PhD student in Plant Physiology in Sweden

PhD student in Plant Physiology at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at the Stockholm University

Research and education at Stockholm University at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) is located in the Arrhenius Laboratories, situated at the University Campus at Frescati. Presently around 140 people are working at DEEP using state-of-the art methodologies in an international research environment characterized by world-recognized researchers and a high level of professionalism.

Description

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences invites applications for a four-year PhD position part of the project “The first steps toward squash with nitrogen-fixing root nodules”. The position will be associated with the long-term research on nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses in the research group of Katharina Pawlowski (www.su.se/english/profiles/kpawl-1.192435).

The overall aim of the research is to understand the evolution of nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses and which plant features are required to evolve such a symbiosis. The core of the PhD project is to investigate the induction of nodules on the model species for actinorhizal Cucurbitales, Datisca glomerata, and to confirm certain features by comparative analyses of the corresponding genes in another actinorhizal genus from Cucurbitales, Coriaria (Coriariaceae). The main training will be in laboratory work (isolation of DNA and RNA from plants and bacteria, real time RT-PCR, molecular cloning, cytological analyses, tissue culture). The work will also involve phylogeny and bioinformatics.

Requirements

In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Plant Physiology stipulates, that applicants must have completed at least 60 higher education credits in the second cycle, of which 15 credits must be from a course in Plant Physiology, and 30 credits from a project in Plant Physiology. Applicants may also have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.