Background: Adaptation to human activity has shaped the evolutionary trajectory of a huge number of species. Cities and urban landscapes are continuing to drive adaptation in a wide variety of taxa, from plants to birds. However, it is not clear how modern cities shape the evolution of species that have already adapted to human activity. For example, house sparrows likely first evolved a human-commensal relationship in the last 10,000 years and they are the most numerous wild birds on the planet. Since the late 20th Century however, house sparrow populations have been rapidly declining and they are less common in most European urban centres. This does not seem to be the case in Norwegian cities, particularly Oslo, where they are thriving. This project seeks to investigate whether adaptation to urban environments is driving adaptation in house sparrow populations in Norway.
We are seeking: A motivated MSc student with an interest in understanding how human activity has shaped evolution in other species. You will contribute to a new project sampling sparrow populations at rural and urban sites across Oslo commune, working closely with collaborators in Norway and across Europe.
What you will learn: You will learn how to answer evolutionary questions using modern techniques. You will gain experience in DNA wet lab work, bioinformatics, and genomics. There will also be opportunities for fieldwork and gaining experience in handling birds. The skills you will gain will provide an important foundation for future applications to PhD positions or to jobs in industry.
What we offer: This is an opportunity to join a small, friendly research group with a focus on close mentorship and skills development. We conduct weekly lab meetings, group discussions and provide hands-on training.