PhD Studentship in Mathematical Ecology - University College Cork

PhD Studentship in Mathematical Ecology

*Postgraduate Opportunities in Ecology*

A PhD studentship in mathematical ecology is available within the
Biodiversity Research Group at University College Cork, Ireland.

*Predicting the dynamical consequences of biodiversity change in complex
systems.*

This project will explore the dynamic consequences of species loss from
large complex food webs. Food webs can be viewed as complex systems of
interacting species and have a number of network properties that can be
explored from a mathematical perspective. The aim of the project will be to
use mathematical and computational approaches to investigate the importance
of species in a food web context. The project will use documented patterns
of body size, abundance and food web structure to parameterise models of a
series of marine food webs with a special focus on Lough Hyne, south west
Ireland. We are also interested in dynamics of food webs in general. We are
currently recruiting for a Ph.D in theoretical ecology (Applied Mathematics)
to work on the project. The prospective candidate should have a background
in mathematics. The applicant should be open to multidisciplinary research
and have a full and clean drivers licence. The scholarship will be in the
region of ?24,000 a year inclusive of fees and research costs.

Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Mark Emmerson
at m.emmerson@ucc.ie (Tel: 00353 21 490 1951) by *Friday 27th September 2007
*, stating why the position is of interest. Please include the names and
email addresses of two academic referees. For more information on the
biodiversity research group at UCC see:
http://www.ucc.ie/zeps/pages/staff/emmerson_m.htm.