PhD Scholarship in Applied Population Genomics at Technical University of Denmark

A PhD Scholarship in applied population genomics in European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) is available at the National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua), Denmark, with starting date November 2019. The scholarship is part of a larger Nordic collaborative project, MarGen_II, financed by the EU Interreg resund-Kattegat-Skagerrak Programme, the Danish Rod and Net License Funds and the National Institute of Aquatic Resources. The project will primarily be carried out at the Section for Marine Living Resources population genetics group situated in Silkeborg, Denmark. DTU Aqua is an institute at the Technical University of Denmark.

The population genetics group applies molecular methods with the aim to gain knowledge on how to preserve and manage biodiversity sustainably, in relation to recreational and commercial fisheries, biodiversity conservation and aquaculture. Knowledge is achieved through research into the evolutionary processes responsible for generating and maintaining genetic diversity within and among populations of marine and freshwater fish and shellfish. Sustainable management, harvest and production of marine fish and shellfish resources require fundamental knowledge about the demography, distribution and connectivity of natural populations. The native European flat oyster ( Ostrea edulis ) is a sought-after food source commonly considered a luxury good. European flat oyster has received increased biodiversity conservation attention because native populations have declined due to overfishing and disease outbreaks. At the same time, the species is regarded as commercially valuable within its native range in northern Europe and has therefore attracted increased focus on development in aquaculture. In this project, we focus on Scandinavian oyster populations that have so far received relatively limited attention. These populations are found within important environmental gradients and are close to the distributional margins of the species, which makes them interesting targets for analyses of population and, ultimately, aquaculture genomics. We have two overarching aims in the project: Candidates should 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. A background in population genetics is preferred and experience with bioinformatic analyses of large genetic/genomic data sets is an asset.