PhD Position - Pollinator adaptative capacity to climate change

We are recruiting a fully-funded PhD student to study pollinator adaptive capacity to climate change. Depending on student interest, the project will use a combination of genomics, population monitoring, and common-garden experiments to evaluate pollinator species’ (e.g. butterflies, bees) ability to adjust or adapt to climate variation. The aim of this work is to better understand the components of landscapes/environments that maintain genetic diversity of populations and promote phenotypic plasticity in key traits, and thus might give species the best chance of adapting to changing climate conditions. This information is key to building better climate vulnerability assessments. Students will have flexibility to adapt the project to their interests and will have the opportunity to collaborate with government scientists.

Location:

The student will join the lab group of Dr. Michelle DiLeo at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry located at Trent University in Peterborough, ON, and will be enrolled in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate program (ENLS). The successful candidate will also be associated with the Naujokaitis-Lewis Lab through the National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada based in Ottawa, where we work on conservation and recovery of species at risk. The student will have access to networking and training opportunities through these organizations, with the potential to undertake research that aims to a have a broader impact.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

The successful candidate must have a MSc in Biology or a related discipline. The ideal candidate will have an interest in conservation biology, experience conducting independent research, have strong written and oral communication skills, experience using R to analyse data, and be willing to travel and work in the field under a variety of weather conditions. Prior experience with any of the following would be considered an asset but is not required: genetics/genomics, common garden experiments, GIS and spatial analysis. The candidate must meet the requirements for admission to graduate studies at Trent University.

Salary:

A stipend of $33,000/year for four years – part of this stipend will come from teaching assistantships. The stipend can be increased if the candidate is successful at securing external scholarships. All field costs will be covered.

To Apply:

Please send the following to Dr. Michelle DiLeo (michelle.dileo [at] ontario.ca):

  1. A statement outlining research interests, career goals, and how your previous experience and training relates to this project and has prepared you for a PhD or MSc.
  2. Your c.v.
  3. Unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate and MSc
  4. Contact information for two references

Deadline:

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Start Date:

January or May 2025