Introduction
The aim of this PhD project is to investigate the evolutionary and mechanistic causes of insect host plant preference. Host preference in insects is a complex behavioural process where several sensory modalities interact to produce a series of decisions that ultimately decides whether a particular plant should be accepted as a host or not. The project will initially focus on the butterfly Polygonia c-album, which has been the subject of a long series of host plant-related studies from the butterfly lab at the Department of Zoology. These studies – ranging from genetics to phylogenetics – offer a rich context of background knowledge for the present doctoral project.
In butterflies and many other plant-feeding insects the choice of oviposition site largely determines the feeding site of the offspring, since the ability of the newly hatched larva to move to another host is very limited. This means that this choice is also to a large extent determining the actual host range (host specificity) of the insect – a feature that has been shown to influence both host shifts and speciation rates in butterflies.
In spite of the paramount important of host plant preference, we know disturbingly little about the actual mechanisms behind host plant choice, and this project is intended to elucidate how different behavioural sequences and sensory modalities interact at different levels of resolution to produce the final choice.
Most of the project will be carried out in the butterfly lab of the Department of Zoology, or at the Tovetorp Research Station and will mainly consist of behavioural essays of adult and larval responses to different plant-related cues.
The PhD degree will be awarded in Animal Ecology at the Department of Zoology. Dr. Niklas Janz at the Department of Zoology will be the main supervisor.
Qualifications
To be qualified for research studies the applicant must have completed a research
degree (e.g. Master’s), or have passed at least 120 hp (2 years) of biological studies, including an approved independent project of at least 30 hp at advanced level (“examensarbete”) within ecology or ethology. Applicants who have in principle acquired the corresponding competence in Sweden or abroad, are also qualified.
Criteria for selection
Among qualified applicants, selection is made according to the ability to profit from the studies. The criteria to be used are the applicant’s documented knowledge in subjects of relevance for the research area, ability to master language (including both spoken and written English), analytical ability, creativity, initiative, independence and ability to cooperate. The basis for judgement
of how well the applicant fulfils these criteria is: the relevance of earlier studies for the research area, grades on courses at the university level, the quality of the independent project (master thesis or “examensarbete”), references, interviews and the applicant’s letter of intent.
Previous experience in experimental behavioural ecology or ethology is highly desirable. To be included in the application: Maximum one A4-page of personal presentation and your reasons for applying (letter of intent). Curriculum vitae. Copy of independent project report (master thesis or “examensarbete”). Copy of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all attested). Also provide a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
Provide two copies of all documents and the thesis. To be considered, the application labelled “PhD ref.no. 02/09 NJ” must have arrived at the address below by November 20, 2009.
Address to which the application should be sent:
Stockholms universitet
Prefekten
Zoologiska institutionen
106 91 Stockholm
Sweden
Terms of employment:
The research education comprises 48 months at full time. The position is financed by a fellowship ("utbildningsbidrag") for the first years, and then continues with PhDemployment until the end of the PhD-program. Up to 20% of teaching may be included in the position.(If teaching is included, the position will be extended).
Union representatives: Bo Ekengren SACO,
Lisbeth Häggberg ST, and Gunnar Stenberg SEKO.
Phone: + 46 (0)8 16 20 00.
PhD student representative e-mail: do@sus.su.se
For further information about the project,
The aim of this PhD project is to investigate the evolutionary and mechanistic causes of insect host plant preference. Host preference in insects is a complex behavioural process where several sensory modalities interact to produce a series of decisions that ultimately decides whether a particular plant should be accepted as a host or not. The project will initially focus on the butterfly Polygonia c-album, which has been the subject of a long series of host plant-related studies from the butterfly lab at the Department of Zoology. These studies – ranging from genetics to phylogenetics – offer a rich context of background knowledge for the present doctoral project.
In butterflies and many other plant-feeding insects the choice of oviposition site largely determines the feeding site of the offspring, since the ability of the newly hatched larva to move to another host is very limited. This means that this choice is also to a large extent determining the actual host range (host specificity) of the insect – a feature that has been shown to influence both host shifts and speciation rates in butterflies.
In spite of the paramount important of host plant preference, we know disturbingly little about the actual mechanisms behind host plant choice, and this project is intended to elucidate how different behavioural sequences and sensory modalities interact at different levels of resolution to produce the final choice.
Most of the project will be carried out in the butterfly lab of the Department of Zoology, or at the Tovetorp Research Station and will mainly consist of behavioural essays of adult and larval responses to different plant-related cues.
The PhD degree will be awarded in Animal Ecology at the Department of Zoology. Dr. Niklas Janz at the Department of Zoology will be the main supervisor.
Qualifications
To be qualified for research studies the applicant must have completed a research
degree (e.g. Master’s), or have passed at least 120 hp (2 years) of biological studies, including an approved independent project of at least 30 hp at advanced level (“examensarbete”) within ecology or ethology. Applicants who have in principle acquired the corresponding competence in Sweden or abroad, are also qualified.
Criteria for selection
Among qualified applicants, selection is made according to the ability to profit from the studies. The criteria to be used are the applicant’s documented knowledge in subjects of relevance for the research area, ability to master language (including both spoken and written English), analytical ability, creativity, initiative, independence and ability to cooperate. The basis for judgement
of how well the applicant fulfils these criteria is: the relevance of earlier studies for the research area, grades on courses at the university level, the quality of the independent project (master thesis or “examensarbete”), references, interviews and the applicant’s letter of intent.
Previous experience in experimental behavioural ecology or ethology is highly desirable. To be included in the application: Maximum one A4-page of personal presentation and your reasons for applying (letter of intent). Curriculum vitae. Copy of independent project report (master thesis or “examensarbete”). Copy of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all attested). Also provide a list of two persons who may act as references (with phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
Provide two copies of all documents and the thesis. To be considered, the application labelled “PhD ref.no. 02/09 NJ” must have arrived at the address below by November 20, 2009.
Address to which the application should be sent:
Stockholms universitet
Prefekten
Zoologiska institutionen
106 91 Stockholm
Sweden
Terms of employment:
The research education comprises 48 months at full time. The position is financed by a fellowship ("utbildningsbidrag") for the first years, and then continues with PhDemployment until the end of the PhD-program. Up to 20% of teaching may be included in the position.(If teaching is included, the position will be extended).
Union representatives: Bo Ekengren SACO,
Lisbeth Häggberg ST, and Gunnar Stenberg SEKO.
Phone: + 46 (0)8 16 20 00.
PhD student representative e-mail: do@sus.su.se
For further information about the project,
contact:
Assistant professor Niklas Janz+ 46 (0)8 16 4048,
e-mail: niklas.janz@zoologi.su.se
Further information on the web:
Source
Stockholm University: www.su.se
Lab home page: www.zoologi.su.se/research/ihp/
The Department of Zoology: www.zoologi.su.se
Please kindly mention Scholarization.blogspot.com when applying for this position
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