A fully funded 3-year PhD position in experimental fish ecophysiology and ecology is open at DTU Aqua in Denmark (Lyngby campus). The successful candidate will join the research group of Senior Researcher Jane W. Behrens, as part of a grant from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) aimed at unravelling the effects of moderate hypoxia and food quality on growth of cod. We need to understand and quantify the drivers behind the observed decline in growth and nutritional health of cod in the eastern and western Baltic stocks, to support management strategies and evaluate recovery potential.
You will join a supportive and vibrant work environment at DTU Aqua, where your PhD will be based in the Section for Marine Living Resources. Your main supervisor will be Senior Researcher Jane W. Behrens (fish ecophysiologist). You will be co-supervised by Associate Professor Mikael van Deurs (fish ecologist) and researcher Kim Birnie-Gauvin (fish ecophysiologist).
The position is open to both national and international applicants.
Responsibilities and qualifications
The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting experimental research on cod responses to suboptimal oxygen conditions, and for collecting and analyzing stomach data from cod in the central Baltic Sea and also in the Åland Sea, where cod thrive and become large.
Your primary tasks and opportunities will be to:
- Design, establish and run experiments on responses of cod to moderate hypoxia, including measurements of metabolic rate (respirometry) and determination of specific growth rate and swimming behavior
- Contribute to the day-to-day running of the lab (e.g. feed and maintain fish)
- Do field samplings of cod for stomach analysis, and collect main prey of cod, for analysis of stable isotope profiles
- Analyze data in R
- Write manuscripts for publication in scientific journals and inclusion in your PhD thesis
- Attend conferences to present your research and expand your academic network
- Be involved in research abroad (e.g. field work and collaborative projects)
The ideal candidate is a highly motivated individual that can document a strong interest in fish physiology within an ecologically relevant context. You are expected to conduct rigorous experiments and data analyses, participate in field samplings and analysis of collected data, possess a strong scientific integrity, and have the ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English. While some aspects of the PhD project are fixed (see bullet points above), the final project will be developed in collaboration with the supervisors, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence the project based on their own ideas. Prior experience in working with fish in an experimental context is considered an asset, and proven skills in statistical analysis are expected (preferably in R).
You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU’s rules for the PhD education.
Assessment
Interviews for the PhD position will be held either online or in person at DTU Aqua (Henrik Dams Alle, Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark). You will be notified whether you have been short-listed for an interview within approximately three weeks after the closing date for applications.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years, which is the standard duration of the PhD programme in Denmark.
You will be based at DTU Aqua in Lyngby, 16 km north of Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen. Copenhagen is a highly international city (basically everyone speaks English), with ample opportunities for cultural and recreational activities, and Denmark has a very high standard of living.
The successful candidate is expected to start on August 1st 2024.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here.
Further information
Please do not hesitate to contact Jane W. Behrens with questions about the position, project, application requirements (detailed below), or living in Denmark. Jane can be contacted informally by e-mail (jabeh@aqua.dtu.dk).
You can also read more about DTU Aqua here.
If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.
Application procedure
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 24 March 2024 (23:59 Danish time).
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply now”, fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:
- A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
- Curriculum vitae
- Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
- Contact information (name, affiliation, e-mail, and phone number) for at least one but ideally two people who have agreed to act as academic references for you, and who can comment on your suitability for a PhD position
- Other material that you would like to include in the evaluation of your application
You may apply prior to obtaining your master’s degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.
Find out more about this opportunity here.