We are looking for candidates for 3 fully-funded PhD scholarships to work on various aspects and approaches to marine ecosystem modeling. See details below.
The preliminary starting date for the three of them is October 2014, but review of applications will continue until the position is filled. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DESCRIPTIONS------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) PhD project title: Modelling the dynamics of expenditure on recreational access to marine services Supervisors: Prof. Michael Heath, University of Strathclyde; Sam Anson, Marine Scotland Science; Dr Kieran Hyder, CEFAS Lowestoft; Dr Paul Tett, Scottish Association for Marine Science Eligibility: EU/UK fees and stipend fully funded. Applicants liable for international fees may apply but will be required to contribute to the fees. Duration: 3.5 years For information, contact Prof. Michael Heath: m.he...@strath.ac.uk <mailto:m.he...@strath.ac.uk> Apply online: http://www.strath.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduateresearch/ Closing date: 25 July 2014 Start date: 1st October 2014 Abstract: The project is concerned with evaluating the commercial opportunities that arise from societal interest in recreational uses of the marine environment, and the dynamics of how these may change in response to Environmental Status. These changes affect the sustainability of interactions between commercial activities servicing the recreational demand, and those directly exploiting the living resources (traditional fisheries), or physical resources (e.g. renewable energy). The research will be carried out by statistical analysis and modelling of existing national census and survey databases on public expenditure and recreation, and potentially by gathering new data using interview and questionnaire methods. The successful applicant will need to hold a 1st class or upper 2nd class graduate qualifications in statistics, and have evidence of skills in data handling and programming, preferably in the R statistical environment. Secondarily, evidence of experience in economics, social science, geography, or marine policy areas will also be viewed positively. The project is jointly funded by the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology (MASTS) and the University of Strathclyde, with supervisory involvement from Marine Scotland, Defra, SNH and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. The student will be based in the Marine Modelling group in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Strathclyde, and be a member of the MASTS Graduate School. Skills needed: First and foremost, the successful applicant will need to hold 1st class or upper 2nd class graduate qualifications in statistics, and have evidence of skills in data handling and programming, preferably in the R statistical environment. Secondarily, evidence of experience in economics, social science, geography, or marine policy areas will also be viewed positively. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) PhD project title: Norway lobster and Hematodinium sp. in the Clyde: modelling the population dynamics of a commercial species Supervisors: Dr Douglas C. Speirs, University of Strathclyde; Prof Douglas Neil, University of Glasgow; Dr Helen Dobby, Marine Scotland Science Eligibility: EU/UK fees and stipend fully funded. Applicants liable for international fees may apply but will be required to contribute to the fees. Duration: 3.5 years Further Information: Douglas C. Speirs: d.c.spe...@strath.ac.uk <mailto:d.c.spe...@strath.ac.uk> Apply online: http://www.strath.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduateresearch/ Closing date: 25 July 2014 Start date:1st October 2014 Abstract: Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) is a species of high commercial value, with first-sale landed values from the Scottish catch in the region of £80 million annually. Along with many decapod species Nephrops is subject to infection by the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. The parasite colonises the host haemolymph causing behavioural changes such as a reduced tail-flip response, visible accumulation of haemocyte and parasite cells in the pleopods and changes in cuticle colour, and eventually death. It causes a major source of lost revenue to decamped fisheries worldwide. The Clyde Sea contains an important Nephrops fishery with a high prevalence of infection that appears to fluctuate both seasonally and inter-annually. This PhD project will focus on developing a series of length-structured models to describe the population dynamics of this complex host-parasite system. The models will be validated using historical data on stock abundance, landings, parasite prevalence. The various models will be used to establish yield curves and maximum sustainable yields for Nephrops under different management and climate change (temperature) scenarios. A spatial population model will be developed, driven by high-resolution flow fields, to explore the role of spatial connectivity between areas of suitable benthic habitat. The successful applicant will hold a 1st / upper 2nd class degree, or equivalent, in mathematics, statistics, or similar quantitative discipline, and have evidence of skills in data handling and programming, preferably in the R statistical environment. Evidence of experience in ecological theory and modelling will also be viewed positively. The project is co-funded by Marine Scotland acting through the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology (MASTS) pooling scheme. The student will be based in the Marine Modelling group in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Strathclyde, and be a member of the MASTS Graduate School. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) 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.bonach...@strath.ac.uk; j...@princeton.edu). To apply: http://www.strath.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduateresearch/
