Content: The work will involve studies of chemical communication and its possible role in host race evolution in insects. The main project will involve analyses of host race formation and possible sympatric speciation in the Browntail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, but other insect-host associations may also been explored. Main tasks will be to analyse the genetic variation within and among populations, including insect collection and rearing, DNA-extraction, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis of sequence data. Additional studies may involve chemical (GC and GC-MS) analyses of female pheromone content, electrophysiological recordings and behavioural studies of male responses and field trapping experiments. The field experiments will take place in the southern part of Europe.

Starting date: January 1, 2012, or as soon as possible.

Qualifications: Candidates should be fluent in spoken and written English and hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field of biology. He/she should also have a strong background in population genetics theory, and proven skills in performing molecular genetic investigations. Experience from work with insects and chemical ecology is a merit, as is a driving licence.

The postdoc will join an active research group of about 15 members focusing on basic and applied aspects of insect chemical ecology (http://www.lu.se/pheromonegroup), based at the Department of Biology (http://www.lu.se/biology), which has a rich and international tradition in research and education within a wide range of research areas. The department is located close to the centre of the medieval town of Lund (http://www.lund.se/en/).

The successful applicant will receive a one-year postdoctoral fellowship, with a possible extension of a second year. The stipend (no tax) is 20,000 SEK, approximately ¤ 2100, per month. Interested candidates should send a cover letter summarizing their research background and interest in the position, CV, and contact information of three potential referees as a single PDF file to Olle.Anderbrant@biol.lu.se

Last date of application: November 30, 2011

Questions should be directed to: Olle.Anderbrant@biol.lu.se

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