PhD fellowship in bowhead whale population genomics and demography

The Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen



We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic researcher for a 3-year PhD fellowship in bowhead whale population genomics and demography. The position will commence on 1 September 2025, or as soon as possible hereafter.

The groups and research
This PhD position is a joint project between the Globe Institute at University of Copenhagen and Pinngortitaleriffik (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources). The successful candidate will thus be part of two research environments: the Molecular Ecology and Global Climate Change group, led by Professor Eline Lorenzen, at the Globe Institute, and Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen’s group at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.

The Lorenzen group integrates biomolecular data from past and present populations of mammal species to understand patterns and drivers of eco-evolutionary change. We are an international group of PhD students and postdocs, and currently number six people from China, Denmark, France, New Zealand, South Africa, and the US. Our work is interdisciplinary and highly collaborative, and we work towards fostering an inclusive, supportive, and team oriented work environment.

The Lorenzen group is based in the Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, one of six research sections at Globe Institute. The research of the section is driven by curiosity and shared excitement for scientific collaboration and discovery, and we value a diverse and inclusive scientific environment that fosters creativity. Information on the Globe institute can be found at https://globe.ku.dk. The PhD candidate will be part of the PhD programme at the Globe Institute in Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences.

Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen is a professor at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, with extensive experience in marine mammal studies in Greenland. He has been particularly instrumental in researching bowhead whales in both East and West Greenland, where he pioneered new methods for tracking of bowhead whales. Additionally, he is responsible for the biopsy sampling program for bowhead whales in West Greenland, which has been conducted annually since 2000 and is the foundation of this PhD project.

The Greenland Institute of Natural Resources conducts research into Arctic ecosystems, monitors the living resources and the environment in Greenland, and advises the Government of Greenland and other authorities on sustainable exploitation of living resources and safeguarding the environment and biodiversity.

Your job
The PhD project is part of ‘BRIDGE - bridging fundamental science and applied conservation in polar research’, financed by Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF), as part of their 2024 thematic research call in ‘Arctic research – Climate change and sustainable arctic communities’.

Specifically, your research will focus on investigating patterns of demographic change in bowhead whales in Disko Bay, West Greenland, across the past 25 years, based on genetic analysis of a unique time series of 1,125 tissue samples collected by the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources since 2000.

Bowhead whale populations were decimated by two centuries of commercial hunting. Now, a century later, populations are recovering, and observational data indicate bowheads are extending into their former range in Disko Bay (West Greenland), a previously high-density area.

This PhD project will utilise genomic data to characterise key demographic parameters associated with a recovering population and the recolonisation of Disko Bay: abundance, genetic composition, segregation of reproducing animals, and possible exchange with other neighbouring sub-populations. The abundance and cycle of females (assumed to be tri-annual) occurring in Disko Bay are particularly important parameters for understanding the dynamics of not just the bowhead population west of Greenland, but also as an indicator of the impacts of escalating changes in the Arctic.

The project will (i) provide an abundance estimate of the winter aggregation in Disko Bay; (ii) assess the fraction of females that winter in Disko Bay, and identify at what intervals reproductive females return to the bay after delivery and nursing in the Canadian High Arctic; (iii) compare the genetic signature of Disko Bay individuals with adjacent populations in Alaska, Canada, and Svalbard, to assess the influx of whales from Alaska facilitated by the recent reduction of sea ice in the Northwest Passage.

The project will include laboratory work for DNA data generation, and bioinformatic processing and analysis of the data. The PhD student is expected to first-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals. The PhD student will work closely with other relevant collaborators in the Arctic region during the course of the project.

Principal supervisor is Professor Eline Lorenzen, Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, [email protected].

Co-advisor is Professor Mads Peter Heide Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, [email protected]

Start: 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Duration: 3 years as a PhD fellow

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD fellow are:

• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.

• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including conducting a stay of between one and six-months duration at another research institution.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
You must have qualifications corresponding to a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, e.g. evolutionary ecology, population genomics, or a related field. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two year duration).

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Documented experience working in a molecular biology lab
• Strong bioinformatic skills
• Experience with quantitative analysis of data

• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in combining molecular lab work in the natural and cultural history of the Arctic
• Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to work in teams, and an openness to other cultures
• Excellent English skills, written and spoken

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.

About Globe Institute
The Globe Institute is part of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. The Institute’s main purpose is to address basic scientific questions through interdisciplinary approaches. The institute operates at the intersection of natural and medical sciences and the humanities. Information on the institute can be found at: http://www.globe.ku.dk/. The Globe Institute is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment where employees and students can belong and thrive. Check this part of our website for more information.

All qualified applicants will receive full consideration. Candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or service, contribute to diversity and competencies of our Institute are encouraged to apply. The University of Copenhagen strives to offer a family friendly and flexible working environment with a sustainable balance between work- and private life, including parental leave schemes (up to 47 weeks for both parents) and up to six weeks of paid holidays per year. The university offers a variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families. See the International Staff Mobility website for more details.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The starting date is 1 September 2025 or after agreement.

The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at 29,310 DKK/approximately 3,929 EUR (April 2025 level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Please submit your application electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)

2. CV incl. education, experience, language skills, and other skills relevant for the position

3. Copy of MSc thesis

4. Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in a language other than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science

4. List of publications (if applicable)

Application deadline: 1 April 2025, 23.59pm CET.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You find information about the recruitment process at: http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Online interviews are expected to be held on Tuesday 29 April and the second round of interviews on Thursday 8 May 2024 (latter date is subject to change, and may be held in the week after).

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.