PhD Studentships

Horseshoe Crab

Image by Greg Smith

Position Available at: The University of Stirling, Scotland, UK

In collaboration with: Marine Biotech Ltd

Application Deadline: 26th February 2010 or until the post is filled

Start Date: As soon as possible

Principal Investigators & Supervisors: Dr Kim Jauncey or Dr Janet H. Brown

Duration: Three Years

Award Type: PhD in Biological Science

Applications are invited for two three years, fully-funded full-time PhD studentships. The successful applicants will carry out one of the two following projects on Limulus polyphemus, the Atlantic horseshoe crab or king crab:

  1. This research studentship will investigate a wide range of factors relating to the reproductive biology of Limulus including gametogenesis, fertilisation, egg and larval development and the first feeding stages.
  2. This research studentship will investigate the nutrition, nutritional physiology and growth of juvenile and adult Limulus fed both natural 'wet' feeds and artificial diets.

Limulus are fascinating animals with unique biology that are often referred to as 'living fossils' on the basis that similar species appear in fossil records dating back at least 230 million years. They are interestingly also not crabs but, being closely related to arachnids, are assumed to be the living equivalents of extinct trilobites.

With an excellent RAE 2008 outcome, the host department is the top rated aquaculture department in the UK. Research focuses on fundamental questions relating to the biology of aquatic organisms that frequently underpins strategies for sustainable aquaculture. The department has grown steadily over the last 35 years to its present size of more than 110 staff and 120 postgraduate students.

Marine Biotech Ltd (MBL) is a new company located near to Stirling, conducting commercially oriented research on useful biological and medical products that can be derived from marine organisms. The studentships will be based primarily at MBL with full access to the resources of the Institute of Aquaculture and University of Stirling.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications: Applicants must have at least a 2:1 or 1st Class Honours Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline.

Skills/Experience: The successful applicants will combine excellent academic research skills with a keen interest in commercially oriented research and the practical husbandry of aquatic animals.

Funding: The successful applicants will have University tuition fees paid in full (at the home/EU rate), and receive a maintenance bursary expected to be approximately £15,000 per year (tax-free). Funding is available to UK citizens, other EU citizens with at least three years UK residence, and non-EU citizens with at least three years UK residence (excluding residence for full-time education). The successful applicants are expected to start as soon as possible.

Confidentiality: The successful applicants will be required to sign a confidentiality undertaking that may limit full disclosure of research findings in academic or other publications or subsequent application of knowledge gained outside of MBL.

How to Apply

Please apply either online at http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/index.php

or by application form available from:

Anda Kilpatrick
Institute of Aquaculture
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA.
Tel: 01786 467874
Email: ak18 at stir dot ac dot uk

Closing Deadline: 26th February 2010 or until the post is filled.

For further information, please contact Dr Kim Jauncey (kim.jauncey at stir dot ac dot uk) or Dr Janet H. Brown (j.h.brown at stir dot ac dot uk)

RESEARCH THAT SHAPES AND IMPROVES LIVES