NERC CASE PhD studentship, 2008

April 7, 2008

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NERC CASE PhD studentship, 2008

The making of a successful male: an integrated study of male reproductive
success in a pest insect.

Start: October 2008.

Location: School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich,
NR47TJ and Oxitec Ltd, Abingdon, OX14 4RX.

Supervisors: Tracey Chapman, Matt Gage
(http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/home/schools/sci/bio) and Luke Alphey (CASE partner)
(http://www.oxitec.com/).

Aim: To take a broad approach to integrate the understanding of fundamental,
evolutionarily-important traits in insect pest control.

Summary: Male reproductive success comprises pre- and post-mating components
that are rarely subject to integrated study. This studentship will address
this, and apply pure and applied research approaches to a pest of significant
economic importance for which transgenic insect technology is well advanced.
We have applied experimental evolution to the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly)
and now seek to determine reproductive fitness and divergence in male
reproductive traits. We predict that males evolving under increased sexual
competition will evolve more effective courtship and significantly higher
post-mating competitiveness. This will reveal the traits that make a
successful male medfly, and also whether pre- or post-mating traits are more
strongly selected. The student will pursue this work at a novel molecular
level by utilising the expertise of the CASE partner to conduct a targeted
transcriptional analysis of important male reproductive proteins in the
evolved lines. The project will extend into the applied domain by testing
whether pre- and post-mating traits in evolved lines and in transgenics
produced for a novel method of insect control, vary predictably in their
response to the key environmental variable of nutritional status. The results
will reveal potential trade-offs and the likely efficacy of the control
strains under varying conditions.

Training: The student will join the Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity Group
at UEA
(http://bioweb2.bio.uea.ac.uk/research/themes/organismsenvironment/eeb.html).
The
School of Biological Sciences at UEA (http://www.uea.ac.uk/bio/) provides an
excellent Ph.D. research and training environment in a Grade 5 research
department. The CASE partner Oxitec employs 24 research staff and is an
exciting and challenging environment in which to work. It is at the forefront
on a world-wide scale in the development of insect transgenesis. The link with
Oxitec will therefore provide invaluable insight and experience for the
student into work in the commercial world, and will offer technical expertise
of the highest standard.

Eligibility: Applicants should have a strong degree in biological sciences or
genetics. The full award is available only to residents of the UK, or those
satisfying NERC eligibility requirements
(http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp). The award
includes a standard NERC stipend supplemented by 1000GBP per annum by the CASE
partner. The student will spend years 1 and 3 at UEA and year 2 with the CASE
partner.

Applications: Informal enquiries to Tracey Chapman (tracey.chapman@uea.ac.uk).
Formal applications should be made via the Faculty of Science Post-Graduate
Office (scipg@uea.ac.uk), see
http://biobis.bio.uea.ac.uk/Resproject/how_to_apply.html for full details.
There is no formal closing date and the position will remain open until
filled.

Scholarship Tags: CASE, NERC, PhD, Studentship