>
>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@uni-wuerzburg.de; +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@insect-fungus.com before September 30th 2017.
_______________________________________________
Oikos-listan mailing list
Oikos-listan@wallace.teorekol.lu.se
http://wallace.teorekol.lu.se/mailman/listinfo/oikos-listan
To unsubscribe go to http://wallace.teorekol.lu.se/mailman/options/oikos-listan, or send a request to jessica.abbott@biol.lu.se
