A PhD Scholarship in Population Genetics is available at the National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua) with starting date 1st May 2013.

The project will primarily be carried out in the Section for Marine Living Resources’ Population Genetics group in Silkeborg, Denmark. The PhD project is a part of a European Union joint research project assessing genetic effects of aquaculture on wild fish populations. The project is coordinated by DTU Aqua and started November 2012. The PhD project will have an independent profile but will be carried out in collaboration with international research partners. The successful applicant will be expected to take part in experimental work during regular shorter stays in Norway.

The purpose of DTU Aqua is to provide research, advice and education at the highest international level within the sustainable exploitation of living marine and freshwater resources, the biology of aquatic organisms and the development of ecosystems as well as their integration in ecosystem-based management. The institute has an international research staff comprising approx. 90 academic employees.

Project description
Knowledge of local adaptation and adaptive potential of natural populations is becoming increasingly relevant due to anthropogenic changes to the environment. Humans have cultured and released fish into wild populations for hundreds of years. However, it was not until the development of the aquaculture industry, together with increase in numbers of escapees observed in wild populations, that genetic interactions between domesticated and wild conspecifics started to become a major global concern. The project addresses local adaptation in brown trout, Salmo trutta, and will investigate how interbreeding between individuals of wild and hatchery origin affects life history and fitness in wild populations. The project will combine information from novel genetic markers with experimental assessment of heritable fitness components and differences in life-history traits. Linkage mapping and admixture mapping will be applied to link quantitative traits with specific gene regions and for establishing the genetic architecture of introgression. The project will take advantage of the fact that interbreeding between wild and farmed fish provides a unique opportunity to study functional adaptations from a general evolutionary perspective, and the project is planned to have a strong evolutionary ecology profile.

Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate who has:

• Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree, or equivalent
• Previous experience in population or breeding genetics and preferentially also ecological research
• Good mathematical skills, and potentially experience with QTL modeling
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Keen interest in research and for working within the field of molecular and evolutionary ecology

Approval and Enrolment
Scholarships for a PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the successful candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide.

Salary and appointment terms
Salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students at DTU. The period of employment is 3 years.

Further information
For further information about the project, please contact Senior Scientist Dorte Bekkevold; db@aqua.dtu.dk, or Professor Einar Eg Nielsen, een@aqua.dtu.dk.

General information may be obtained from Ulla Heiberg, ulhe@aqua.dtu.dk, (+45) 3588 3090.

Application
We must have your online application by 8 March 2013.

Applications must be submitted as one pdf file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link « Apply online, » fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one pdf file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae including a list of publications
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma
• Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines and excel spreadsheet here)
• Brief research proposal (1-2 pages) presenting ideas on how to address the research topics given in the short description of the PhD project above.

Candidates may apply prior to obtaining their master’s degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The purpose of DTU Aqua is to provide research, advice and education at the highest international level within the sustainable exploitation of living marine and freshwater resources, the biology of aquatic organisms and the dynamics of ecosystems as well as their integration in ecosystem-based management. DTU Aqua has 260 employees, of whom a third are scientific staff. The other employees are assistant biologists, laboratory technicians, IT employees, administrative staff, ship’s crew, student assistants etc. The institute is organized into eight scientific sections which carry out the research, educational and advisory activities. In addition, the institute has a number of scientific and administrative support functions, including the research vessel DANA. DTU Aqua has employees in Charlottenlund, Silkeborg and Hirtshals as well as on Dana. You can read more about DTU Aqua on www.aqua.dtu.dk