PhD Position in Animal Ecology, Stockholm University

October 30, 2009

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STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY announces a PhD POSITION IN ANIMAL ECOLOGY at the
Department of Zoology, Stockholm University.

Project title: Evolutionary and mechanistic aspects of insect host
plant preference.

Final date for applications: November 20, 2009

Project description:
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 importance 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 judgementof 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 PhD- employment 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:
Stockholm University: www.su.se
Lab home page: www.zoologi.su.se/research/ihp/
The Department of Zoology: www.zoologi.su.se

The announcement is available here:
http://www.zoologi.su.se/about/lediga/Utlysning_Oktober_NJ.pdf

Scholarship Tags: PhD Scholarships