Postgraduate DPhil Studentship: Modelling Species Invasions in Fragmented Landscapes
STUDENTSHIP: Standard NERC rates
Applications are invited for a multidisciplinary postgraduate doctoral studentship to work on modelling species invasions in fragmented landscapes under the supervision of Dr Eamonn Gaffney (Centre for Mathematical Biology (CMB), University of Oxford), Dr Steven White (NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH); CMB) and Prof James Bullock (CEH). The studentship will start 1st October 2012 and will be based in the CMB, within The University of Oxford’s Mathematical Institute and will also be attached to Brasenose College.
In this project, the student will develop and analyse mathematical models to investigate the role that habitat fragmentation will have on plant species invasions. Specific topics that might be addressed include: (1) the development of theory on wavespeeds for stage-structured integro-difference equations in periodic landscapes; (2) the effect of multi-habitat landscapes on species invasions; (3) the effect of stochastic landscapes on species invasions; (4) transient dynamics theory; (5) investigating the role of density dependence in species invasions; and (6) multiple interacting species invasions. Throughout, the student will use a combination of analytical (stability analysis, asymptotics etc) and simulation techniques (in Matlab, Fortran etc).
The funding is at standard NERC rates and is suitable for UK or EU-eligible students (fees and stipend) or other EU students (fees only).
This studentship falls outside the University’s Gathered Field process and is ideally suited to a candidate with, or finishing, a degree in mathematics, statistics, theoretical ecology or a related quantitative subject. Applications should be made online at www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses and should include a CV, covering letter, a list of three referees and a transcript of your undergraduate degree. If you are unable to apply online, you can request a paper form from https://uni-of-oxford.custhelp.com/app/ask/. Applications must arrive by the end of the day on 2nd July 2012; please ensure you quote the correct reference BK/12/05 in your covering letter. Referees should send references using the online system, but if they have any problems, they may e-mail them directly to the Graduate Studies Assistant (graduate [dot] studies [-at-] maths [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk) by the closing date.
Further details about the application process may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Assistant (graduate [dot] studies [-at-] maths [dot] ox [dot] ac [dot] uk) and further details concerning the project are below:
The CMB was founded in 1983 with the mission to foster interdisciplinary research in the (then new) area of mathematical biology. It houses the editorial office of the Bulletin of Mathematical Biology and its members have played key roles in building a national and international research community of mathematical biologists. It played a leading role in building a cross-disciplinary research culture with biosciences within Oxford, in the establishment of the Oxford Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and in establishing collaborations worldwide. CEH is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere. As part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), CEH provides National Capability based on innovative, independent and interdisciplinary science and long-term environmental monitoring, forming an integral part of NERC's vision and strategy.
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