Encaminho anúncio de duas (2) posições de doutorado em ecologia evolutiva do
comportamento social de insetos. André
On 06/09/2017, 10:22, "oikos-listan-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of
Olle Anderbrant" <oikos-listan-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of
olle.anderbrant@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
PhD positions: Evolutionary Ecology of Ambrosia Beetles, Würzburg
Application deadline: 30.9.2017
Research Group Insect-Fungus Symbiosis, Zoology 3, University of
Würzburg, Germany
Two 3-year PhD positions in "Evolutionary Ecology of Sociality and
Fungiculture in Ambrosia Beetles"
We seek highly motivated biologists with a keen interest in the ecology
and evolution of insect social behaviour and/or fungiculture to join our
newly established research group at the University in Wuerzburg, Germany
(www.insect-fungus.com).
Description:
Our main models are bark and ambrosia beetles (AB), which live in
subsocial to eusocial societies within wood, where they cultivate fungi
on walls of their tunnels. Both sociality and fungiculture evolved in
several independent lineages under different ecological conditions,
levels of relatedness and ploidy. They remained poorly studied although
they are excellent models to test pending evolutionary questions.
Possible projects:
* Is it possible to artificially select for/against sociality in AB?
* How is division of labour regulated in AB societies?
* How do AB supress pathogens and promote cultivars in their fungus
gardens?
* How does AB social evolution affect the evolution of fungiculture and
vice versa?
* What are the factors that repeatedly selected for obligate fungiculture
in AB?
In our work we combine field studies with lab experiments and apply an
interdisciplinary approach, combining selection experiments, experimental
assays, and culturing methods with state-of-the-art molecular (e.g. qPCR,
next-gen-sequencing) and biochemical (e.g. GC-MS) techniques.
We require:
* MSc degree in (Forest) Entomology, Mycology, Evolutionary Biology,
Chemical Ecology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology or Bioinformatics
* Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the projects, successful
candidates must be willing to become acquainted with methods from the
fields above.
* Experience working with insects or microbes.
* Proficiency in English and a good team spirit are a must.
Knowledge on basic molecular methods, statistics (R skills), chemical
ecology and bioinformatics are a plus.
We offer:
* An exciting research project to build on a scientific career.
* A cooperative and highly ambitious young research group, as part of a
vivid department.
* Opportunities to visit collaborating labs worldwide.
Salary according to public service positions in Germany (TVL E13: 65%)
for three years. The University of Würzburg is an equal opportunity
employer, i.e. female scientists are particularly encouraged to apply and
disabled applicants will be preferentially considered in case of
equivalent aptitude.
The Host:
We are one of a few labs in the world to study AB. For details on our
projects see www.insect-fungus.com or directly contact Dr. Peter
Biedermann (peter.biedermann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; +49(0)17699819095). The
University of Würzburg offers tremendous expertise on social insect
behaviour, evolution, chemical ecology and molecular ecology. Würzburg
itself is a vivid student city in one of the most beautiful areas of
Germany.
Application:
Please submit the application (as a single pdf file including a letter of
motivation, a short summary of research interests, a CV, certificates,
and contacts of two potential referees) via e-mail to
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx before September 30th 2017.
