4:52 a.m.
Dear colleagues,
A PhD position is available at the Department of Ecology, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden. The
project is aimed at investigating pine weevil feeding behavior in relation to conifer
seedling properties. The full announcement can be found below, or via this link:
http://www.slu.se/?id=1123&Utbildningsplatser_id=551
I would be grateful if you could forward this information to potential candidates.
Cheers,
Niklas Björklund
Department of Ecology in Ultuna
1 PhD student in the research education subject: Biology
Pine weevil feeding behavior in relation to conifer seedling properties
Swedish forests are generally managed by clearcutting followed by planting of conifer
seedlings. A constant problem is that the seedlings are frequently killed by adult pine
weevils feeding on the stem bark. This damage causes large economic losses for Swedish
forestry. Therefore, considerable research efforts are made to find ways to counteract the
damage (see: http://www2.ekol.slu.se/snytbagge). In a new project we will investigate the
interplay between the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) and its conifer hosts, and how
properties of the host plant might be manipulated and utilized to reduce feeding damage.
The PhD student will study natural feeding patterns of the pine weevil in relation to its
conifer host plants. A focus will be on the feeding behavior of individual weevils and how
chemical and physical properties of the seedlings influence the initiation and termination
of feeding. Seedlings with different properties will be tested in laboratory bioassays,
and the performance of less preferred seedlings will be further evaluated in field tests.
This PhD study of feeding behavior will be done in cooperation with two other sub-projects
on conifer seedlings, one focusing on enhancing the defense of the seedlings and one on
the chemicals emitted from the seedlings. The PhD study is part of the project Parasite
Resistant Trees funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research. The PhD student
will be offered to participate in the graduate school: Ecology – its basics and
applications.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a Masters degree (or equivalent) in biology or similar subject.
Advanced level knowledge in some the subjects behavioral ecology, chemical ecology, insect
ecology, plant ecology and plant physiology are qualifying. Also, skills in planning and
statistically analyzing experiments will be of merit. The applicant should have the
ability to work both independently and in a team, and to communicate well in written and
spoken English. Driving license is desirable.
Forms for funding or employment
Employment as PhD student 4 years
A person has basic eligibility for third level education if he or she has taken a second
level qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education
credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second level.
Those who met the requirements for general eligibility before July 1st, 2007, i.e. had
completed a programme of higher education for at least 180 Higher education credits or the
equivalent, will continue to do so until the end of 2015."
Selection among applicants meeting the requirements is made with reference to written
application including curriculum vitae, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic
records, one copy of the dissertation for masters or undergraduate degree, a list of at
least two references familiar with the applicant's qualifications, certified knowledge
of the English language and an interview.
Read more about the PhD education in the Handbook for postgraduate students
Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/PhD<http://www.slu.se/PhD>
Further information: Professor Göran Nordlander,
Goran.Nordlander@ekol.slu.se<mailto:Goran.Nordlander@ekol.slu.se>, +46 (0)18 67 23
65
Academic union representatives
SACO Lars Eriksson +46 (0)18 673 137
SEKO Peter Syrjänen +46 (0)18 67 10 57
ST Monica Östman +46 (0)18 671 536
PhD-student commissioner
Monika Appel, 018-67 15 60,
doktorandombudsmannen@sluss.nu<mailto:doktorandombudsmannen@sluss.nu>
Applications, marked with ref no 251-1412/10, must have arrived at the Registrar of SLU,
P.O. Box 7070, S- 750 07 Uppsala or registrator@slu.se<mailto:registrator@slu.se> no
later than 2010-06-07.
¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ø,
Niklas Björklund, Ph.D.
Dept of Ecology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
P.O. Box 7044, S-750 07 Uppsala, SWEDEN Delivery address: Ullsväg 16
E-mail: Niklas.Bjorklund(a)ekol.slu.se
Phone: +46 18 672879
Cell phone: +46 70 5082879
http://www.ekol.slu.se/ShowPage.cfm?OrgenhetSida_ID=9110
http://www2.ekol.slu.se/snytbagge/index.php
http://www2.ekol.slu.se/granbarkborre/