Study on Xylella fastidiosa plant hosts and vectors in Belgium and the influence of specific plant growth conditions on disease development

Call for candidates

In the framework of a Belgian 2-years research project on the potential insect vectors of the four subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa, we are looking for a postdoctoral scientist, preferably with a previous experience with Xylella fastidiosa, and skilled either in plant pathology or in entomology or both.
The work will be based at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and start in early 2016.

The work will consist in two parts :

  1. Survey of potential vectors and search for X. fastidiosa in the insects;  analysis of phenology and life history traits.
  2. Evaluation of the transmission of the four subspecies of X. fastidiosa to four model plant species by potential insect vector species common in Belgium, under G2Q controlled conditions: contamination of potential vectors using infected periwinkle; attempts to contaminate model host plants using artificially contaminated vector insects; detection and quantification of X. fastidiosa in the insect vectors; if possible, sentinel nurseries in contaminated areas.

Candidates are  invited to contact Prof. Claude Bragard (claude.bragard@uclouvain.be) and Prof. Jean-Claude Grégoire (jcgregoi@ulb.ac.be) with a motivation letter and a CV.

-- 
Jean-Claude Grégoire
Lutte biologique et Ecologie spatiale - LUBIES
Biological Control and Spatial Ecology lab
Université Libre de Bruxelles
CP 160/12 - 50 av. FD Roosevelt
1050 Bruxelles
Belgium

Tel +32 (0)2 650 31 79
http://lubies.ulb.ac.be/ 
http://www.agroecologie.be/