The Netherlands : Association of Universities in The Netherlands Postdoc / PhD student Molecular Neurobiology

Radboud University Nijmegen Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computing Science

Nijmegen, (Gelderland), 40 hours per week

Job description
The postdoctoral researcher or PhD student will be working in the field of Molecular Neurobiology (incl. neurodevelopmental aspects) using in particular molecular, cell-biological, physiological and behavioural research approaches. He/she will participate in unravelling the molecular basis of neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders, particularly the effects of (epi)genetic and environmental (early-life stress) factors on brain development/ behavioural phenotypes. Project in brief: A fundamental question in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders is how the interaction between predisposing genes and a change in environment (e.g. early-life stressors) can produce a phenotype that is vulnerable to a neurodevelopmental disorder such as schizophrenia. To tackle this question, a rat model has been developed that displays a complex phenotype remarkably similar to that of patients with schizophrenia. We want to establish the molecular genetic and neurobiological basis of the rat model. In humans, we try to identify the susceptibility genes for psychiatric disorders. Central question of the project: what programs the brain for vulnerability to neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders? Through our studies we hope to highlight the crucial role of neurodevelopmental signalling pathways and stressful (early) life events in programming the brain for vulnerability to these disorders.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
Postdoc : candidates should have obtained a PhD degree in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology, Molecular Life Sciences or equivalent. Preferably, candidates have a background in Developmental Biology, experience with animal models, and a high affinity for fundamental research related to clinical problems. Relevant experience with animal behavioural research is an advantage. PhD student: candidates for the PhD position should have obtained a Master's degree in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology, Molecular Life Sciences or equivalent.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Post-doctorates(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)

Organization
Radboud University Nijmegen
Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computing Science
Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University Nijmegen is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. A place with a personal touch, where top-flight education and research take place on a beautiful green campus in modern buildings with state-of-art facilities.

The challenge of the research performed at the Department of Molecular Animal Physiology is mapping the brain from genotype to molecular pathways in neurodevelopmental trajectories to neuronal circuitry phenotypes and, even further, to behaviour and cognition. The department is part of the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (theme 2: Functional Neurogenomics/Neurodevelopment, in which the roles of [brain] genes and their products are examined, often in [genetically modified] neuronal cells in culture and in [genetically modified] animal models). The department is affiliated with and housed in the Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS; theme 3: Cell growth and differentiation) of Radboud University. Website: www.ru.nl/molanphys/. The Donders Centre for Neuroscience brings together multidisciplinary basic and clinical research groups from the Faculty of Science and the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. The researchers at the Centre combine basic research on cognitive neuroscience and applied clinical research. Website: www.ru.nl/dcn. The Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS) is a leading European research school within the domain of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, provides an excellent and challenging research environment, and includes departments of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. Multidisciplinary research within the NCMLS is also reflected in international MSc and PhD programmes. Website: www.ncmls.eu.
Date of entry: 24/07/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: Unknown
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Postdoc: three years. PhD student : four years.
Maximum hours per week: 40
Additional conditions of employment:
Postdoc: The candidate will be appointed as postdoctoral researcher for an initial period of one year. The candidate’s performance will be evaluated after that year. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2 years. PhD student : The candidate will be appointed as a PhD student for a period of four years. The candidate’s performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

prof. dr. G.J.M. Martens
Telephone number: 31(0)24- 3610564
E-mail address: g.martens@ncmls.ru.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.ru.nl)
• About the department (http://www.ru.nl/dcn)
• About the function (http://www.ru.nl/dcn)
• Radboud University Nijmegen (http://www.ru.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 01-10-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Faculteit der Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica
RU Nijmegen, FNWI, P&O , mrs. M. Coppus
Postbus 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, NL

E-mail: pz@science.ru.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 62.30.08.

Further Details

The Netherlands : PhD Student: Cutting-edge Oil/Water Separation Technology

Delft University of Technology Applied Sciences

Delft, (Zuid-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
In the Oil & Gas sector of DSTI, a project is being set up that aims at making existing oil/water separation equipment for oil production an order of magnitude smaller. The traditional large pressure vessels and settling tanks are replaced by line size devices that use swirling flow to accelerate the separation process. These devices not only make oil production cheaper, but also cleaner and safer and potentially these enable operation from remote geographical locations and even subsea.The physics behind these swirling devices are, however, challenging. The present project is a cooperation of Shell, Frames, CDS Engineering and the Universities of Technology in Delft, Eindhoven and Twente. This combination of industry, both operators and suppliers, and universities will give a solid foundation to develop this new technology by studying the various key processes in a practical context; key processes include swirling flow, densely dispersed liquid/liquid multiphase flow, phase separation, coalescence and break-up. The problem will be addressed from two angles, i.e. one PhD student (this vacancy) will focus on experimental research, the other PhD student will approach the research questions from the theoretical and numerical side. The ultimate project deliverable includes fundamental knowledge on the processes that govern oil/water separation. That knowledge, in particular geometrical and flow parameters, may be used by engineers to design an inline oil/water separation device.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
We are looking for candidates who are interested in studying the fundamentals of separation, while keeping in mind the requirements of the application. Collaboration across companies and universities is seen as one of the major features of this project.In this project, two PhD students will work closely together and with the industrial partners, and will spend a period in industry to gather relevant practical knowledge. This way, a scientifically challenging study should result in knowledge that can be directly applied to innovations in oil-water separation. Applicants should have a recent MSc in Chemical Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Applied Physics or a related discipline. We seek candidates with proficiency in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and with excellent experimental skills in Fluid Mechanics. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also required.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers

Organization
Delft University of Technology
Applied Sciences
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognized level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

The Dutch Separation Technology Institute (DSTI) is the network in which industry, universities and knowledge institutes work closely together to develop breakthrough separation technologies for application in different sectors of the process industry. Some 40 companies from the food, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, chemical and process water industries, together with eight knowledge centres have joined DSTI. “Together we can take bigger steps.”
Date of entry: 20/07/2008

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2500 - 3000

Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD starts at a maximum of € 2000 per month gross, increasing to a maximum of € 2558 gross in the fourth year. TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customized compensation and benefits package (the 'IKA'). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

E-mail address: Applicants-MSP-TNW@TUDelft.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.tudelft.nl)
• Technische Universiteit Delft (http://www.tudelft.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 31-10-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

E-mail: Applicants-MSP-TNW@TUDelft.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber TNWMSP08-050.

Further Details

The Netherlands : CARIM Internal Medicine/Immunology PhD student f/m

Universiteit Maastricht Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht

Maastricht, 6200 MD (Limburg), hours per week

Job description
Function title: AT2008.198 CARIM Internal Medicine/Immunology PhD student f/m
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of risk factors that include obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia and disturbed glucose metabolism.
In this PhD project we aim to explore the role of T cells in MetS and study the effects of insulin on the T cell response.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated PhD student (Medicine, Biology, Biomedical Sciences or equivalent) with a special interest in immunology. Experience with cell culture is preferred
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Health)

Organization
Universiteit Maastricht
Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht
Universiteit Maastricht (UM) the youngest university in the Netherlands, is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Currently UM has around 11500 students and 3,000 employees. Reflecting the universitys strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of law, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology.

Conditions of employment
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 48 months
Additional conditions of employment:
Your salary would be € 2.000,- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.558,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Marielle Thewissen
Telephone number: 31 43 3881969
E-mail address: marielle.thewissen@immuno.unimaas.nl

Or Prof.Dr. Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert
Telephone number: 31 43 3881433
E-mail address: secretariaat-immuno@immuno.unimaas.nl

Application
You can apply for this job before 07-08-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Universiteit Maastricht
PZ-FHML

P.O.Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands
E-mail: pzfdgvacatures@facburfdg.unimaas.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT2008.198.

Further Details

UK : The University of Manchester PhD Studentship

Corrosion of Turbocharger Materials

School of Materials Corrosion and Protection Centre

Professor Stuart Lyon

Application deadline: September 2008
Project to start: October 2008

The project
During operation turbochargers are subject to a duty cycle that comprises a rapid heat-up to operating temperature, some time spent at operating temperatures (up to about 1000K) then cool-down back to the ambient temperature. In the quiescent (i.e. engine-off) condition, the local gas atmosphere will comprise the residuals from fuel combustion. These species are likely to include: H2O, CO2, SO2, NOx, etc. and may be corrosive, especially during the evaporation/ condensation cycle experienced as a consequence of on-off operation.

Working closely with the project sponsor, Honeywell, this research proposes to: (a) develop a computational model of the gas ambient environment and its interaction with turbocharger materials of construction, (b) develop corrosion sensor technology to enable kinetic parameters (i.e. rates of corrosion) to be determined experimentally as a function of condensate composition. This is a challenging project that will form the basis of a corrosion rate model for turbocharger materials as a function of typical engine duty cycles.

The studentship
This studentship offers home tuition fees plus an enhanced stipend of £15k by industrial sponsors Honeywell. Applicants from outside the EU/UK must be able to meet the difference in the home and international fee.

Minimum 2.1 or MSc: (Chemical Engineering/Materials Science/Materials Chemistry background preferable but not essential as training will be given on all techniques used).

Further information and application
For further information about the project please contact Stuart Lyon (Email: Stuart.lyon@manchester.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0) 161 306 3601 or visit the School website

General admissions enquiries should be directed to the Postgraduate Team in the School of Materials (Email: pg-materials@manchester.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0)161 306 4824)

To apply please complete an online application form quoting the project reference number PhD/08/SL/01

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Ireland : Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Postgraduate Research Opportunity

Data for the sustainable management of an emerging fisheries resource

Funding Agency: Department of Education, Technological Sector Research Program, Strand I

Description: Almost half of Ireland’s commercial fish stocks face overexploitation. This presents a significant challenge to the fishing industry. As traditional commercial species such as cod decrease in abundance and their exploitation becomes less economically viable, the industry is increasingly turning to alternative species. It is imperative that the development of emerging fisheries is accompanied by the collection of sound scientific data to ensure their sustainable management.

The Atlantic saury (Scomberesox saurus) has been identified as a potential species for exploitation. Virtually nothing is known about their biology or population dynamics. Basic data on the age structure, growth rates and maturation patterns is lacking, thus impeding their sustainable management. The purpose of this project is to provide critical information for management in parallel with the development of a commercial fishery for the species. A reliable method of age-estimation will be developed. Growth and maturation parameters will be established for the population and temporal and spatial variability in these parameters will be investigated. This research will provide essential new knowledge on the life history characteristics of an emerging commercial fish species to inform its sustainable management.

Requirements/Background: Minimum & Desirable and/or Required Experience: The successful candidate will hold an honours degree (minimum 2:2) in Fisheries Science, Zoology, Marine Biology, Ecology, or related discipline. Knowledge of ageing techniques and reproductive biology of marine fish as well as good computer and analytical skills are desirable. Experience of sampling at sea and appropriate safety training would also be an advantage. Short listing will apply.

Project Start-Date: September 2008

Project Duration: 2 years

Conditions: €1,000 per month
Postgraduate fees for EU students and any travel costs incurred during the project will also be covered.

Please Note: Candidates from outside the EU are eligible to apply, but may be expected to provide evidence of sources of additional funds to cover excesses associated with Non-EU fees.

Closing Date: 22nd August

Please forward completed GMIT application form and CV by post to: Research Office, GMIT, Dublin road, Galway.

Further Information on the project and a GMIT application form may be obtained from: Dr Deirdre Brophy at deirdre.brophy@gmit.ie
(Please note that applications forwarded by email will not be accepted)

New Zealand : PhD in Theoretical Ultra-Cold Atomic Physics

Jack Dodd Centre

Department of Physics

Opportunities for research in a world class group in a unique environment

At least two opportunities exist for motivated students to undertake PhD research in the group of Dr David Hutchinson at the University of Otago in New Zealand. The projects will centre on studies of a] effects of disorder in ultra-cold atomic gases and b] relaxation of non-ergodic systems as tests of non-equilibrium statistical physics. Both studies will be strongly connected to experiments in ultra-cold Bose condensed and degenerate Fermi gases.

The Jack Dodd Centre for Photonics and Ultra-Cold Atoms is well funded and consists of seven academic staff, covering both theory and experiment, providing a stimulating working environment. The University of Otago is the oldest and highest research ranked university in New Zealand and is situated in Dunedin, in the south of the South Island, amidst stunning scenery and outdoor opportunities.

Applicants should have a very good II(i) or 1st Class four year BSc Honours or MPhys degree or higher.

Enquires and expressions of interest, together with a curriculum vitae, should be sent to Dr David Hutchinson, hutch@physics.otago.ac.nz, by 31 August 2008. Further information regarding the Jack Dodd Centre can be found at: http://www.physics.otago.ac.nz/research/jackdodd.

Scholarship information, open to all nationalities, is available from:

http://www.otago.ac.nz/study/scholarships/postgraduate_scholarships.html

UK : University of Warwick PhD Studentship

Integrating DNA barcoding & biotyping approaches in fungal systematics, particular reference to major Fusarium pathogens

Warwick HRI

Project overview:
With an estimated 1.5 million species in the biosphere, fungi represent one of the most diverse eukaryotic lineages and exhibit huge diversity in form and function. At Warwick HRI, we have been using a combination of molecular and biological markers to characterise populations and species of major fungal pathogens. Fungal genus Fusarium is hugely important in the context of human well-being as it includes several major plant pathogens, mycotoxin producers and opportunistic human pathogens. The main aim of the current project is to develop a framework integrating DNA barcoding and biotyping methodologies applicable to major Fusarium pathogens. The project will mainly focus on developing DNA barcoding and biotyping methodologies to characterise the Fusarium species populations associated with the basal rot of onion in the UK as a model. The generic approaches will be applied to additional key examples of Fusarium oxysporum (FO) formae speciales and taxa representing major species complexes. This will be used to test the hypothesis and define species and sub-species boundaries in Fusarium.

Specific objectives:
1) To identify DNA barcoding genes and genomic regions applicable for species and sub-species level differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum complex with reference to taxa representing other major species complexes.
2) To develop a set of biotyping markers applicable for species and sub-species level differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum complex including pathogenic and saprophytic forms.
3) To carry out phylogenetic analysis of the multigene sequence data generated from the selected Fusarium species and formae speciales with reference to the biotyping-based groups and hypothesis testing of the potential of the multigene barcoding system to offer sufficient resolution at the species and sub-species levels

This studentship is available to UK, EU and International candidates. Funds are only available to cover UK/EU Tuition Fees. International candidates (outside EU) would be required to pay the difference between UK/EU Tuition Fees and International Tuition Fees.

The studentship is for 3 years starting on 29 September 2008 and will be registered at the University of Warwick. The studentship is funded by Defra.

Details of how to apply are available at http://www.go.warwick.ac.uk/pgapply. You should indicate on the application form that you are applying for the studentship (there is a section for funding). Please quote reference number HRI57.

Click here for further details of the post in Microsoft Word format.
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Please quote job vacancy reference number HRI57-078.

The closing date/time for applications is midnight (British time) at the end of Tuesday 12 August 2008.

For further details on how to apply for a post at Warwick, the employee benefits that we offer, information on Warwick people, what it is like working at Warwick, and more, please see our jobs introduction page.

The university values diversity.

UK : University of Warwick PhD Studentship

Improving the energy efficiency of biodiesel: Reducing energy input and improving sustainability

Warwick HRI

Project overview:
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and is generally in limiting supply in the soil. For this reason the use of N fertilisers has made a major contribution to world food production. However, fertiliser production consumes enormous quantities of energy and fertiliser use is associated with pollution of water courses and conversion to potent N-containing greenhouse gases. The large acreages of the Brassica napus crop oilseed rape (OSR), grown for edible oils and biodiesel, receives more N than any other arable crop and hence is associated with a significant environmental N footprint.

The aim of this studentship is to address this issue by identifying genetic determinants for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and plant germplasm containing beneficial alleles that can be used for breeding varieties with improved NUE. The project will build on existing work on OSR, but instead focus on the genetically simpler diploid Brassica relatives. The student will be able to exploit the natural variation present in Brassica diversity sets (DS) developed at WHRI, together with segregating mapping populations, which are a potentially rich source of beneficial alleles for traits for sustainable production'.

The strategy will involve determining allelic variation in a set of candidate genes with key roles in N transport and assimilation. This will be complemented by the assessment of target traits in the DS and mapping populations and the association of these with candidate genes using techniques such as genetic mapping and comparative genomics. The project will provide a multidisciplinary training programme in crop trait genetics and the opportunity to carry out life cycle analysis to quantify the potential benefits provided by this work. An understanding of the genetic control of NUE in Brassica is important for sustainable crop development for the future.

This studentship is available to UK, EU and International candidates. Funds are only available to cover UK/EU Tuition Fees. International candidates (outside EU) would be required to pay the difference between UK/EU Tuition Fees and International Tuition Fees.

The studentship is for 3 years starting on 29 September 2008 and will be registered at the University of Warwick. The studentship is funded by Enerbio, a research fund sponsored by the Tuck Foundation.

Details of how to apply are available at http://www.go.warwick.ac.uk/pgapply. You should indicate on the form that you are applying for the studentship (there is a section for funding). Please quote reference number HRI56.

Click here for further details of the post in Microsoft Word format.
Click here for further details of the post in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

Please quote job vacancy reference number HRI56-078.

The closing date/time for applications is midnight (British time) at the end of Monday 11 August 2008.

For further details on how to apply for a post at Warwick, the employee benefits that we offer, information on Warwick people, what it is like working at Warwick, and more, please see our jobs introduction page.

The university values diversity.

The Netherlands : PhD Biomass for Biofuels production options on family farms in Nampula (Mozambique)

Wageningen University and Research centre

Maputo / Nampula (Mozambique), (Abroad), 38 hours per week

Job description
Function title: PhD Biomass for Biofuels production options on family farms in Nampula (Mozambique)
Nampula Province is one of the major food producing regions in Mozambique. Private companies and the government are developing initiatives to establish bio-fuel factories and to stimulate the required biomass production in this region. It is unclear, however, how family farms, with an average farm size of only 1.4 ha, can profit from this development, because they use few inputs - resulting in low yields – and because infrastructure is poor. Only 20% of the farmers are organized in farmers associations. An integrated assessment is needed to answer the question if biomass for bio-energy provides an escape from the so-called poverty trap by providing opportunities to improve livelihoods
The PhD will develop and apply an operational farm model that allows quantification of the effects of introducing bio-energy crops on farms and their agro-ecological and socio-economic performance. He or she will identify the major factors determining the risks and opportunities for producing bio-energy crops related to different farm configurations and organisation forms in Nampula Province and regions with similar agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions. Farm level results will be scaled up to regional level to assess implications for food availability and affordability, as well as positive or negative externalities.
This project refers to the Mozambican PhD-position of the WOTRO-programme. The research will be carried out in close collaboration with the other team members and in particular with the Universities of Eduardo Mondlane and Wageningen (Plant Production Systems and Animal Production Systems).

Requirements
Required education/skills:The candidate has completed an MSc in a relevant field (e.g. Plant Sciences, Agronomy, Animal Sciences, Biology, Resource Ecology). He/she has proven capabilities in systems analysis, simulation modeling and other quantitative methods, has experience with literature research, computer programming languages and data searching, is fluent in English and Portuguese and has good writing skills. The candidate should be able to communicate well with colleague researchers in similar and other relevant disciplines.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)

Organization
Wageningen University and Research centre

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years.
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
A sandwich PhD position, which is a grant to complete a PhD thesis, while being employed at his/her home institute. He/she will spend the first and last 6-8 months of a 4 year period at Wageningen University, preparing his/her research proposal and finalizing the thesis. He/she will graduate at Wageningen University. In between he/she will perform research in Mozambique. Expenses as agreed upon in the contract are covered by the grant.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof. A. Sitoe
Telephone number: 31 258 823195410
E-mail address: asitoe@uem.mz

Or Dr. G.W.J. van de Ven
Telephone number: 31 317 482696
E-mail address: gerrie.vandeven@wur.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• Information on Sandwich PhD requirements (http://www.dpw.wageningen-ur.nl/PEenRC/)
• Information on the type of research (http://www.competingclaims.nl)

Application
You can apply for this job before 15-09-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Wageningen University, Department of Plant Sciences, chair group Plant Production Systems
Dr.G. van de Ven
P.O. Box 430
6700 AK Wageningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: Gerrie.vandeven@wur.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT: DPW 08-32.

Further Details

Scotland : University of Dundee p53 Research Studentship

Division of Molecular & Translational Medicine

College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing

p53 Research Studentship with Sir David Lane’s Cancer Research - UK Cell Transformation Research Laboratories

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with the development of anogenital neoplasia, particularly cervical cancer. We have identified a series of novel bioactive small molecules that activate p53 and decrease tumour growth in vivo. The successful student will work under the supervision of Dr Sonia Lain and Professor Sir David Lane to determine the effects of these compounds on cells derived from tumours carrying HPV and evaluate their potential use in the treatment of HPV-related diseases. The studentship is funded by CR-UK for up to 4 years and provides an excellent opportunity to work in laboratories with an international reputation in the study of the molecular basis of cancer. For a description for the types of approaches involved see Cancer Cell (2008) 13, 454-63; PNAS (2000) 97, 8501-6.

Applications are invited from well-motivated candidates with at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant discipline. Candidates with Masters degrees are also encouraged to apply. An ability to demonstrate practical skills in cell or molecular biology would be an advantage. The studentship pays tuition fees at UK/EU rate plus a maintenance stipend of £14,900 per annum. Non-EU applicants will have to fund the difference between home and oversees tuition fees themselves.

Further information about the PhD programme at Dundee can be accessed at www.dundee.ac.uk/facmedden/postgrad-research/

Details of the work funded by CR-UK can be found at www.cancer.org.uk

Applications including a full CV, letter of application (2 copies) outlining suitability for the post and email contacts of two academic referees should be sent to Dr Irene Allan, Division of Molecular & Translational Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY. Please type “CR-UK studentship C10008” in the subject box of your email.

Please send both hard copy to above address and email to i.m.allan@dundee.ac.uk

Closing date for applications is 29 August 2008

Further Details

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UK : City University Research Studentship

School of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences

The post holder will undertake research on a project commencing in September 2008 in the area of "Evaluation of screw expanders for small Organic Rankine Cycle systems". This University is the acknowledged world leader in this field and the results of the investigation will be closely monitored by the department's international industrial contacts. The work will be carried out under the guidance of Professor Nikola Stosic, the Principal Investigator of the project, who will also act as Research Supervisor to the successful candidate.

In particular, the post holder will undertake research in following main areas:

• Mathematical modelling of screw expander driven ORC systems at design and off-design operating conditions
• Experimental Testing of Screw Expanders, using Organic Working Fluids
• Thermo and Fluid Mechanics of screw expanders and their systems
• Fortran, C++, Java and CFD programming

The post holder will liaise with other academic and technical staff in matters related to the satisfactory progress of all aspects of the project and will be expected to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be expected by the Principal Investigator of the project and senior staff in the School.

You will have:

• An appropriate degree in a related subject such as Applied Mechanics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering Science or any relevant Engineering discipline.
• An inclination to experimental investigation and hands on test work.
• Good knowledge of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
• A good working knowledge of Numerical methods both 1D and 3D
• Excellent skills in Computing, particularly Programming in Fortran, C or C++ and Java
• A good knowledge of the use of CAD systems
• An ability to work effectively with other staff in the School
• An ability and willingness to learn new skills

This post is for a term of up to three years.

The tuition fees are paid in full for EU and domestic students. Overseas students need to pay the difference. Note that fees are subject to change annually throughout the programme of study.

The maintenance fees of £12,600 pa are paid in the form of a tax-free bursary and are subject to annual review.

For more information and how to apply, visit www.city.ac.uk/hr/jobs

Closing date: 15 August 2008

Actively working to promote equal opportunity and diversity.

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Ireland : ICGEE Phd Research Opportunities

Micro- and Nano- Engineering

The International Centre for Graduate Education in Micro- and Nano- Engineering (ICGEE) is an inter-university, inter-disciplinary and international organisation providing a student-centric doctoral research and education experience with a unique international flavor and perspective.

It brings together nine Irish partners, including eight third level higher education institutions Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG), Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University College Cork (UCC), University College Dublin (UCD), University of Limerick (UL), one professional engineering accreditation body, Engineers Ireland, along with five international partners: Chalmers University of Technology (CTH), Sweden, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG), France, Northwestern University, IL, USA, and University of Edinburgh, UK.
The ICGEE offers: a global curriculum with a wide spectrum of specialist academic courses from leading experts in Europe, the US and Asia; world-class research opportunities, and the opportunity to build an international peer network amongst the next generation of internationally focused global engineering leaders.

ICGEE SCHOLARSHIPS

An ICGEE scholarship of €24,000 per year over 4 years will be offered to all successful applicants to include a stipend (€16,000), travel and the equivalent of an EU Higher Education Institution (HEI) fee.

APPLICATION

An application may be submitted to any of the Irish partner HEI's within the ICGEE. Institutional affiliation is compulsory for admission to the ICGEE programme and the ICGEE admissions process will run in parallel with that of the selected host institute. The PhD research must fit within the ICGEE key research areas: Micro- & Nano-Engineering Design and Materials & Manufacturing. Potential candidates should have a first class primary degree or a Masters level education. For students whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of minimum 6.0 is required. Your application dossier must contain the following documentation:

i) A signed ICGEE cover sheet
ii) Copy of Host University application form
iii) A Personal Statement describing yourself, your scientific interests and why you want to join the ICGEE programme (max 1 page)

Your application package should be scanned and emailed to info@icgee.ie

DEADLINE

Only applications received before 1 September 2008 will be considered.

MORE INFORMATION

Detailed information on the ICGEE and its programmes can be found on www.icgee.ie

For any additional queries, please contact:

Patricia Hegarty, ICGEE Administrator, Department of Microelectronic Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland; + 353 21 490 4575.

Ireland : National University of Ireland Ph.D/M.Eng.Sc Scholarship

In the area of Geospatial Applications of Wireless Sensors

Institute of Microelectronics and Wireless Systems

Applications are invited for a Masters/PhD studentship in the wireless sensor networks for collection of realtime data for use in geospatial applications. This area of research, led by Dr. Ronan Farrell, will be undertaken in close collaboration with the national stratAG (www.stratag.ie) research consortium on advanced geotechnologies. The focus of this consortium is the application of geotechnology (historically satellite mapping) to more realtime data and environments. The objective of this project is to provide the sensing and communications technologies to deliver this realtime information.

Wireless sensor networks have been used widely for a number of years but there uses have been constrained to being either short range or low datarates. In this application it is necessary to look at applications where we may be dealing with wide areas (for example the coastline of the island of Ireland, or covering an entire city) and where we may have high bandwidth requirements (streaming video or high resolution still images). This will require an alternative approach to constructing the sensor network and also may require modification of the sensors (or the computing power of the sensors) to alter either the range or bandwidth requirements.

Interested candidates should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Electronic Engineering, Computer Science or a cognate discipline. Applicants who hold research masters in a relevant area are particularly welcomed. This work is inherently multidisciplinary and the successful applicant will need to collaborate with computer scientists, engineers and geographers. Excellence in communications and wireless technologies would be highly valued as would an open attitude to collaboration outside of one's comfort zone.

Successful candidates will join a large multi-disciplinary team and be initially enrolled on a full-time Masters of Engineering Science, with a review after 18 months for progression to a PhD programme. The studentship will comprise of fees and an annual stipend of 16,000 Euros (index linked). The position is available immediately though, upon agreement, the start date may be postponed to January 2009.

Applicants should supply by email a detailed CV including a detailed discussion of their latest work, two references and a complete list of publications. Please include GEO in the subject of your email. Applicants from outside of the EU are welcome to apply for all positions, however please state clearly your visa requirements in your initial emails. Please list your citizenship in your email subject. Closing date 1 October 2008.

*For all queries please contact *
Dr. Ronan Farrell, Director of the Institute of Microelectronics and Wireless Systems
E: rfarrell@eeng.nuim.ie
P: +353-1-7086197
W: imws.nuim.ie

Further Details

Ireland : University College Dublin Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Development of Microbial Source Tracking Techniques

School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science

Ref. No. 003601

Applications are invited for a three year fixed term post of Postdoctoral Research Fellow funded by the Environmental Protection Agency

Description of the project

Contamination of rivers and bathing waters by faecal pollution poses an increasing problem for water quality managers in relation to drinking and recreational waters, as well as (shell) fisheries industries. The aim of this translational research project is to address the urgent need by practitioners for tools to determine the origin, identity and levels of pollution. The project thus combines exciting research of a high academic standard with application of research findings in the field. This research builds on the recently completed ICReW project (Improvement of Coastal and Recreational bathing Waters, Pilot Action 3; www.icrew.info) which was funded by the European Union.

The project will be carried out in the Molecular Microbiology group (www.ucd.ie/molmicro) of Professor Wim Meijer in the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science in collaboration with Dr Bartholomew Masterson.

Selection criteria

We are looking for an enthusiastic scientist who is a team player with excellent organisational skills. The successful applicant has a PhD in Microbiology, Environmental Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics or a related area, a background in molecular biology or ecology and an affinity for applied ecological research. Possession of a full driver's license is desirable.

Application Procedure

The salary is €40,356 p.a. for a period of three years. Applications should include a cover letter, a comprehensive CV and the names and contact details of two referees. Applications should be submitted electronically to Professor Wim G. Meijer (wim.meijer@ucd.ie). Closing date 16 September 2008.

For informal enquiries please contact:

Prof Wim G. Meijer
Ardmore House
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science
University College Dublin
Dublin 4
Ireland
Tel (353)-1-716-1364
wim.meijer@ucd.ie

Further Details

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UK : University of Plymouth PhD Studentship on Human-Robot Interaction

Centre for Interactive Intelligent Systems (CIIS)

School of Computing, Communication and Electronics

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY

The University of Plymouth invites applications for a PhD Studentship on human-robot interaction to allow robots to learn concepts and language through human-robot tutelage. This research is part of the new EPSRC funded CONCEPT project (Linguistic and direct transmission of concepts in robot-human networks, more on http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/SoCCE/CONCEPT/

You will focus on robot-human interaction, and will be tasked with setting up a robotic experiment, implementing interface software, studying and implementing visual processing for object recognition in space and time, studying and implementing the human-robot interaction for learning through linguistic interaction and running the experiments on the robotic setup. Your work will lead to a doctoral degree on human-robot interaction for social and linguistic learning.

You will join a strong international research team studying cognitive aspect of robots, see for example http://www.italkproject.org/

You should have a strong interdisciplinary interest in cognitive science, artificial intelligence and robotics and should have, or expect to obtain, a high grade Bachelors or Masters Degree in Computer Science and/or Robotics or a related field. You must have good programming skills and a strong motivation for research.

Full-time Home/EU tuition fees will be paid for the duration of the 3 year studentship. Overseas applicants are welcome to apply but should be aware that, if successful, they must be able to cover the difference between Home/EU and Overseas fees (approximately £6550) for the duration of the studentship.

The stipend for the studentship is at the standard EPSRC rate, which is currently £12940 (note that the stipend is not subject to UK income tax). Funding commences on 1 October 2008.

Informal enquiries regarding the project can be made to Dr Tony Belpaeme by email tony.belpaeme@plymouth.ac.uk or call 01752 586212.

To apply for this studentship please download an application form from www.plymouth.ac.uk/pghowtoapply. Please return your application form with copies of your qualifications and transcripts, two academic references, English language qualification (if appropriate), a covering letter and CV to:

Mrs C Watson, Research Administrator
Faculty of Technology
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus, Plymouth
Devon PL4 8AA
c.watson@plymouth.ac.uk tel: 01752 586040

CLOSING DATE: 12 NOON, MONDAY 18 AUGUST 2008

UK : Full-time PhD Studentship in Geomicrobiology, CEPSAR open university

Faculty of Science

Three years from 1 October, 2008
Based in Milton Keynes

“Microorganisms in Civil Engineering (MICE)”, funded by the Leverhulme Trust

Many microorganisms are capable of precipitating minerals in the natural environment. The aim of this project is to understand how this occurs at the nano- and micro-scale and to investigate whether it could be used in practical civil engineering projects. The project will use carbonate-precipitating organisms to study the characteristics and formation of precipitated minerals in the laboratory. The project will appeal to an individual with initiative interested in linking nanotechnology to microbiology and developing future activity in this area. You should have a good honours degree in a biological science. Experience in microbiology and/or SEM and similar analytical methods would be highly advantageous.

Closing date: 22nd August 2008

Informal enquiries to Prof. Charles Cockell (c.s.cockell@open.ac.uk)

For detailed information, and to apply email p.punchihewa@open.ac.uk or telephone on 01908 655808. Details of the geomicrobiology research group can be found at http://cepsar.open.ac.uk/pers/c.s.cockell

We promote diversity in employment and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Further Details

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Germany : University of Heidelberg 2 PhD scholarships

The Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context: Shifting Asymmetries in Cultural Flows" at the University of Heidelberg is offering
2 PhD scholarships within the Junior Research Group "Asymmetries in Cultural Information Flows: Europe and South Asia in the Global Information Network since the Nineteenth Century".

The PhD students will be expected to develop a PhD project with the Junior Research Group's research focus. The research group primarily examines how the emergence of a global telecommunication network in the late nineteenth century altered information flow patterns between South Asia and Europe and transformed action and event horizons on both sides of the communication process.

The PhD students will work within the framework of these subprojects:

• "‘Telegram Style': Shifts in Transcultural Knowledge and Colonial Decision-Taking" (British colonial history, South Asian history and/or communication studies)
• "Shifting Horizons: The Local Impact of Telegraphy in Nineteenth-Century South Asia" (History, South Asian Literature/). Mastery of a local language will be necessary.

General information on the Cluster of Excellence can be found at http://www.vjc.uni-hd.de. It is highly recommended to contact the JRG leader, Roland Wenzlhuemer, to obtain further details about the research design of the Junior Research Group and the subprojects.

Applicants will have an excellent academic standing and be interested in completing a doctoral degree at the University of Heidelberg. Applicants are required to hold a Masters degree or equivalent by 1 October 2008. The positions available are open to both EU and overseas students.
The scholarships will start on 1 October 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter. They are awarded for two years with a possible renewal for another year after successful evaluation. The scholarship includes a stipend of EUR 1.000 per month and access to travel funds. Applications from women, ethnic minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged. For further information please contact roland.wenzlhuemer@staff.hu-berlin.de.

Please send a CV, copies of university degrees, two letters of recommendation and a short PhD project outline of no more than 1.000 words to the address below. Electronic applications are welcome. Interviews will begin on 18 August 2008 and continue until the positions are filled.

Contact details for enquiries and submission of application:
Dr. Roland Wenzlhuemer
Centre for British Studies
Mohrenstrasse 60
10117 Berlin, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 30 2093 5330
Email: roland.wenzlhuemer@staff.hu-berlin.de

Australia : Eskitis PhD Scholarship Griffith University Australia

The Discovery Biology Department of Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies is offering a highly motivated individual the opportunity to undertake a PhD to identify and characterise novel drug targets in parasites. Scholarships are being offered for research into the identification of new drug targets for either Malaria or African Sleeping Sickness. The successful candidate will be part of a growing team focussed on Tropical Disease Drug Discovery in the laboratories of Assoc Prof Avery. The candidate will have the opportunity to utilise a diverse range of technologies available within Eskitis.

This scholarship is offered once only to one person. Open for applications from July 7, 2008 until August 4, 2008.

Payment Information
The value of this scholarship is AUD25000 (per annum). This award is to be used for living expenses. This scholarship is paid fortnightly for the period of 3 years.

Research Information
This scholarship is for one of the following fields of research: Biochemistry and cell biology, Biotechnology or Other biological sciences. It is required that your study starts no earlier than July 7, 2008 and no later than December 31, 2008.

Eligibility
This scholarship is for study in Australia for those who have achieved Honours 1 or equivalent.

Application Details
To apply for this scholarship you must apply direct to faculty. Terms and conditions are subject to change. Always confirm details with scholarship provider before applying.

Contact
Vicky Avery (Associate Professor)
Eskitis Institute, Griffith University
Email: v.avery@griffith.edu.au
Web Site: www.griffith.edu.au/science/eskitis-institute-cell-molecular-th

Mexico : India-Mexican Government Scholarship 2009

The Government of Mexico have offered 6 scholarships for Indian nationals for the year 2009 for studies at a Mexican University or any institution of higher education in Mexico. The scholarships would be available for studies in the following subject fields

1. Agriculture
2. Architecture
3. Biotechnology
4. Environment Science
5. Latin American Studies;
6. Spanish Literature
7. History.
8. Economics
9. Psychology
10. Geography

Since, the medium of instructions would be Spanish Language, it would be mandatory that all applicants are able to speak Spanish at the time of submitting their applications. Only in exceptional cases, the Government of Mexico might consider to exempt this pre-requisite to the student if he agrees to undergo 6 months course in Spanish language prior to the start of the regular study.

Age: Below 26 years for P.G. (Masters) & below 30 years for Ph.D. as on 31.7.2008

Level Of Study: Post-graduate and Ph.D.

Qualification: Should have Bachelor's Degree or equivalent with minimum 65% marks in relevant subject for Post-graduate studies. The candidate should have Post-graduate Degree with minimum 65% marks in relevant subject for Ph.D.

Scholarships Include
Enrollment and school fees, where applicable.

Monthly allowance, equal to:

1. 4 D.F. (Federal District-Mexico City) minimum wages for a Specialty, Master's or Master's-level research, as well as for studies in the Spanish language and Mexican culture. This currently amounts to $6,310.80 pesos.
2. 5 D.F. (Federal District-Mexico City) minimum wages for a doctorate or doctoral research, as well as postdoctoral visits, medical specialties or subspecialties, and expert and artistic visits. This currently amounts to $7,888.50 pesos.

Medical insurance coverage from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), effective as of the third month of the scholarship, as long as scholarship grantees comply with the delivery of the documentation requested in due time and manner in order to proceed with their admission into the IMSS system.

At the beginning of the scholarship, transportation from Mexico City to the location of the academic institution where the grantee is to study, and transportation from there back to Mexico City upon termination of the scholarship.

The air travel New Delhi-Mexico-New Delhi must be covered by the respective candidate unless otherwise specified.

Any expenses not stipulated in the foregoing shall be payable by the scholarship grantee, including: costs involving study incorporation and revalidation costs; costs for printing of the thesis; graduation and degree-procurement processing fees; costs of registration in the National Register of Foreigners; and visa renewal fees.

Application on plain paper (in prescribed format) along with photocopies of educational certificates (including proof of age) and other documents, with a copy of recent passport size photograph pasted on the application, should reach "The Section Officer, ES.5 Section, Department of Higher Education, A.2/W.4, Curzon Road Barracks, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110 001? by 31.7.2008. Applications received after 31.7.2008 will not be entertained. Applications can also be submitted online at the Department website www.education.nic.in by 31.7.2008.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

USA: PhD Student Positions in DNA Repair Mechanisms, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

PhD student positions at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

PhD assistantships are available to study DNA repair mechanisms in eukaryotic cells. All tuition fees and a stipend for living expenses will be paid. Candidates with experience in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry or related areas are encouraged to apply. Minimum criteria for admission include >3.0 GPA, and a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of >1100. For international students, a minimum TOEFL score (computer version) of >250 (or >100 internet version or >600 paper version) is required. Please send CV and address enquiries to:

Dr. Shisheng Li
Assistant professor
Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences
School of Veterinary Medicine
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

Phone: 225 578 9102
Fax: 225 578 9895

Email: shli[ at ]vetmed.lsu.edu

Italy: Master Scholarships in Design, Master Politecnico di Milano

Research of eligible students’ for masters Scholarships
Master Politecnico di Milano www.polimi.it

POLI.design – Consorzio del Politecnico di Milano addresses your institution, which is a relevant reference point in the cultural and commercial exchange with Italy.
www.polidesign.net

POLI.design requests your cooperation in propagating news about qualified opportunities of post-university training:

MDS - Master in Strategic Design. Design of the Value Offering (in cooperation with MIP Politecnico). – 1st level – 10th edition, held in English. Duration 13 months. Design, management, technology and empowerment, for those oriented to work on the borderline between design and management. www.polidesign.net/mds

MBC - Master in Brand Communication, the Project, the Construction and the Brand Management (in cooperation with AssoComunicazione) – 1st level – 8th edition. Duration 12 months. To manage the strategic thought of the brand as a Strategic Planner, Product Manager, Account and Media manager. www.polidesign.net/mbc

MA&C - Master in Art Direction e Copywriting. The creative couple of the future – 1st level – 2nd edition. Duration 12 months. From advertising to global communication, with 11 art directors of important agencies, for the communication of the brand of the future. www.polidesign.net/mac

MDSPI - Master in Design for the Development of the Industrial Product – 1st level – 2nd edition. For the Product Design specialists, to run the entire procedure of realization of industrial products, from their conceiving to their production. www.polidesign.net/mdspi

The complete information about the masters and the courses is on line in the site www.polidesign.net

For each of these courses our Academic Partners offer some scholarships to the eligible foreign, designers students and architects interested in specializing in Italy.
In order to be considered for a scholarship it is necessary to send a curriculum vitae by 10th september 2008 and have a fairly good knowledge of the Italian language.

For further information you may contact us at the phone number +39 02 23995864 or e-mail address: formazione[ at ]polidesign.net

Deadline: 10th september 2008

UK : University of Salford PhD Studentship

Explore game based technology to support construction design and engineering

School of the Built Environment

The Salford Centre for (Construction) Research and Innovation Research (SCRI), which is 6* at the School of the Built Environment at University of Salford and Salford Think Lab are sponsoring a doctoral studentship in order to explore game based technology to support construction design and engineering.

The doctorate will explore game based technologies, such as virtual world, game artificial intelligence, to support construction design and engineering in a collaborative environment.

Research topics include:
• Application of artificial intelligence in construction simulation
• Human behavioural modelling in construction and building design
• Construction design and engineering in virtual world
• Digital prototyping and construction simulation

Project Supervisors:
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Song Wu and Prof. Terrence Fernando. The candidate will work with SCRI team and research team in Think Lab and will be able to use the state of art equipment, such as high end workstation and virtual reality facility Think Lab.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Dr. Song Wu, Email: s.wu@salford.ac.uk

Details of Studentship:
Applications are invited for a fully funded studentship in the area of visualization and simulation in construction. Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, an upper second class or higher degree in computer science, information technology together with a strong interest in 3D modelling and game technology research.

This studentship provides a tax-free full maintenance grant of £12,800 per annum, plus payment of UK home student tuition fees. Overseas student are also welcome to apply, but the international student fee will not be covered in the studentship.

Salford Think Lab
The Salford ‘Think Lab' provides state of the art facilities in a futuristic environment enabling researchers to engage in research that harnesses the leading developments related to Information and Communication Technologies providing new solutions to current and future challenges faced by industry, commerce and the community. It is designed for Interaction and Collaboration equipped with the best virtual environment facilities of any university in Europe.

SCRI
The Salford Centre for Research & Innovation (SCRI) was established in January 2002. SCRI brings together a diverse group of leading international academics from the Schools of the Built Environment, Computing Science & Engineering, and Art & Design. The Centre is funded by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC), in recognition of the leading role the University of Salford has played in construction and built and human environment research excellence. SCRI is positioned within the only, and most highly rated 6* Built and Human Environment (BuHu) research institute in Britain.

BuHu
BuHu is an internationally recognised centre for research in the Built and Human Environment. It has been the top rated research institute in the UK since 1992 and focuses its research on three themes; ICT, Management and the Environment. It comprises 90 research active academic staff, of whom 20 are internationally leading Professors, more than 35 research assistants and over 170 research students. BuHu collaborates with over 500 companies and clients around the world and make significant contributions to innovations and improvements in industry and the Environment.

The Institute is very active and in recent times it has attracted research funds and support totalling more than £30M. It has produced more than 300 journal articles, 600 conference papers, 50 major project reports and supported 200 research events, including its annual International Research Week (IRE), which incorporates a two day international conference, an industry day and a two day international postgraduate research conference. BuHu has also initiated 8 EPSRC and EU funded networks

Buhu currently has more than 170 PhD students and all postgraduate research students have access to advanced technical facilities including advanced virtual reality equipment and the new Thinking Laboratory. Research students are encouraged to network with their peers and the international community.

Application Deadline:
Applications, with a detailed CV and the names and addresses of two referees, should be sent to Dr. Song Wu, 424 Maxwell Building, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT.

Scotland : Napier University PhD Studentship

Industrial CASE PhD Studentship: Development of biofuel production from algae by solventogenic clostridia

Biofuel Research Centre, Napier University Edinburgh and Green Biologics Ltd

Applications are invited for one fully funded three-year PhD studentship within the Biofuel Research Centre at Napier University. This Industrial CASE studentship will cover tuition fees to home/EU level, and will provide an enhanced standard living allowance, over the basic stipend (which is currently £12,600 per annum). Overseas students are eligible to apply, but will be liable to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees. Note that fees are subject to change annually throughout programme of study.

The studentship is expected to start as soon as possible.

BACKGROUND

Butanol is a by-product of metabolism by solventogenic species of the anaerobic Genus Clostridium and it is an important chemical and second generation biofuel. The industrialisation of this biological fermentation process will depend on a number of critical factors, not least of which is the identification and development of a cost-effective fermentation substrate. The objective of this project is to evaluate algae as potential fermentation substrate for biofuel production by solventogenic clostridia. The research programme will establish the features which can be manipulated for process improvement, via substrate processing/treatment, fermentation optimisation and strain development.

The position, which is in association with leading biobutanol developers Green Biologics Ltd, is an EPSRC-funded CASE award from the Bioscience for Business Knowledge Transfer Network. The studentship will be based at Napier, however appointees will spend periods in each institute during the programme.

APPLICATION

Applicants must be highly motivated and must normally hold at least a first or second class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline. Candidates whose first language is not English must meet the University's English language requirements.

Further details of Napier University can be found at http://www.napier.ac.uk/. Details of Green Biologics Ltd can be found at http://www.gbl.com/

An application form (FP1 form) and more general details on research can be found at http://www.napier.ac.uk/randkt/prospectiveresearchstudents/Pages/Applications%20and%20studentships.aspx

Please send all formal applications, a CV and a completed "Supplementary Personal Information Form" and "Tuition Fee Classification Questionnaire" by 11 August 2008 to:

Caroline Graham, The Graduate School, Merchiston Campus, Napier University, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT

Email: c.graham@napier.ac.uk

Phone: 0131 455 2305

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Martin Tangney; Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Napier University; m.tangney@napier.ac.uk

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UK : University of Sheffield PhD projects in computational systems biology

Chemical and Process Engineering

Systems Biology is an emerging discipline combining quantitative experimental techniques and mathematical modelling; it has been expanding at a tremendous pace over the last decade, with excellent opportunities both in academic and industrial research. Systems Biology is a key priority area for research at Sheffield. Drawing on the strength of Sheffield’s engineering and biology (both leaders nationally and internationally), a series of activities have been initiated recently including regular seminar and journal club series and Roberts training for young researchers.

A fully funded new route (4 year) PhD studentship is available starting in October 2008 as part of the ChELSI centre (http://www.shef.ac.uk/chelsi/). The project will be carried out under the supervision of Dr G Sanguinetti (co-supervisor Prof P.C. Wright) and will be mostly centred on mathematical modelling, but will involve some training in experimental techniques. The successful candidate will be expected to have a good first degree in a numerate subject (e.g. engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science) and an interest in biology and biotechnological applications. The student will be based in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, but it is anticipated that the student will interact substantially with staff at the Department of Computer Science, Automatic Control and Systems Engineering and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. The following two projects are available; please state clearly in your application which project you are interested in.

Network based integration of high throughput biological data. Technological advances in molecular biology have led to the production of huge amounts of high-throughput data. These data sets describe the global behaviour of cellular products at various levels of organisation, genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic. While each of these reveal important characteristics of cellular processes at a specific level, it is not always clear how the information can be pieced together into a meaningful, systems level picture. Recently, we have proposed a probabilistic model which integrated
metabolic network information with high-throughput proteomic to identify pathways connected with hydrogen production in bacteria (Bioinformatics, 24(7): 1078-1085). In this project you will build on this approach to produce models capable of integrating data at various levels of organisation. This approach will be applied to the problem of hydrogen production in bacteria, with potential for important applications in synthetic biology and sustainable biofuels research. The mathematical tools required for the project will be centred on probability theory and statistical machine learning.

Control theory of bacterial metabolism. Bacterial responses to environmental changes often have important metabolic consequences. A case of particular interest involves the bacterial genus Nostoc which in certain conditions releases hydrogen which can then potentially be used as fuel. The dynamics of the response to changed conditions depends on proteins called transcription factors mediating the external signal and turning on and off enzymes that catalyse the metabolic reactions. Unfortunately, accurate measurement of these transcription factor activities is unfeasible. We recently have proposed models to perform statistical inference of transcription factors activity (Bioinformatics, 22(22), NIPS 19) . In this project you will turn these approaches into a control problem, where the goal is not only the inference of the transcription factor activities but how we can engineer the system to maximise the hydrogen yield. The mathematical tools involved in this prohect will be centred on ordinary differential equations, stochastic processes and control theory.

Please address enquiries to Mrs A Fidler:
Email: a.fidler@sheffield.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)114 2227557

Applications in writing to Mrs A Fidler (details above)

Closing date for applications: 8th August 2008

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Italy: Scholarships for the PhD Program in Business Administration, University of Bologna

The PhD program in Business Administration of the University of Bologna trains brilliant researchers in the fields of management, by offering courses in several areas such as organization theory, business strategy, marketing, technology and innovation management, research methods, statistics, econometrics. In addition to the courses, PhD students have the opportunity to attend seminars held by internationally renowned scholars, present their work at conferences, spend a research period of at least 6 months in international academic institutions. The courses are held in English. The PhD in Business Administration (3-year program) is organized by the Department of Management of the University of Bologna (www.sa.unibo.it), in cooperation with the University LUISS Guido Carli of Rome and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

In order to apply, a Master degree (laurea specialistica/magistrale) is required. The 2009 edition of the PhD in Business Administration (24th cycle) will start in January 2009. 10 students will be admitted to the program and 5 scholarships will be offered. The number of scholarship-assisted places may increase thanks to the financial support of public or private institutions. The net amount of the scholarship is around 1000 Euro per month, for a 3-year period. The amount of the scholarship can be increased during the research period spent abroad (+50%) and through assistantships in teaching or contract research activities. Applications from foreign students are encouraged.

For further details on the PhD program in Business Administration, the admission requirements and the selection procedures, please visit the website.

or contact the PhD Coordinator, Professor Federico Munari (federico.munari[ at ]unibo.it).

The call for application will be published at the beginning of August 2008 on this website.
The deadline to submit all the application documents (approx. 10th September 2008) will be specified in the call.

The Netherlands : PhD student in Ecology

University of Amsterdam Faculty of Science

Amsterdam, 1098 SM (Noord-Holland), 38 hours per week

Job description
Within the ERGO program of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), we are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student in ecology to work on the project "Potential ecosystem effects of future GM crop introductions through establishment of crop/wild hybrids or feral populations".
One aspect of Environmental Risk Assessments (ERA) of transgenic crops involves the introduction of the transgene in natural environments through outcrossing with a wild relative or through the establishment of feral populations. In the current project the likelihood of an expansion of hybrid/feral plants as well as the associated and potentially adverse effects on the ecosystem will be studied. The experimental systems are (i) hybrids between crop and wild lettuce (Lactuca sativa and L. serriola, resp.) as a model for crop/wild hybridisation, and (ii) Brassica napus as a model feral system. We specifically focus on abiotic stress related to salinity and drought.

The project focuses on experiments using different types of manipulations: changes to the local densities of plants, establishing new populations within and outside the current ecological range, and creating experimental populations in ‘oases' where they are not exposed to the stress of the surrounding environment (no transgenic plants will be introduced to the field). The work involves designing experiments, selecting and creating experimental plots, collecting data, specifically on the impact of the experiment on other species (pollinators, herbivores) and statistical analyses of the results. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate

• Master in biology, with emphasis on ecology, evolutionary biology or plant physiology
• Good training in the planning, execution and statistical analysis of (field) experiments
• Ability to work together in a research team
  

Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)

Organization
University of Amsterdam
Faculty of Science
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a university with an internationally acclaimed profile, located at the heart of the Dutch capital. As well as a world center for business and research, Amsterdam is a hub of cultural and media activities. The University of Amsterdam is a member of the League of European Research Universities.

The Faculty of Science at the UvA is one of Europe's foremost institutions of higher education and research in its chosen fields of specialization. It plays an active role in international science networks and collaborates with universities and industry. The Faculty has approximately 2,000 students and 1,500 staff members spread over four departments and ten research institutes. Each institute has its own research programme, a substantial part of which is externally funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Dutch government, the EU and various private enterprises.

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of the ten research institutes of the Faculty of Science. IBED covers a wide range of subjects, in both fundamental and applied research. Our scientific studies aim at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to climate change, using a truly multidisciplinary approach.

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: see below
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum period of four years (18 months plus a further 30 months after a positive evaluation) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis).

An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. PhD students are also expected to assist in teaching undergraduates. The salary is in accordance with the university regulations for academic personnel (Collective Labour Agreement) and will range from € 2,000.- (first year) up to a maximum of € 2,558.- (last year) gross per month (scale P).

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. ir. Danny Hooftman
Telephone number: 31 20 5257817
E-mail address: d.a.p.hooftman@uva.nl

Or Prof. dr. Peter van Tienderen
Telephone number: 31 20 5257896
E-mail address: p.h.vantienderen@uva.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.uva.nl/start.cfm/la=en/th=main)
• About the department (http://www.science.uva.nl/english/home.cfm)
• About the function (http://www.uva.nl/vacatures/vacatures.cfm/31A40D40-1321-B0BE-A481923B9A6DD606)
• Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (http://www.science.uva.nl/ibed/home.cfm)

Application
You can apply for this job before 25-08-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Universiteit van Amsterdam, Faculty of Science - dept. PZ
S.H.M. Jongerius
Kruislaan 404
1098 SM Amsterdam

E-mail: application-science@uva.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT 08-1036.

Further Details

The Netherlands : PhD position in Design of Genetical Genomics Experiments

University of Groningen

(1,0 fte)
(Groningen), 38 hours per week

Job description
Function title: PhD position in Design of Genetical Genomics Experiments
at the Groningen Bioinformatics Centre. The goal of genetical genomics is to infer the causal relationships between DNA, transcripts, proteins, metabolites and other individual components of a biological system. You will be responsible for developing and applying novel methods for design of effective and cost-efficient ‘genetical genomics’ experiments which may include environmental perturbations or host-pathogen interactions. You will develop and apply quantitative modelling approaches for simulating genetical genomics experiments.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate

• excellent grades for MSc in statistical genetics, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, computer science or a related field
• pro-active, ambitious and collaborative attitude
• excellent communication and reporting skills.

Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Teaching & Research(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)

Organization
University of Groningen
Founded in 1614. One of the best universities in Europe and the world. A wide variety of disciplines. Internationally oriented. Rooted in the North of the Netherlands. Socially active. Our researchers and lecturers are inspired academics. Ambitious students. We respect the differences in talent, ambitions and performance of the 25.000 students and members of staff.

The university provides a career advisory service for partners of new staff who move to Groningen.

The university is an equal opportunities employer. Because women are still underrepresented in a number of fields, they are particularly encouraged to apply.

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Groningen Bioinformatics Centre is expanding its activities in Systems Genetics, Systems Biology, Computational Biology and Biosoftware development and is looking for a new enthusiastic team member.

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: Four years
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
The University of Groningen offers a salary of € 2000 gross per month in the first year up to a maximum of € 2558 gross per month in the final year. Objective of the temporary 4-year position is the production of a number of research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, which together will form the basis of a thesis leading to a PhD degree (dr.) at the University of Groningen. After the first year, there will be an evaluation as to the feasibility of successful completion of the PhD thesis within the next three years.

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof.dr. R.C. Jansen
E-mail address: r.c.jansen@rug.nl

Or Dr. R. Breitling
E-mail address: r.breitling@rug.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:

• About the organization (http://www.rug.nl)
• Groningen Bioinformatics Centre (http://www.rug.nl/gbic)

Application
You can apply for this job before 03-09-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

University of Groningen
Personnel and Organization Office

P.O. Box 72
9700 AB Groningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: vmp@rug.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT208206.

Further Details

The Netherlands : PhD Systematic design of automated sustainable horticultural production systems

Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture

Wageningen, (Gelderland), 36 hours per week

Job description

• With an average of 27%, labour costs ranks number 1 on the list of production costs in Dutch greenhouse crop production. Improving labour efficiency will be one of the critical success factors in the Netherlands as well as in Western-Europe the next decades. Besides the absolute costs, following trends emphasize focus on labour issues: Increasing size of production facilities, Increasing labour costs, Increasing problems with the availability of skilled and motivated labour, Specialisation of crop production and individualisation of plant treatment, Health problems of the workers, Product quality, food safety, Growing competition on the national and international market.
• The objective of this research is to develop systematic, preferably quantitative methods to analyse, design, simulate and optimize greenhouse crop production systems focused on company layout, scheduling in place and time of human labour as well as (potential) mechanization taking into account product and information flows at company level.
• Analysis of traditional stationary production systems and analysis of mobile production systems of two example crops. The analysis will include a time analysis of existing production systems and quantification of most important system measures. Choice of a suitable simulation platform will be part of this project. Verification and validation of the model with real data.
• Based on the new model a (re-)design of alternative production systems will be carried out based on the guidelines of systems engineering, business process re-engineering or other methodical design procedures. Definition of requirements, systems analysis and definition of required functions, derivation of alternative working principles for each function, concept derivation, concept evaluation and concept implementation will usual process steps in these methodologies to come to new automated sustainable horticultural production systems.

Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate

• MSc graduate in systems engineering, industrial engineering, agricultural engineering, operations research or other relevant study;
• High-quality knowledge in the field of systems analysis, modelling, simulation and optimization of discrete event systems;
• Experience with Arena, Enterprise Dynamics or other relevant simulation tools is an advantage;
• Affinity with greenhouse technology, interested in challenges of the horticultural sector;
• An autonomously working creative, young researcher with good communicative skills who is open-minded and sociable.

Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Teaching & Research(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)

Organization
Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) provides education and generates knowledge in the field of life sciences and natural resources. Wageningen UR aims to make a real contribution to our quality of life. To us, quality of life means both an adequate supply of safe and healthy food and drink, on the one hand, and the chance to live, work and play in a balanced ecosystem with a large variety of plants and animals.

Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture
The business unit Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture within PSG has about 100 employees and four research teams:

• Crop Protection
• Crop Management, Physiology and Modelling
• Greenhouse Technology
• Farm and Crop Systems

Customers are growers, horticultural industry, ministries, public authorities and other horticultural organisations.

Team Greenhouse Technology
The team has about. 20 employees with expertises in the fields of greenhouse energy management, greenhouse climate, physical modelling, sensor- and control technology, material technology, light, computer vision, industrial production and robotics. The activities aim at the integral design of new concepts or components of sustainable horticultural production systems.

Wageningen University - Farm Technology Group
The Farm Technology Group provides education and generates knowledge in the field of bio-systems engineering. Our mission is to fulfill the needs of both mankind and nature in a sustainable way by exploiting the potential of technology. Systems engineering is one of the instruments we use. Emphasis lies on high-tech solutions using advanced sensing systems, systems optimization and control, mechanization and robotics.

Conditions of employment
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years.
Maximum hours per week: 36
Additional conditions of employment:
Duration: 4 years, 36 hours per week.
Gross salary: € 2001,- a month in the first year rising up to € 2560,- a month in the fourth year (based on a fulltime employment)

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. S. Hemming, Team leader Greenhouse Technology
Telephone number: 31 317 486921
E-mail address: silke.hemming@wur.nl

Or Prof. E.J. van Henten
Telephone number: 31 317 483328
E-mail address: eldert.vanhenten@wur.nl

Application
You can apply for this job before 20-08-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture
HRM Department Plant Sciences Group
N.G. Wondergem-Bakker
P.O. Box 16
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
E-mail: vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber AT: 08.Glas.06.

Further Details