MSc project in Evolutionary Biology
Evolution happens constantly all around us. This fast, contemporary evolution can allow populations to adapt and persist or lead to their decline and extinction. Which one it will be is often unclear, because current methods to predict short-term evolution work poorly when applied to natural populations. In light of the global environmental crisis, this is particularly alarming. A key cause of the predictive inaccuracy is environmental variation.
Food availability is a crucial aspect of the environment in many species. In my group, we thus study how variation in individuals’ (food) environment impacts evolution and its predictability. One hypothesis we test is whether including information on individual food acquisition can improve predictions of evolution. To do so, we first must know which phenotypic traits capture an individual’s ability to identify, acquire, and utilise food.
In this project, we will therefore examine which traits – e.g., feeding rate, excretion rate, eye size, mouth morphology, gut length, or percentage fat – explain variation between individuals in how good they are at acquiring food. The project will be conducted in my newly built, state-of-the-art fish research laboratory, using Trinidadian guppies.
Required knowledge: This project is versatile and can include anything from morphometric, behavioural, physiological, post-mortem and advanced statistical analyses. A strong interest in evolutionary biology, attention to detail, team spirit, and a caring attitude towards laboratory fish are paramount. Familiarity with R is helpful but not required. You will receive education in animal experimentation ethics.
Length of project: 45-60 credits MSc level (60 credits preferred)
Start date: flexible but in September 2025 at the latest
Part-time work: there is a possibility for 1-4 hours/day of paid work, performing animal husbandry and lab maintenance tasks in my guppy laboratory
Supervisor: Anja Felmy, Homepage: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/anja-felmy
Contact details: Send an email to anja.felmy@biol.lu.se or just drop by my office (D115, Ecology Building ground floor, near seminar room Tanken)!