive field work (collection of genetic and mark-recapture
data), molecular laboratory work and state-of-the-art statistical modelling
of genetic and mark-recapture data. Field work will be performed near
Hamburg, molecular laboratory work and analyses will be carried out in the
group of Sebastian Steinfartz at the University of Bielefeld and analysis of
demographic data will be done at the University of Zurich in cooperation
with Benedikt Schmidt. While based in Hamburg a close cooperation with the
groups of Jörg Ganzhorn (Department of Ecology) and Alexander Haas (section
of Herpetology) at the Zoological Institute of the University of Hamburg is
intended. We are searching for a candidate who is highly flexible and
willing to challenge the successful integration of molecular and first hand
collected field and ecological data on a high level. In order to achieve
this goal the successful candidate will be based at the three different
locations (i.e. in Bielefeld, Hamburg and Zurich) with excellent research
conditions and groups of highly motivated people with a strong interest and
research background in organismic ecology and evolution. The position (65%
TV-L E13) will start at the beginning of February 2012 and is funded by the
German Research Foundation (DFG) for three years.

Please send your application until December 18st, including a curriculum
vitae, a letter of motivation why you are interested in the project and
addresses for references (e-mail addresses and telephone numbers) of two
referees as a merged PDF to:

Dr. Sebastian Steinfartz
Assistant Professor in Molecular Ecology and Behaviour
Department of Animal Behaviour
University of Bielefeld
Germany
Telephone: +49 521 106 2653
Email: sebastian.steinfartz@uni-bielefeld.de

We expect to interview candidates in early January in Bielefeld.

Inquiries and requests on the project should be directed either to Sebastian
Steinfartz or to

Dr. Benedikt Schmidt
KARCH
Passage Maximilien-de-Meuron 6, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 32 725 72 06
Email: benedikt.schmidt@ieu.uzh.ch