PhD Position/Scholarship in Plant Ecology, Sweden

January 27, 2010

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PhD position/scholarship in Plant Ecology
Regional variability and coevolutionary responses: purple loosestrife
(Lythrum salicaria) and its associated food web

At the Department of Botany, Stockholm University, ref. no. 2/2010

Project description: The purpose is to examine how difference in food
web structure among sites from Uppland to Norrbotten has affected the
interaction between purple loosestrife and its two main herbivores. A
key issue to explore in this project will be plant odours and how
the regional variation in volatiles affect both the plant-herbivore
interaction as well as the interaction between the herbivores and their
natural enemies. The PhD-project will mainly examine the interaction from
the herbivore perspective and will study the role of plant chemistry,
herbivore behaviour and population dynamics for the strength of species
interaction and for the evolution of species traits. The work will
involve both field and laboratory work, behavioural studies and chemical
analyses. The chemical work will be done in collaboration with chemical
ecologists at KTH and other parts of the work will be done together with
ecologists from SLU and Uppsala University.

Further information: Professor Peter Hambäck, Dept. of Botany,
Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm. Ph +46 (0)8 161288 e-mail:
peter.hamback-at-botan.su.se, home page: www.botan.su.se

The application should include a letter of intent, a certified curriculum
vitae that includes information on previous education, two copies of the
masters thesis (or ‘examensarbete’), other documents supporting your
competence and suitability for the position, and address and phone
number to two reference persons. The application can be written in
English or Swedish.

The minimum requirements are completed exam on advanced level, or studies
corresponding to at least 4 years education, or 240 credit points,
including 60 credit points at advanced courses. Previous studies should
include at least 15 credit points in ecology, or corresponding courses,
and a completed master thesis (or ‘examensarbete’) of at least 30 credit
points, in ecology or in a related field.

Applications will be evaluated based on the applicant’s knowledge of
ecological theory and applications, fieldwork experience, written
and spoken English, creativity, power of initiative, independence
and ability to collaborate. Evaluations will be based on results on
University courses, quality of master’s thesis, references, interviews
and the letter of intent. The successful candidate must possess a driving
license in order to carry out the field work.

A PhD education is 4 years (48 months). During the first two
years the student recieves a scholarship (Sw: “utbildningsbidrag”)
and during the last two years the student has a PhD position (Sw:
“doktorandanställning”). Up to 20% of teaching may be included in
the position.

The application should be labeled with the reference number 2/2010,
and should be received at the following address no later than February
25, 2010:

Registrator Mirska von Kraskowski, Department of Botany, Stockholm
University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden

Union representatives: Bo Ekengren, SACO (saco-at-saco.su.se), Lisbeth
Häggberg, ST (lisbeth-at-st.su.se) +46 8 162000, Gunnar Stenberg, SEKO,
+46 70-316 43 41, and PhD student representative (do-at-sus.su.se).

Scholarship