A PhD position is available at the University of Glasgow based in the
lab of Kevin Parsons, with co-supervision with Chris Harrod (Glasgow),
Heidrun Feuchtmayr (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), Jason Newton
(Glasgow), and Clayton Magill (Herriot-Watt University). The studentship
is funded, including stipend, along with a research and training budget
as part of the NERC IAEPETUS DTP

Full details and application portal can be found here:

https://iapetus.ac.uk/studentships/examining-ecological-shifts-and-impacts-of-adaptive-divergence-in-response-to-geothermal-habitats/

Project description:
- Climate change poses a major threat to biodiversity, but some
  populations will undergo ecological shifts to persist with impacts on
  the supporting ecosystem. How this will occur is unknown but in some
  areas of geothermal warming unique opportunities are provided to
  investigate the ecological impacts of a warmed habitat.
- In Iceland's geothermally warmed habitats, we have discovered several
  populations of threespine stickleback. This has driven adaptive
  divergence in metabolism, morphology, and behaviour. However, evidence
  also suggests that ecological differences in diet occur. This could
  drive much of the adaptive divergence observed, while also impacting
  the broader community.
- This project will look directly at the dietary changes that occur in
  these populations to better understand the ecological drivers of thermally-
  driven adaptive change. To achieve this the project will address three
  main aims:
- 1. Analysis of long-term dietary variation using stable isotopes to
  compare between populations from geothermal and ambient habitats
  (across multiple locations)
- 2. Assess ontogenetic variation in diet to determine at what life
  stage ecological divergence occurs
- 3. Tests of heritable divergence in diet preferences, performance, and
  bioenergetic partitioning through the use of lab-rearing and mesocosm
  experiments
- Field work will take place in Iceland, while mesocosm experiments will
  be conducted at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. We the
  candidates with the ability to work in a team as they will be part of
  a dynamic and social group of PhD students and postdocs at Glasgow.
  The lab meets weekly to discuss papers of interest, project ideas,
  explore methodologies, and to practice presentations for conferences
  or within the institute. The University of Glasgow is a top 100
  institution, with research expertise in many areas offering a
  stimulating environment.

Eligibility: This postion is avaible to both UK and international
students. The Iapetus programme will be holding an online Q&A application
workshop on the 26th of November, but further details are currently
available at https://iapetus.ac.uk/how-to-apply/#Eligibility

Interested applicants should contact Kevin Parsons directly with a CV
and statement of interest before the 8th of December if they are an
International applicant, while UK applicants should be in touch before
the 15th of December. This will provide time for the different processes
and the final deadline of the 5th of January 2026 to be met. Note:
IAPETUS has alos introduced the Diversifying Talent Scholarship Scheme,
with provides a separate competition for underrepresented groups (details
on https://iapetus.ac.uk/).

Dr. Kevin Parsons
Editor in Chief - Evolutionary Biology
School of Biodiversity,
One Health, and Veterinary Medicine
University of Glasgow

Phone: +44 (0) 0141 330 5974

https://sites.google.com/site/kevinparsonslab/home
http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/bahcm/staff/kevinparsons/

Kevin.Parsons@glasgow.ac.uk

(to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to
golding@mcmaster.ca)