PhD-student position in Evolutionary and Ecological Genetics at Uppsala University. Do you want to conduct frontier research in an outstanding environment within evolutionary biology at Sweden’s largest faculty of science and technology? The Department of Ecology and Genetics at Uppsala University conducts world-leading research in biology, spanning from molecules to ecosystems and global biodiversity patterns. We are now looking to recruit a PhD student who wishes to develop their research career together with us. The Department of Ecology and Genetics (IEG) at the Evolutionary Biology Center (EBC) is an international environment with staff that conducts research to understand ecological and evolutionary processes across all levels of biological organization. IEG provides access to advanced national and local research infrastructures, including free super computing resources (NAISS) and the latest molecular technologies and sequencing platforms (SciLifeLab platforms). IEG hosts a Climate Lab with controlled environmental chambers and greenhouses, a state-of-the-art molecular lab, and animal rearing facilities. PhD-students at IEG take courses free of charge to further their development with general academia and the specific research field. They can also join the PhD school which provides ample opportunities for networking on and off campus with PhD-students from the other two biology departments at Uppsala University (Organismal Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology). The position is offered by the research program in Animal Ecology at IEG. The program’s current research spans population genomics and quantitative genetics, local adaptation, biotic interactions, the evolution of life histories, speciation, sexual selection, conservation genomics, as well as macro-ecology. Duties A central question in evolutionary biology is whether evolution is repeatable, and whether the same genes contribute to repeated phenotypic adaptations. This question has important implications for predicting genetic responses to changing environments. Recent studies show that while phenotypic evolution is often repeatable, the underlying genes involved can be less predictable. This poses a challenge for using genomic data to predict a species’ evolutionary potential. This project will address this challenge by integrating mechanistic insights about phenotypic adaptation with genomic data to understand how species evolve adaptations to changes in their environment. The PhD candidate will work with the main supervisor David Berger and with the co-supervisor, SciLifeLab fellow Dr. Gabriela Montejo-Kovacevich, both at IEG. The project will leverage data from a large-scale Evolve-and-Resequence experiment in a cosmopolitan insect pest, the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. This system allows us to study the roles of determinism and chance in the evolution of an organism’s environmental tolerance and ecological niche breadth. Extensive phenotypic, RNA-seq, and DNA pool-seq data are available from multiple time points in the experiment, which is still ongoing. The Berger lab maintains several other C. maculatus strains sampled across its global distribution and closely related seed beetle species. This provides opportunities for comparative genomics and additional experiments and data collection if the candidate wishes to further develop the project. The PhD project will involve a combination of experimental and molecular laboratory work and bioinformatic analysis, with emphasis on the latter. The exact balance between tasks may depend on the candidate's interests and the project's development. The successful candidate is expected to collaborate with other researchers in the Berger and Montejo-Kovacevich groups, as well as researchers from two other groups working on seed beetles at IEG. PhD students at the Institute of Ecology and Genetics (IEG) have the option to engage in teaching and to develop their pedagogic CV by taking courses. The type and level of teaching will depend on availability and the student's interests but cannot exceed 20% full-time employment. Teaching responsibilities will primarily involve assisting in undergraduate courses within the biology section. The position and funding is extended by the time the student has engaged in teaching. Further reading: Rêgo, Alexandre, Julian Baur, Camille Girard-Tercieux, Maria de la Paz Celorio-Mancera, Rike Stelkens, och David Berger. ”Repeatability of Evolution and Genomic Predictions of Temperature Adaptation in Seed Beetles”. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2025, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02716-5. Burc, Estelle, Camille Girard-Tercieux, Moa Metz, et al.. ”Life-History Adaptation under Climate Warming Magnifies the Agricultural Footprint of a Cosmopolitan Insect Pest”. Nature Communications 16, (2025): 827. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56177-2. Qualifications required - hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, Bioinformatics, or a related field, or - have completed at least 240 credits in higher education with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or - have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way (e.g. extensive research experience). - have a grasp of key concepts in ecology and/or evolutionary biology/genetics. - candidates must be able to express themselves at a high level in spoken as well as written English. - be highly motivated and curious and thrive in a collaborative environment. - be able to take responsibility for carrying out and finishing independent tasks and projects. Some of the following skills are highly desirable: - Have experience or proven interest with programming and scripting. - Experience with statistical analyses applied to quantitative genetic or population genomic data. - Experience working with bioinformatic pipelines using computer servers and clusters. - Experience with molecular lab work (for example: DNA extractions and/or library preparations). - Experimental work, such as experience working with experimental evolution or genetic strains. About the employment Scope of employment: full-time (100%), for 4-years. Starting date 2026-09-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala University. How to apply: The application should be written in English and include: 1) a letter describing yourself, your research interests, why you want to pursue a Ph.D., and why you are suitable for the specific position offered 2) your CV 3) a brief description of your education 4) a copy of your master’s degree and your course grades, if applicable, along with a copy of your master’s thesis 5) names and contact details of at least two referees (email addresses and phone numbers), and 6) any publications if applicable Link to the online application system: https://uu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:915464/type:job/where:125/apply:1 You are welcome to submit your application no later than May 22nd, 2026. For further information about the position, please contact David Berger Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University. david.berger@ebc.uu.se När du har kontakt med oss på Uppsala universitet med e-post så innebär det att vi behandlar dina personuppgifter. 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