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/