Position Announcement Postdoctoral Research Fellow Vector Research Group University of Kentucky * Lexington, KY
Applications are invited for a full-time postdoctoral fellow. The position is available immediately. Wolbachia cause a form of sterility in insects known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which results in karyogamy failure and arrested embryonic development. In populations that include both uninfected and infected individuals, unidirectional CI can drive the replacement of the uninfected cytotype with the infected cytotype, resulting in the conversion of an uninfected population into an infected population (termed: population replacement). In populations where individuals are infected with different Wolbachia types, bi-directional CI can occur: sterility results in both cross directions between mates infected with different Wolbachia types. Models predict that in natural populations, sterility resulting from bi-directional CI is a transient event, since one infection will predominate and replace the other cytotype. While substantial effort has been devoted to examining the effect of Wolbachia on individuals (e.g., Wolbachia effects on egg hatch, longevity, etc ), relatively little is known about population-level effects of Wolbachia. We seek a collaborator with interest and experience in mathematical modeling, statistics, demography and ecology. The successful applicant will lead the analysis of existing data sets of insect populations that are either infected with Wolbachia or are uninfected. The recruit will also be encouraged to develop additional modeling and/or empirical projects. Applicants should have a Ph.D. The ideal candidate will have a competitive publication record and enjoy working in a multidisciplinary environment. Funding is available for up to four years with annual renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance. Funds are available for participation in professional meetings. Applicants are requested to send a detailed curriculum vita, statement of career goals and research interests, reprints of recent papers, and the names and contact details of three referees. Applications, informal enquiries, and requests for additional information should be addressed to: Stephen Dobson or Charles Fox Department of Entomology University of Kentucky S-225 Agricultural Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.uky.edu/~sdobson http://www.uky.edu/~cfox * University of Kentucky recognized as top ten overall institution for postdocs, The Scientist Survey: Best Places to Work for Postdocs, vol.17.3, Feb. 10, 2003
