We aim to use diverse modelling approaches to explore the different layers of temporal complexity present in the lower trophic levels of the marine food web. Thus, this project would suit a theoretical biologist, or mathematicians and physicist interested in biological questions. Applicants should already hold a Masters qualification or a first class or upper-second class undergraduate degree.
The preliminary starting date is October 2014, but application review will continue until the position is filled. Further details below.
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PhD project title: Timescale interactions in marine microbes.
Institution: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (Scotland)
Group/Department: MASTS Marine Population Modelling Group, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Supervisor: Prof. Michael Heath, Dr. Juan Bonachela
This studentship will be of 3 years duration with stipend and fees for a UK/EU student. (Final funding arrangements under negotiation)
Description: Marine microbes (viruses, bacteria, phytoplankton) are a key component of the marine food web and of the most important biogeochemical cycles on Earth. Because of their short generation time and vast amount of offspring, these organisms evolve in timescales that are similar to the individual's lifetime. Therefore, phenotypic plasticity (dynamic responses to environmental changes) and evolution interact necessarily during the single-organism life span. However, theoretical research typically study ecological and evolutionary matters separately.
This project aims to study how considering these interactions may challenge current predictions about the long-term behaviour of marine microbes. The project will use existing mathematical models, and develop new ones, able to account for these interactions and dynamics. Due to the highly nonlinear ecological relations between organism, stochasticity inherent to mutations, and overlap between ecology and evolution, the study and analysis of these models will require from sophisticated (and probably innovative) mathematical and numerical methods. This project will be important to understand how the lower trophic levels in particular, and the complete marine food web in general, react to e.g. different climate change scenarios.
Start date: October 2014.
For more information please contact: Dr Juan Bonachela (Juan.Bonachela@strath.ac.uk; jabo@Princeton.EDU).
To apply: http://www.strath.ac.uk/
