The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University is proud to announce a competitive PhD position in Mathematics with a focus in Biomathematics. This project is part of the EU Horizon project on Biodiversity Building Blocks for Policy (B3https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101059592) and will address the ecological community responses to global change challenges, specifically biological invasions, in South Africa and beyond. The PhD candidate will play a key role in designing data cubes, a set of computational tools, to process large volumes of biodiversity data through cloud computing.
About the Position
This PhD position in Mathematics (with focus in Biomathematics) is an exciting opportunity for a student with a background in applied mathematics, biodiversity informatics, ecological modelling, computer science and/or information science to contribute to the global effort to conserve biodiversity. The aim of the project is to develop real-time and on-demand queries to facilitate regional and international conservation policy making. The successful candidate will be supervised by the Stellenbosch team of the B3 project, in collaboration with 12 international teams, to deliver Information Technologies (IT) solutions to improve and implement mathematical and statistical models for biodiversity monitoring.
Benefits of this Position
The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to work on a cutting-edge project that addresses a critical challenge facing our planet - the loss of biodiversity. The project will equip the candidate with a wide range of skills, including data processing, cloud computing, and mathematical modelling. The candidate will also have the opportunity to work with an international team of experts, further enhancing their professional network and experience.
Available Level of Study
This PhD position is open to all students with a background in applied mathematics, biodiversity informatics, ecological modelling, computer and/or information science.
Financial Support
The successful candidate will receive financial support of R 220 000 per annum for 3 years.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this PhD position, candidates should have a strong background in applied mathematics, biodiversity informatics, ecological modelling, computer science and/or information science.
How to Apply
Prospective students are invited to send an expression of interest and a full CV to Mrs. Hanlie Swart ([email protected]) by 14 April 2023.
Additional Information
The project start date is June 2023 and is expected to deliver results aligned with the challenges of biodiversity governance and the needs of diverse stakeholders and policy makers, as workshopped at the 2022 Biodiversity Informatics Symposium (DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109736).
In conclusion, this PhD position in Mathematics (with focus in Biomathematics) offers a unique and exciting opportunity for a student to contribute to a critical challenge facing our planet while gaining valuable experience and skills. If you are interested in this opportunity, please don't hesitate to apply.