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
Further information: Professor Göran Nordlander, 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
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 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@ekol.slu.se
Phone:
+46 18 672879
Cell
phone: +46 70 5082879