People & Opportunities

Opportunities

MSc Position in Evolutionary Genomics and Animal Breeding (Arctic charr)

We are inviting applications for a two‑year MSc position focused on the evolutionary genomics and animal breeding of maternal traits in Icelandic Arctic charr. This project offers an opportunity to work at the interface of quantitative genetics, genomics, and applied breeding in a unique long‑term study system.

Project overview
The MSc student will investigate maternal traits in Arctic charr using computational and statistical approaches. The work will include single‑step genome‑wide association studies (GWAS) of reproductive and early offspring traits, with the goal of identifying quantitative trait loci relevant for both wild and farmed populations.
The study population is fully pedigreed, originates from several wild Icelandic populations, and has undergone up to 10 generations of selective breeding. Available genomic resources include a population‑specific reference genome, a haplotype panel, and low‑coverage whole‑genome sequencing SNP data for more than 1,000 females. More information about the project can be found here.

Working environment
The position is based at Hólar University, which will merge with the University of Iceland in 2026, and profits from a collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Remote work is possible for parts of the project, but the MSc student will require spending some time on site in Iceland. The student will join the Debes Lab, which works broadly on evolutionary and quantitative genetics and genomics of salmonids.

Applicant profile

Applicants should:

  • hold a BSc in biology, selective breeding, or a related field
  • have strong interest in computational work, evolutionary biology, and/or animal breeding
  • be motivated to work with genomic and quantitative genetic data

Funding and timeline

  • Preferred start date: end of August / early September 2026 or earlier
  • Funding: Salary support is available through a research grant
  • Application deadline: 15 June 2026

How to apply

Please send a single PDF containing:

  • CV with contact information for one referee
  • transcripts
  • a short statement of research interests

to Paul V. Debes at debes@holar.is .

General Opportunities

Are you interested in research centring around a salmonid fish breeding programme? There are many research opportunities based on existing and new data recordings within a 35-year-old pedigree-based breeding programme of Arctic charr.

Presently, there are no other funded opportunities than the MSc oposition above but if you are interested in applying for funding in either your own country or in Iceland to join the lab at any career stage, please feel free to contact Paul via email. I will be happy to support your efforts.

Here are two links to collect information about and apply for Icelandic funding, ranging from 3-month summer student grants to multi-year research projects with master’s and doctoral students or postdoc salary grants; for the second link targeting more applied research it may be necessary to employ a translation tool if you do not speak Icelandic:

https://en.rannis.is/funding/research

https://www.stjornarradid.is/verkefni/atvinnuvegir/matvaeli-og-matvaelaoryggi/matvaelasjodur/

Current Members

Paul V Debes

Professor, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Iceland

CV
Email

Fotis Pappas

PhD student, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

Thesis title:

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: Christos Palaiokostas, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

Tim Prezelj

PhD student, Institute of Biology, ZRC SAZU, Ig, Slovenia

Thesis title:

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: Simona Kralj-Fišer, Institute of Biology, ZRC SAZU, Ig, Slovenia.

Alyssa Ehrlich

MSc student, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Iceland

Thesis title:

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: David Benhaim, Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Iceland.

Past Members

Joris Claus

MSc student, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Graduated in 2024.

Thesis title: Replacement of feed for African catfish (Clarias geriepinus) with byproducts from local fishing.

Co-supervised by Paul

Main supervisor: Jonathan Roques, Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Freed Ahmad

PhD student, Department of Information Technology, University of Turku, Finland

Graduated in 2023.

Thesis title: Host-parasite genomics and ecology: Linking genes and transcriptomes to disease and contemporary selection

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: Anti Vasemägi, Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden

Andrew H House

PhD student, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme | Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland

Graduated in 2023.

Thesis title: Factors affecting lipid profiles in juvenile Atlantic salmon

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: Craig R Primmer, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme | Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland

Sabine BC Lobligeois

Summer project student, Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France

Sabine was working in 2022 under an Icelandic Student Innovation Fund by RANNIS to collect, merge, curate and analyse existing breeding and industry data to investigate the level of determination for deformities in cultured Arctic charr.

Supervised by Paul.

Ibukunoluwa A Akintayo

UNESCO GRÓ-FTP fellow & chief research officer, Aquaculture Department, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research

Graduated in 2022.

Project: Assessing Feasibility of a Selective Breeding Programme for African Catfish in Nigeria.

Supervised by Paul.

Ilkka Nousiainen

MSc student, University of Turku, Finland

Graduated in 2017.

Thesis title: “Heritability of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae resistance, tolerance and proliferative kidney disease (PKD) symptoms in wild brown trout“.

Co-supervised by Paul.

Main supervisor: Anti Vasemägi, Department of Aquatic Resources, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Drottningholm, Sweden