Postdoctoral researchers and graduate students (Honours, Masters and PhD) interested in studying ectotherms’ responses to climate change and biological invasions are encouraged to contact Susana Clusella-Trullas.

Enthusiastic and motivated students with a strong academic record are given priority. Funding opportunities exist through the NRF and Stellenbosch University (see Research Development and Postgraduate office). Please ensure to contact us well before fellowship and bursary application deadlines.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES and projects for 2023-2025/6:

Application Open for Postdoctoral Researcher in Insect Evolutionary and Ecological Responses to Climate Change

Academic level: Post-doctoral

Project hosts/collaborators: Susana Clusella-Trullas

Project background: This project will incorporate field and experimental approaches to explore the driving role of microclimate variables in shaping evolutionary adaptive responses to climate change. The project will focus primarily on large datasets relating to insects and examine trait variation in time and space, to test how organisms’ phenotypes are shaped by their environment, informing how rapidly they may respond to future climate change. Strong meta-analytical skills will be required to examine intra- and inter-specific comparisons and enhance our understanding of trait variation in a phylogenetic context. In addition to the field collected data, we aim to incorporate thermal physiology data and examine how the co-variation between morphological and physiological traits drives the distribution of key species along an elevation gradient.

Preferred starting date: early to mid-2024.

Length of project/funding: Two years with the possibility of extension of 1 additional year (3 years total). Competitive funding is available at standard rates. Yearly postdoc renewal will be conditional on progress. The candidate must be able to work as part of a team and be willing to spend periods of time in the field. Attendance to national and international conferences and workshops will be highly encouraged.

Requirements: PhD (must have graduated within the past five years). A PhD in Biological or Life Sciences is required. The candidate should have experience working with insects (rearing colonies, experimental set-ups) as well as experience in the measurement of thermal performance and/or physiological (metabolic, water balance) assays.

The candidate should be able to work independently, have advanced statistical skills in the R environment (e.g., phylogenetic comparative methods, Bayesian statistics), be able to program moderate routines in R and have a proven track record of publishing research in high quality peer-reviewed journals. Tutoring experience of junior students is desirable. International candidates should meet the entry requirements and visa regulations for study at the postdoctoral level at Stellenbosch University.

How to apply: Applications should include a cover letter, a one-to-two-page research statement, a comprehensive CV including the list of publications, and the names and contact details of at least two referees. Documents should be sent to:

Prof. Susana Clusella-Trullas, CL·I·M·E lab, Dept. Botany and Zoology & School for Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University.

Email: sct333@sun.ac.za

Review of applications will begin November 28, 2023, and continue until the position is filled.

2 x PhDs and 1 x MSc Positions: Advancing the thermal performance curve framework to predict species’ responses to climate change

Review of applications will begin immediately and start date is preferably prior to mid-2024.

Topic: The project aims to advance the reliability of the performance curve approach to predict vulnerability of insects to climate change. Facets of the project include investigating the effects of parameter variation of the performance curve in time (across life stages, generations) and space (across populations and species) on these vulnerability predictions. The project will offer training in a broad array of scientific skills and tools (thermal ecology, physiological ecology, mechanistic niche modelling) that can be applied to all sorts of job opportunities. Students will be working in close collaboration with Profs. Susana Clusella-Trullas (Stellenbosch University), Sylvain Pincebourde (CNRS, France) and Dalene Vosloo (University of Kwazulu-Natal).

Qualifications: MSc applicants must have an Honours (or equivalent) and PhD applicants must hold an MSc (Masters) degree in ecology or related field, interests in thermal ecology, climate change or biological invasions, and good writing skills. Adequate analytical skills in the R environment are required and some programming experience are a big advantage for PhDs but not essential for MSc.

To apply: Email: (1) Cover letter stating your research/career goals, how you would benefit from this opportunity, and your qualifications; (2) C.V.; (3) unofficial transcripts; (5) contact information for three professional references; and (6) a writing sample (e.g., publication, thesis, etc.) on which you are the first author to sct333@sun.ac.za.

Applicants are required to apply for an NRF open call bursary (at https://www.nrf.ac.za/dsi-nrf-postgraduate-student-funding-for-the-2024-academic-year/) and add the number of this grant in the application (deadline is 11 July 2023).

For more information and grant details, contact Prof. Susana Clusella-Trullas at sct333@sun.ac.za with “Insect thermal performance” in the email subject line. Official transcripts and letters of recommendation will be required for admittance. See requirements for an MSc and PhD degree at Stellenbosch University:

https://www.sun.ac.za/english/pgstudies/Pages/Additional-documents-required.aspx