I am looking for a PhD student to join my group and the Collaborative Research Centre "A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC^3, https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/biologie/forschung/verbuende/sfb_nc3/)". The PhD project will focus on developing a modeling framework to investigate how species interactions (e.g. consumer-resource, host-parasite, or competitive interactions) are shaped by individual trait variation within species as well as by niche choice, niche conformance (closely related to phenotypic plasticity), and niche construction, the three key processes investigated by the collaborative research centre NC^3. The PhD student will be part of a highly interactive research environment in the research centre, with seminars, retreats, research clouds, and in particular also collaborations with the empirical groups in the research centre.

Research tasks (95 %)
- development of eco-evolutionary models
- mathematical analysis of models
- implementation in a programming language (e. g. R, C++, Python)
- simulation studies
- writing of scientific publications
- collaboration with other research groups within the collaborative research centre

Other tasks (5 %)
- organisation tasks in the research group and collaborative research centre

We expect:
- a university degree (e.g. Master) in a relevant scientific discipline, e. g. biology, mathematics, physics, or bioinformatics
- aspiration and ability to do a doctorate
- programming skills in at least one programming language (e. g. R, C++, Python)
- interest in both biological and mathematical questions
- excellent command of scientific English, written and oral
- motivation and communication skills to work as part of an interdisciplinary collaborative team

Preferred experience and skills:
- experience with mathematical modeling
- working knowledge of ecology and evolution

Please send your application including a motivation letter, CV, copies of certificates, and contact details of two references as a single pdf to meike.wittmann@uni-bielefeld.de and put the code Wiss22329 in the subject line. The application deadline is May 4, 2022.

For full details, see the official advertisement at:
https://uni-bielefeld.hr4you.org/job/view/1375/research-position-phd-student?page_lang=en

Best wishes,

Meike Wittmann