PhD position on avian reproductive microbiomes

A fully funded PhD position is available at the Department of Animal
Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, in the group of Dr. Melissah
Rowe. The PhD candidate will work on an ERC-funded project where the
overarching aim is to determine whether reproductive microbiomes impact
host fitness and evolution in wild animals and reveal the role of host
genetics and immune functioning in shaping reproductive microbiome
variability.

Application deadline September 15th, initial (online) interviews September
23rd /24th, and starting date in November 2024 (but can be flexible).

In this project, the student will use quantitative genetics to test
the hypotheses that (a) variation in the microbiome is linked to
individual fitness in a wild population, and (b) microbiome diversity
and/or composition is heritable. The successful candidate will make use
of a wild house sparrow population residing on a remote island in the
Atlantic (Lundy Island), where the genetic pedigree is of high density,
allowing the estimation of quantitative genetic parameters from data of
a few generations.

The PhD position will involve fieldwork on wild birds to collect samples
for microbiome analysis and quantify reproductive success of males and
females, laboratory analysis, bioinformatic and statistical analysis
of data, manuscript preparation, and supervision of students. There is
scope for the candidate to develop complementary avenues of research
that may involve additional tasks.

We are looking for a highly motivated, independent, and productive person,
who thrives in a collaborative and international environment and is
willing to work in the field and the lab and contribute intellectually to
the project. The candidate should hold a MSc degree in ecology/evolution,
molecular biology, microbial ecology, or a related discipline by the time
of starting the position. The candidate must have excellent communication
skills, including writing and presentation of research, and must be fluent
in English, as this is the working language of the group. Experience with
bird field work is highly preferred; The candidate will be expected to,
after initial training, conduct fieldwork on Lundy Island for a few
months every year

Informal inquires can be made to: Melissah Rowe, m.rowe@nioo.knaw.nl
Information on the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)
and the Department of Animal Ecology can be found at the website:
http://www.nioo.knaw.nl/.

For further information and to apply please see:
https://vacatures.knaw.nl/job/Wageningen-PhD-position-on-avian-reproductive-microbiomes-NIOO-KNAW-Wageningen/988207555/

"Rowe, Melissah" <M.Rowe@nioo.knaw.nl>

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