[Coral-List] Ph.D. Fellowship Opportunity at the Red Sea Research Center, KAUST, Saudi Arabia

[Christian R Voolstra]

Ph.D. Fellowship Opportunity at the Red Sea Research Center, KAUST, Saudi Arabia.

**Impacts of UVB Radiation on Red Sea biota - Ph.D. Thesis to be co-supervised by Profs. Susana Agusti, Carlos M. Duarte, and Christian R. Voolstra

The Red Sea is an ultraoligotrophic environment characterized by highly transparent waters to damaging UVB  radiation along with very high temperatures. Recent evidence suggests that Red Sea biota is highly vulnerable to UVB radiation, which is exacerbated by high temperature. However, UVB impacts have yet been assessed only for zooplankton and picoautotrophs. This project will characterize the impacts of UVB radiation on key Red Sea biota, encompassing keystone species in benthic (such as seagrass and corals) and pelagic (such as phyto and zooplankton and meroplankton) habitats. It will do so through field observations and field and laboratory experiments assessing impacts of UV radiation at multiple levels: molecular, cellular, physiological, organismal, holobiont and population levels. The project will also assess complex interactions mediated by UV for selected model species, including UV-driven constraints on organismal life history mediated by ontogenetic variability in their vulnerability to UV radiation as well as possible benefits of UV radiation on Red Sea biota driven by antagonistic effects resulting from UV impacts on pathogens, parasites, and predators.

Key qualifications (in addition to general KAUST requirements, see below): Prior research experience ideally including publications in international journals, SCUBA diving, solid underpinnings in marine and molecular ecology.

**About KAUST and the Red Sea Research Center

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (http://www.kaust.edu.sa) has been established as a world-class international graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in Saudi Arabia that will also benefit the region and the world.

Inaugurated in early 2011, with the striking blue waters visible from its laboratory windows, the Red Sea Research Center (http://rsrc.kaust.edu.sa <http://rsrc.kaust.edu.sa/>) is well-positioned and well-equipped to study the Red Sea with state-of-the-art facilities and world-class researchers. The Red Sea Research Center has delved into the volume of research necessary to formulate a comprehensive understanding of the Red Sea to conserve its rich ecology. The incredible biodiversity of the Red Sea holds untapped potential and serves as a model for understanding biological systems and adaptation to extreme environments.

Successful students should apply to KAUST, indicating that they already have an offer from their supervisors (see below), as these positions are contingent on the students being admitted to KAUST. The application term is open and incoming applications are reviewed three times per year (see http://www.kaust.edu.sa/application-form-kaust.html for details on the application process).

All students admitted to KAUST will receive a very generous fellowship for the duration of their graduate studies. The benefits of the KAUST Student Fellowship include:

- Full tuition support
- Monthly   living   allowance   (ranging   between   $20,000-30,000   annual)
- Free housing
- Medical and dental coverage
- Relocation support
- One return ticket home every year

**Application

Applicants for this position are expected to have a high GPA (>3.5 of a maximum of 4), experience and background knowledge in the field and impeccable English (oral and writing).

Please send
- CV
- List of Publications
- Letter of Motivation (why you wish to conduct a Ph.D., what is your understanding of what a Ph.D. involves, why you want to undertake this project)
- Names of 2 References

by March 30, 2015 to christine.nelson at kaust.edu.sa
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