Ph.D. Position, Evolutionary ecology of host-parasite systems

ETH Zurich, Institute of Integrative Biology (IBZ)

The Experimental Ecology Group (Paul Schmid-Hempel) is seeking to fill a

Ph.D. Position

(Evolutionary ecology of host-parasite systems) to work on questions of host-parasite interactions using Bombus spp. and theirparasites as the study system. In particular, the project would investigate the natural diversity of host species and their infections (of Crithidia bombi in particular).

Our questions ultimately relate to the co-evolutionary dynamics of the host interactions with parasites, the epidemic processes in natural populations, or the spread and effect of infectious parasites in ecological communities of host species. We work with molecular tools but the project would focus on ecological questions. In particular, little is known about the occurrence, distribution and correlates of parasitism in the diverse sets of Bombus species. The project aims at gathering this knowledge and using it to test some concepts of ecological theory and host-parasite coevolution. Problems of species invasion might be a particular topic in this context. Although the prime motivation is questions of basic importance, the project is embedded in a larger set of studies conducted at ETH addressing the significance of ecological and genetic variation in natural systems with respect to disease, climatic change and environmental degradation.

The ideal candidate likes to work with this system, has an interest at the crossroads of ecology, genetics and evolution and a background in any of the relevant fields. Salaryand other conditions in accordance
with local regulations. The normal duration of aPhD at ETH is 3 years.

Special conditions for acceptance into the PhD program ofETH may apply; a degree equivalent to a M.Sc. is normally required. Preferred starting date autumn 2009 or shortly thereafter. Please send applications, with CV, names of referees, and short statement of your interests in this position to Prof. Paul Schmid-Hempel, preferably by email (psh@env.ethz.ch). Screening of applications will start 31 August 2009 or until post is filled. For more information, you may check our web page (www.eco.ethz.ch).

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Postdoc Position at the Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies Read more: http://scholarship-positions.com/postdoc-position-at-the-swiss-for

Deadline: August 21, 2009

Postdoc Position at the Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies

Call for Application

Postdoc Position: 0.8 FTE (32 hours per week). Three year appointment

The Swiss Forum for Migration and Population Studies intends to appoint one postdoc researcher. Potential candidates must hold a PhD degree in Political Science or Sociology, and excel in both research and teaching.

The research components of this postdoc is a project called SOM, which is funded by the European Commission as part of their Seventh Framework Program. The project wants to explain why the issue of immigration has become strongly politicized in some countries and not in others. This will be measured on the basis of claims, and counter-claims made by different political actors in Switzerland. The teaching components involve lectures at Master level.

Tasks

- Research in the context of the FP7 project SOM.

- Teaching in the Master Program (Orientation Migration et Citoyenneté).

Requirements

- Completed PhD thesis in political sciences or political sociology

- Publications in well established journals

- Expertise in quantitative empirical research

- Ability to teach and motivate students at advanced levels

More information may be obtained from the Chair of the selection committee, prof. dr. Gianni D’Amato through gianni.damato-at-unine.ch

The salary is commensurate with the tariffs applied by the University of Neuchâtel (seehttp://www2.unine.ch/rh/page1579.html). The initial appointment is limited to three years and is intended to start October 1, 2009 (or in accordance with a mutual arrangement).

Candidates should have excellent oral and written English skills. Working language at the SFM is French and German; knowledge in both languages are an important asset.

Job application

Applications should comprise a motivation letter, a full CV and a list of publications. The deadline for applications isAugust 21, 2009 and should be sent to Ms Nadja Rinchetti (nadja.rinchetti-at-unine.ch +41 32 718 39 20) by email or regular mail.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

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PhD position in numerical linear algebra, Switzerland

PhD position in numerical linear algebra

The Seminar for Applied Mathematics of ETH Zuerich (http://www.sam.math.ethz.ch/) offers a full PhD position on “Robust numerical methods for solving nonlinear eigenvalue problems”, a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation in the framework of the SNF Pro*Doc NUMPDE (http://www.zgsm.ch/?numpde).

Nonlinear eigenvalue problems (NLEVPs) arise in a variety of applications, including Micro- Electro-Mechanical-Systems, electronic structure calculation, nonlinear viscoelastic models, fluid-structure interaction and dynamical systems with time delays. Developing an efficient and robust solver for a decently general class of NLEVPs is a challenging task and offers fascinating research opportunities.

The position is temporary and limited to 3-4 years after a three month period of probation. The holder will be regular ETH research staff and receive a gross salary of roughly 66,000 Swiss Francs (about EUR 41.000, USD 55.000). The position will involve teaching of tutorial lectures, supervision of undergraduate students, and grading of examinations.

Candidates must have a master or diploma degree in mathematics, a (computational) engineering discipline, or in (computational) science. Their education record should indicate strong interest and exceptional skills in numerical analysis as well as familiarity with numerical linear algebra and numerical methods for the approximate solution of partial differential equations.

Knowledge of German is not required, but the candidates must possess good communication skills and should be fluent in English, both oral and in writing. Applications should be sent electronically (as PDF files) to Ms. Wolf
(hwolf@sam.math.ethz.ch). They must include • a curriculum vita;
• a complete record of academic education including grades and all achievements;
• abstracts of theses (master etc.) and descriptions of projects done before graduation
(include theses, reports and papers, if possible);
• complete addresses (including e-mail) of two established academic researchers who
can give an assessment of the candidate’s skills.
Informal requests on the project may be sent to Prof. Dr. Daniel Kressner
(kressner@math.ethz.ch).

Deadline: August 31, 2009 (position may be filled on a first come first served basis).
http://www.sam.math.ethz.ch/PhD_pos.pdf

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PhD Student Position in Evolutionary Biology , Switzerland

Eawag is the Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology, a Swiss-based and internationally operating aquatic research institutewithin the ETH domain.

The Department Aquatic Ecology (group of Piet Spaak) seeks a

PhD student in Evolutionary Biology

The PhD student will participate in a collaborative research project with Juliane Hollender (Environmental Chemistry, Eawag) and Flavio Anselmetti (Sedimentology, Eawag) to study the invasion of Daphnia during the past 100 years in lakes north and south of the Swiss Alps, using genetic information from diapausing eggs buried in lake sediments. Furthermore, by hatching Daphnia from past layers we want to study experimentally the role of contaminants on the success of Daphnia taxa (resurrection ecology). This study aims to blend the excellent research facilities both in environmental chemistry and evolutionary biology at Eawag. Another PhD student in the project studies the fate of pollutants over time in sediment cores of the same lakes. The focus of this project will be on
evolutionary aspects.

For this project, financed by the Swiss Science foundation, we are looking for a highly motivated candidate with interests in evolutionary biology, population genetics and environmental disturbance. Although field work is also involved, most of the work will be done in the lab (conducting experiments and screening diapausing eggs using molecular tools). Some of the work on lakes south of the Alps might be done in Italy.

We offer a stimulating research environment in a lively and social institute in Dübendorf (near Zürich) in a department with several other evolutionary and ecological research groups. The position will be for a period of three years, and should start as soon as possible (September 2009 or soon thereafter). The ideal candidate has both experimental as well as molecular skills (PCR, genotyping). A Diploma or Masters degree (or equivalent) in biology or related subject is necessary for admission. The working language in the group is English.

Applications should include a letter of interest with a description of pertinent experience, curriculum vitae, a list of publications (if any), the names (with e-mail addresses) of two potential referees, and copies of certificates of academic qualifications.

Please submit your application by 7 August 2009 as one single PDF file to Sandra Isenring, Eawag, Human Resources Department: recruiting-at-eawag.ch, indicating reference number 094402. For further information, consult www.eawag.ch or contact Piet Spaak (Tel. +41 44 823 5617) spaak-at-eawag.ch.

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PhD Position in Nanoelectronics, Switzerland

PhD Position in Nanoelectronics

Several PhD student positions are available at the Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures at EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland) headed by Prof. Andras Kis.

Description :

Highly motivated students will have an opportunity to work on projects related to mesoscopic transport, fabrication, processing and characterization of novel nanoelectronic devices as well as nanomaterial growth.

The group employs AFM, transport measurements in a cryostat with a magnet and related techniques for measurements on nanoscale structures we fabricate in the EPFL class 100 cleanroom.

Requirements :

· A Master’s degree in physics, electrical engineering or materials science

· Proficiency in spoken and written English is also required

· Previous experience in cleanroom processing, electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, instrumentation programming or thin film growth is desirable

Application :

Candidates are invited to send a CV (as a pdf or rtf attachment only) including a brief description of research experience, statement of research interest and the contact information for three references by e-mail to job.lanes0-at-epfl.ch. Successful candidates will be invited to register in the EPFL doctoral school.

End of application : 15 September 2009

For more information on EPFL, please visit http://presentation.epfl.ch/

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PhD Position University of Zurich

A PhD position to work on evolutionary theory is available at the University of Zurich. The focus of the project is on the evolution of conflict and cooperation, with an emphasis on genetic conflicts in microbes. The project will touch on cooperation and conflict, co- evolution, ecological-evolutionary feedbacks and the levels-of- selection problem. While the main part of the project will focus on social evolution, the research may address other questions in evolutionary and ecology, depending on the background of the student.

Application Deadline: Friday 14th August 2009

There will be close collaboration with empiricists and students who wish to test their models with empirical approaches will be encouraged to do so.

Zurich is located less than one hour from the Alps, and is a small but vibrant city that is regarded to have one of the best standards of living in the world. There is a large international community and is well connected to all major European cities.

The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr Daniel Rankin, a theoretical evolutionary biologist interested in a wide range of topics, from social evolution to the link between evolution and ecology (see http://www.rankin.sk/ for details). The department is very international and consists of a very diverse range of individuals who work on a wide range of interesting evolutionary topics. We also work closely with other ecology/evolutionary groups in Z¨¹rich and
abroad.

Candidates should have a good background in evolutionary biology, ecology or behavioural ecology, and some experience with modeling. The candidate should have a diploma/MSc degree. The working language of
the group is English, and knowledge German is very helpful but not necessary. The position, funded by the Swiss NSF, is available to start immediately and will be for three years. The salary will be in line with University of Zurich policy, which is rather generous.

To apply, please send an e-mail with a cover letter, CV and short (<1 page) statement of research interests and experience in a single pdf file to d.rankin@access.uzh.ch. Please mention ¡°PhD position” in the subject of e-mail. Please additionally give the names and contact details of two or three people willing to write letters of
recommendation. For full consideration please send your application by Friday 14th August 2009. Due to the large number of applications, if you are not contacted please consider your application unsuccessful.

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Swiss Post-Doctoral Grant in Mobility Studies 2009

Application Deadline: August 30, 2009

Call for applications: Post-Doctoral Grant (70%) in Mobility Studies

MOVE is the Swiss interdisciplinary network for mobility studies, linking the universities of Neuchâtel (leading house), Berne, Lausanne, and Zürich. In addition to having created the Swiss Chair for Mobility Studies (a visiting professorship), MOVE offers four grants for post-doctoral studies on topics related to the mobility of persons, ideas, goods and institutions. Three post-doc research fellows have already been appointed and are working on issues related to the mobility of migrants (Bern), health practices (Zürich), and urban forms (Neuchâtel). The candidate who will be awarded the grant offered in the present call will be based at the University of Lausanne to conduct research on the mobility of higher education programmes and institutions, also called transnational or cross-border education.

The position starts in autumn/winter 2009-2010 (no later than January 2010).

Research area
While the mobility of students crossing national boundaries is not a new phenomenon, the globalising education industry relies today upon additional forms of cross-border education such as “programme mobility” and “institutional mobility.” The mobility of educational models and institutions has indeed been fast increasing since the turn of the millennium, most notably with the opening of branch campuses of international universities in the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern regions. This trend, alongside the intensifying movement of students, academic staff and curricula across borders, is both a response to, and a constitutive dimension of, globalisation. Given the mounting significance that an educated human workforce has for economic development in the current knowledge economy, such tendencies are expected to continue, especially in response to the needs for enhanced educational standards in the fast-growing developing economies of Asia and the Middle East.

Candidates with an interest and experience in this or a closely related field are invited to apply. In addition to carrying out his/her own research, the successful applicant will supervise and monitor two doctoral students working on the transnationalization of academic institutions. Given the current prominence of this phenomenon in Gulf countries, some knowledge of that region would constitute an advantage.

For more information, including duties and application procedures, please contact Dr. Peter Voll at peter.voll-at-unine.ch or visit: www.migration-population.ch/page27832.html.

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Leadership MBA Program and Scholarship - Lausanne, Switzerland

Leadership MBA Program and Scholarship - Lausanne, Switzerland: Redesigned in collaboration with CEOs and HR Directors across Europe, BuAdd Newsiness School Lausanne’s new MBA aims to develop future leaders equipped to address tomorrow’s business challenges. BSL is ranked in the top fifth of the QS Global 200 Business Schools 2009 listing.

” Leadership is to transform ordinary people into extraordinary people in order to achieve extraordinary things together,” said Daniel Vasella, Novartis CEO and Chairman of the Board. To mark the launch of the program, BSL has established a Future Leader Scholarship to reward a future leader’s plan for professional growth by granting him/her with a scholarship to the new MBA program.

Siegfried Gerlach, President & CEO of Siemens, and Benoit Dumont, Chairman of JP Morgan, were among the executives consulted in designing the BSL MBA and will act as honorary BSL judges in selecting the scholarship recipient.

BSL’s new MBA program focuses on personal leadership. It highlights success criteria defined by business leaders: adaptability to change, the ability to grasp the bigger picture, to remain calm under pressure, to communicate effectively, and to work well in a team.

To develop the new MBA program, BSL interviewed business executives from companies such as ABB, Allianz, Alcoa, AstraZeneca, BCV, Bobst, British Petroleum, Bulgari, Cadbury, Coop, Ernst & Young, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Kaz, Kudelski Group, Medtronic, Migros, Nespresso, Nestle, Novartis, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Siemens, Starbucks, UBS, Vibro-Meter.

” Why did no other business school ever think of asking us what we think,” said Charles Bill, Learning & Development Leader EMEA & India for PriceWaterhouseCoopers. ” We need business acumen; personal effectiveness and interactive skills are essential.”

The Future Leader Scholarship award may be applied to the BSL Executive MBA, Full-time MBA or Flex-MBA degree program. The Executive MBA takes place on Saturdays and is completed in 1½ years. The full-time and flex programs follow a modular format, with the full-time being completed in 1 year. Participants in the part-time, Flex-MBA determine their own study schedule and may take up to 3 years to complete. Tuition for an MBA at BSL is CHF 44,800.

The new MBA programs begin in September, with guaranteed openings for those applying in May and June.

To apply for the scholarship, eligible candidates are asked to submit an essay of 2000-2500 words on how they will use a BSL MBA to achieve their professional vision(s). All applications and essays must be received by July 31, 2009.

BSL is pleased to establish the Future Leader Scholarship to mark the launch of its redesigned modular MBA program. BSL’s new MBA aims to develop future leaders for tomorrow’s business challenges.

Through the Future Leader Scholarship, BSL honors a future leader’s plan for professional growth by providing him/her with a full scholarship to an MBA program of choice. A BSL MBA is fully accredited by the ACBSP and has a monetary value of 44,800 CHF.

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Postdoctoral scholarship: “Recreating Entrepreneurship” - Haniel Foundation (Germany) and University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)

he Haniel Foundation (Germany), the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and the Leuphana University Lueneburg (Germany) invite applications to a 12 months Postdoctoral Scholarship dedicated to “Recreating Entrepreneurship”. The scholarship is scheduled for the academic year of 2009/10, to start in autumn/winter of 2009.

Postdoctoral scholarship: “Recreating Entrepreneurship”

The Postdoctoral Scholarship addresses applicants with an interest in inventive approaches to entrepreneurship and its social and cultural contexts. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the spatial, affective, embodied and performative sides of entrepreneurial creation and the politics of entrepreneurship.

Applicants for the Postdoctoral Scholarship must hold a PhD in Social Sciences or Humanities and should have a number of publications in either of these fields. The ideal candidate should have a strong interdisciplinary interest in the issues indicated above. Furthermore, the candidate would be a productive and independent person preparing for an international academic career. The successful applicant will be based at the University of St. Gallen. The duration of the Postdoctoral Scholarship is for a minimum of one year with the posssibility for extension. The salary is 2500 Euro per month and also covers travel expenses.

Furthermore, the prospective scholar will be involved in a seminar series in the Universities in St. Gallen and Lueneburg that will bring together an international group of leading researchers on new movements in entrepreneurship to share their insights and ideas.

Interested candidates should electronically submit application documents along with an outline of research intentions as regards the scholarship (max. 5 pages) to Dr. Timon Beyes (timon.beyes-at-unisg.ch). Please send PDF-files only. Applications must be received no later than July 15th, 2009.

Both Universities are committed to increase the number of women in science and therefore encourage women to apply for this Postdoc position. Universität St. Gallen

Center of Leadership and Values in Society
Dr. Timon Beyes
Tigerbergstr. 2
9000 St. Gallen
Switzerland

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PhD Position in Wood Physics - Switzerland

A PhD position is available in the Wood Physics Group (Prof. Dr. P. Niemz. More information about us: http://www.ifb.ethz.ch/wood; earliest starting date: October 1, 2009. Title of the project: „ Multiscale experimental characterization of wood under moisture and mechanical loading“.

PhD position in Wood Physics 2 (60%)

Research project

The investigations belong to a project with a total of five dissertations (see also http://www.ifb.ethz.ch/wood/jobs). Goal of the PhD project in the Wood Physics Group is to investigate the material behavior of spruce wood at different hierarchical levels under mechanical load and under moisture-induced stress. Therefore, swelling tests with free and hindered swelling and also cyclic mechanical loading tests have to be performed. The changes at the different structural levels (e.g., between earlywood and latewood) have to be analysed. Preliminary work (within the framework of students’ projects and two dissertations) has already been carried out in our working group.

The methodological approaches and the experimental techniques are different with regard to the structural scale. Besides standard testing procedures to determine swelling and stress at the macro level, neutron radiography, X-ray microtomography and diffractometry can be applied on the meso scale, and particularly electron and light microscopy at the micro scale. The experiments will provide a data basis for a multi scale modeling of the material behavior (which is no more the task of the doctoral student).

What we offer

The project offers the opportunity to work in a young and motivated team and the prospect of obtaining a PhD from ETH Zurich. The position is funded for three years. The gross annual salaries correspond to the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently about CHF 39‘600,-/€ 26‘200,- for the first year, CHF 42‘600,-/€ 28‘200,- for the second year, CHF 45‘600,-/€ 30‘200,- for the third year).

Your background

We are looking for a candidate holding a university degree at the MSc level (or equivalent) in a relevant field of expertise (wood science, wood technology, material science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or in a related field) with at least good grades and good English skills.

For further enquiries about the position contact Prof. Dr. P. Niemz (niemzp@ethz.ch)

Please apply online a www.jobs.ethz.ch

If you are interested, please submit your documents such as a letter of motivation, CV, copies of all relevant certificates/grades, a writing sample (e.g., a published article, a chapter from your MA/MSc thesis, a seminar paper) in a single pdf file. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

http://www.ifb.ethz.ch/wood/jobs

apply now

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International PhD Program, University of Basel, Switzerland: Deadline June 30, 2009

International PhD program at the

BIOZENTRUM

University of Basel, Switzerland

The Biozentrum together with the Werner Siemens - Foundation (WSF) launches the International PhD program in Molecular Life Sciences and encourages excellent students to apply for one of the
prestigious WSF fellowships.
The Biozentrum provides an internationally renowned research environment centered around three focal areas (Infection Biology, Growth and Development, Neurobiology) and two core programs (Structural Biology & Biophysics and Computational & Systems Biology) and is dedicated to basic molecular and biomedical research (http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/). We offer advanced Interdisciplinary training in the field of modern biology, a lively and interactive educational atmosphere, and competitive salaries with respect to European standards. University graduates admitted to the program receive theoretical and practical training and conduct a three-year research project under the supervision of a Biozentrum faculty member, monitored by a Thesis Advisory Committee.
Basel is an international center for biology research with major academic life science institutes and a high density of globally operating biotech companies.
Applications to the PhD fellowship program have to be submitted online. Application forms, requirements, and additional information can be found at: http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/phd/.
Application deadline: June 30, 2009. Read More...