Kaminski Lab: Systematic Entomology

Phylogenetics, Museomics, Tenebrionidae, Blaptinae, Platynotini, Sepidiini


 PhD Student position at MIZ PAN available starting October 2021 

Funding source: National Science Center grant OPUS-19 nr UMO-2020/37/B/NZ8/02496 "High-throughput DNA sequencing on historical collections of beetles: phylogenetic studies among Platynotini (Tenebrionidae)"


Key words: systematics, phylogeny, morphology, beetles, NGS


Principal Investigator: dr hab. Marcin Jan Kamiński, Ph.D.


Scholarship (gross salary): 5,000 PLN per month until 2025-01-25 (NCN scholarship); ca. 3,600 PLN per month 2025-01-25-2025-09-30 (standard PhD scholarship)


Application deadline: May 4, 2021


Location: Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland)

Description:

A Ph.D. position is available for a motivated student to work on an NCN-funded project entitled:  High-throughput DNA sequencing on historical collections of beetles: phylogenetic studies among Platynotini (Tenebrionidae) with Dr. Marcin Kaminski (http://kaminskientomo.org/) in the MIZ PAN in Warsaw, Poland. The project strongly relies on museomics (i.e., acquiring genomic sequence data from museum specimens), and aims to address questions on the biogeography and morphological evolution of beetles. The student will be responsible for organizing and conducting work on the southern African subtribe Eurynotina, which currently contains 16 genera and over 90 species. Dr. Kaminski’s lab is located in the main headquarters of the Museum and Institute of Zoology (Polish Academy of Sciences) in Warsaw, Poland. More details on the project can be found here: http://kaminskientomo.org/blog-news/projects/platynotini 


Your duties will include:


The realization of this PhD project requires implementation of a diverse set of methodological tools (NGS, bioinformatics, modern taxonomy, distribution analyses), and will offer the candidate opportunities to work in  scientific facilities around the world, such as Ditsong Museum in South Africa (investigation of type material).


To be considered you will need:


Requested documents:


How to apply: Apply by e-mail to kaminskientomo@gmail.com. In the subject field please write "Ph.D. position - your first and last name”.


Recruitment process:

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the information presented in the submitted documents. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview via Zoom. Final results will be announced before May, 20th.


Postgraduate studies:

The selected candidate will be asked to apply to the Bioplanet Doctoral School of the Polish Academy of Sciences (https://szkoladoktorska-bioplanet.pl/en/home/) and participate in the entrance examination (via Skype or in person). The school does not charge tuition fees and provides compulsory and optional classes (conducted in English) for doctoral students. Doctoral studies will start on October 1, 2021 and should be completed by submitting a doctoral dissertation within 4 years. 


Scholarship:

The scholarship of 5,000 PLN per month (gross salary) is provided for the duration of the project (i.e. until 2025-01-25). Later, until 2025-09-30, the student will receive a standard PhD scholarship (ca. 3,600 PLN per month, gross salary). The scholarship provides for a reasonable cost of living in Warsaw based on current housing costs. 


Scientific research at MIZ PAN:

Research at MIZ covers a spectrum of topics in zoology, including systematics, biogeography, evolutionary biology, ecology, and population genetics. Dr. Marcin Kamiński's group (http://www.kaminskientomo.org/) belongs to the Zoological Museum. The Museum's collection, due to its historical nature, is one of the most valuable in Europe.