PhD opportunity in evolutionary ecology – Monash University, Australia
Responsibilities: The Community Ecology and Evolution group led by Giulia Ghedini is seeking motivated PhD candidates to join the team in the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
We study how species interactions affect organismal physiology to get a better understanding of performance in complex environments. We use experiments (informed by theory) on marine phytoplankton to quantify (plastic and evolutionary) changes in growth, energy/resource use and competitive ability at the individual level; we then ask how these responses help explain the diversity and functioning of communities. Our motivation is to improve our understanding of biological systems, particularly to facilitate predictions in the context of environmental change.
The project "Evolutionary dynamics in communities" will study evolutionary dynamics in phytoplankton communities using experimental evolution. Predicting how multi-species communities evolve remains a challenge – phytoplankton is a great system to study eco-evolutionary dynamics in eukaryotes and improve our ability to predict the evolution of communities. The goal of this project is to quantify how biotic interactions alter competitive ability, resource use and coexistence between phytoplankton strains, as well as the consequences of these responses for community properties. The specifics of the project can be defined according to interests of the candidate, within the broader research interests of the group.
Requirements:
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Honours or Masters of Science degree or equivalent
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Knowledge in one or few of the following areas: evolutionary biology, population biology, ecology, marine biology, microbial ecology and evolution
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Hands-on experience in any of those areas will be an advantage
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Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
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Demonstrated capacity to work independently and as part of a team
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High level of motivation and enthusiasm to perform laboratory-based research
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Experience in statistical analysis in R (or similar)
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Capacity to commence studies by 2026
Location: Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
How to apply: After checking eligibility, email your expression of interest to Dr Giulia Ghedini (giulia.ghedini@monash.edu). Include:
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A motivation letter (1–2 pages) describing your expertise and interests, and why you are a good fit for the research group
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Academic transcripts
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CV with list of publications (if available)
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Contacts of two referees
Contact details: Dr Giulia Ghedini Email: giulia.ghedini@monash.edu
Additional information:
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Candidates can be national (Australian) or international and will need to apply for PhD scholarships with the support of the group leader.
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Next scholarship deadlines: 31 August 2025 for international students, 31 May 2025 for domestic students.
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Scholarship eligibility: https://www.monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships/fees-scholarships
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Stipend and allowance rates: https://www.monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships/fees-scholarships/rates
