Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Natural Sciences beyond the limit of places

Project description:       

Long-distance seed dispersal is a rare event that often has disproportionate importance for gene flow, population viability, and the ability of plant populations to track rapidly changing environmental conditions. While the significance of long-distance dispersal is widely recognized, its rarity makes it challenging to study. However, this problem can be solved by using an appropriate study system and capitalizing on new technological advances in seed tracking. Here, I propose to study the causes and ecological drivers of long-distance seed dispersal by Eurasian jays interacting with oaks (a relatively well-known study system). I argue that combining this classical study system and new, high-quality tracking devices (improved tracking system is planed) will be instrumental in answering previously non-tractable questions about the mechanisms of long-distance seed dispersal in oaks. The specific aims are to: 1) Evaluate how seasonal and multi-annual changes in acorn production affect LDD in oaks, 2) Experimentally examine how the risk of pilferage influences recaching rates, and the impact of recaching on acorn dispersal distance, 3) Test whether the predator satiation hypothesis presents a sufficient explanation of acorn consumption rates by jays, and 4) Check an effect of “fruiting gaps” (no acorns) in native oak species (Q. robur, Q. petraea) on spatial expansion and genetic variability of cohorts of alien oak Q. rubra.

State of the art - premise of the proposed study

1. Does seed crop influence LDD by jays? Investigating the link between seed crop and dispersal distance by jays opens new opportunities for understanding the adaptive value of masting.
2. Does recaching influence LDD by jays? Jay recaching may be the key to understand LDD mechanisms in spread of heavy-seeded trees.
3. Does foraging by jays conform to the predator satiation hypothesis? My preliminary studies on current consumption during two consecutive non-mast years indicate that jay reactions to seed crops differ from the mechanism postulated by the predator satiation hypothesis.
4. “Fruiting gaps” – how does alien red oak profit on non-mast years of native European oaks? Other words, cohorts of alien oak benefit on natural seeding pulsation reaching its maximal spatial distribution and genetic variability during fruiting gap of native oaks.

The issues presented above have rarely been studied in birds, as researchers have more often chosen rodents as easier subjects for studying plant-animal interactions. Combining these issues within the framework of forest ecology gives the planned research a multidisciplinary nature, which significantly impacts its importance in expanding our knowledge of jay-oak relationships.  

REQUIRED SKILLS OF THE CANDIDATE:
1. Independence and commitment in fieldwork in various terrain and weather conditions,

2. No medical contraindications to physical work in the field, mobility, and availability,

3. Interests and potential scientific achievements in the ecology of plant-animal interactions,

4. Education in a natural sciences field, e.g., biology, forestry, or other earth sciences,

5. Fluency in English, both written and spoken,

6. Knowledge of statistical data analysis techniques and programs,

7. Additional skills: identifying tree and bird species, with particular emphasis on the study object: oaks and jays,

8. A driving license and own car are desirable.  

Tasks – general outline:

Telemetry studies on acorn dispersal by jays – tracking the location of caches using a telemetry antenna and a radio receiver while walking around the field in various weather conditions and short daylight hours. The main research period is late summer through autumn (September-November). Additional field tasks will be carried out throughout the year. 

Principal investigator: dr hab. Przemysław Kurek NCN 2025/57/B/NZ8/00213

Recruitment 

Selection Committee

                              Chairman:                           dr hab. Przemysław Kurek

Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure:  

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

Candidates applying based on exceptional academic achievements must include a scan of the following:  

1) For first-cycle graduates: the diploma and supplement. 

2) For students completing the third year of a unified master’s programme: a certificate indicating their academic average from years 1 to 3, along with a transcript. 

Candidates educated outside Poland must additionally submit: 

1)    A scan of a document certifying education – a diploma with a diploma supplement for first- and second-cycle studies (Bachelor’s, MSc, or MA degrees) in the original language; if the document is not in English, a copy of the diploma in English or Polish, or a certified translation of the diploma into English or Polish, shall also be provided;

2)    A scan of a diploma or certificate confirming knowledge of a modern foreign language at a level of at least B2;  

3)    A scan of a passport, in the case of foreign nationals.

 Evaluation criteria

1)   The grade obtained in second-cycle studies or a uniform master’s degree programme (no more than 3 points); the candidate shall receive:

a)      3 points for a grade of at least very good or equivalent;

b)      2 points for a grade of good plus or equivalent;

c)       1 point for a grade of good or equivalent;

d)      3 points in the case of candidates applying for admission on the basis of the highest quality of scientific achievements (e.g. leadership of a project under the “Pearls of Science” programme).

In the absence of a diploma grade, the average grade from the course of studies shall be taken into account.

2)   Points for maximum three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the detailed criteria for the candidate’s achievements, attached during electronic registration in the IRK system; no more than 22 points may be awarded.

3)   Points for other documented activities, based on a maximum of three achievements, in accordance with the detailed criteria for the candidate’s achievements in a given discipline; no more than 5 points may be awarded.

4)    Points for a research project prepared for the purposes of admission, and in the case of admission conducted in connection with the implementation of a research project – an original concept for the implementation of a grant project (no more than 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

a)     the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

b)     the originality of the research idea and the ability to select an appropriate method for solving the research problem;

c)      methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline;

d)     knowledge of existing research, supported by a basic bibliography;

e)     the significance of the project for the development of the chosen discipline;

f)       risk analysis of research tasks.

5)    The result of the interview, the scope of which shall include:

a)    knowledge and competences appropriate to the chosen discipline;

b)    elements of research methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline.

No more than 50 points may be awarded for the interview, and the maximum duration of the interview shall be 30 minutes.

Detailed admission criteria 2026/2027

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education is conducted on the basis of a curriculum and an individual research plan, and concludes with the submission of a doctoral thesis. The doctoral school curriculum comprises a catalogue of compulsory, compulsory elective, and optional modules.    

Start of studies: 1 October 2026. 

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships 

The doctoral scholarship amounts to PLN 5000 (gross-gross) per month before the mid-term evaluation and PLN 6500 (gross-gross) per month after the mid-term evaluation.

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2026/2027, Appendix to Resolution No. 132/2025/2026 of UAM Senate of 26 January, 2026.