The PhD Project
- You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis on the ecological drivers behind the geographic variation in osteoderm expression in Hemicordylus capensis lizards, using a combination of population genetic tools and ecological modelling.
- You will investigate population structure using genomic and phenotypic data across populations in South Africa.
- You will use species distribution modelling and connectivity models to test hypotheses on functional connectivity between populations, and to model predation pressure which is a potentially important driver of osteoderm variation.
- You will contribute to collecting field data, but the main task will be the ecological and population genetic modelling.
- You will be able to work together with two other PhD students that focus on the functional morphology and genetic architecture of osteoderm expression, respectively.
- You will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team consisting of Erik Matthysen (Evolutionary Ecology), Hannes Svardal (Evolutionary Genomics), and Chris Broeckhoven (Functional Morphology).
- You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Evolutionary Ecology Group.
Your Profile
- You hold a Master degree in Biology or a related field or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
- You have a strong background in ecology and evolutionary biology
- Experience in modelling is an advantage but not strictly required.
- You can demonstrate excellent study results.
- You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
Practicalities
- We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
- The application deadline is 1 September 2021.
- The planned start date is 1 October 2021 or as soon as possible after that date.
- Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
- You will do most of your research at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.