PHD POSITION: GENETIC DIVERSITY OF ATLANTIC SALMON The Fish Ecology and Evolution in Dynamic Ecosystems (FishEyE) group at University College Cork is offering a PhD position to work on genetic diversity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and its ecological and evolutionary drivers, across the island of Ireland. Salmon are iconic species of broad cultural, ecological and economic value, renowned for their precise homing to natal rivers. This behaviour, coupled with natural selection acting on heritable phenotypic traits across gradients of landscape heterogeneity, has produced a profusion of distinct, locally adapted, salmon populations. Yet salmon are in crisis and face a cocktail of anthropogenic stressors. This project will examine spatiotemporal patterns in genetic diversity in salmon at different spatial and temporal scales and elucidate underlying environmental and anthropogenic drivers. The project will be embedded in a newly funded research programme titled LEGACY: Understanding the Origins and Vulnerability of Diversity within Atlantic Salmon to Safeguard our Natural Evolutionary Heritage. The PhD student will join a vibrant and dynamic team of geneticists and ecologists working on fish and other taxa. Our team also has strong links with the Marine Institute and other government agencies in Ireland and beyond, and we collaborate broadly with top salmonid biologists and geneticists across Europe and North America. The research will be conducted in the School of BEES which consists of 30+ faculty, ca. 20 postdocs and 50 PhD students across Zoology, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Geology. Cork is situated on the south coast of Ireland, 2.5 hours from Dublin, is served by an international airport, has a population of about 200,000, and is on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful coastline in Europe. Candidates interested in this position should hold a minimum of a BSc, and ideally also an MSc, with a background in evolutionary biology or populations genetics/genomics, and have a strong interest in studying landscape drivers of intraspecific diversity and global change biology. Previous experience with data analysis, in particular bioinformatics and GIS, are essential. The project will be largely desk/lab based, but there are opportunities for fieldwork too. Prior experience with molecular lab work is a major plus too. We are looking for someone with fluent English, good communication and writing skills, and ability to work in a team. The position is funded for 4 years and the start date is 1 March 2026. The primary supervisor will be Dr Tom Reed, and the secondary supervisor Prof. Phil McGinnity. A senior postdoc will also play a key mentorship role. Please write to Dr Tom Reed (treed@ucc.ie) if you have further questions about the project or position. University College Cork is committed to equity and diversity and actively promotes equal opportunities. To apply for this position, please send a letter of motivation and CV, together with contact details of two references and your certificates as a single pdf ( <10 MB) to treed@ucc.ie with the subject "Application: Your Name [PhD Salmon Genetics]". The deadline for applications is Feb 2, 2026, or until the position is filled. Interviews to be held shortly thereafter, online. Associate Prof. Dr Tom Reed University College Cork Evolutionary Ecology of Fish and other taxa GROUP: https://www.ucc.ie/en/fisheye/ [under reconstruction] DEPARTMENT: https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/ SUPERVISORS: https://research.ucc.ie/en/persons/thomas-reed/ https://research.ucc.ie/en/persons/philip-mcginnity/ Thomas Reed Philip McGinnity Thomas Reed (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)