Dear Colleagues,
We would be grateful if you could bring the following postdoctoral
opportunity to the attention of suitable candidates. Apologies for
cross-postings.
Best regards,
Dennis O'Dowd and Pete Green
*--------------------------------------------
Postdoctoral Fellow in Entomology (Biocontrol), Christmas Island, Indian
Ocean*
The Department of Botany, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
seeks to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow to conduct research in Entomology
on Christmas Island. Over the last decade, supercolonies of the invasive
yellow crazy ant /Anoplolepis gracilipes/ have spread across island
rainforest and caused a variety of significant impacts. High ant
densities are consistently associated with high densities of exotic,
honeydew-secreting scale insects. This project is a key component of a
wider program examining the potential for the indirect control of this
ant invader through biological control of associated scale insects.
Natural enemies of the main honeydew-secreting species /Tachardina
aurantiaca/ do not appear to be present on the island, and this project
seeks to identify and evaluate natural enemies in the area of origin
(south-east Asia) for potential biological control.
We are looking for a well motivated, independent person with a track
record of research in entomology and the development of biocontrol.
Research experience in the biology of scale insects and their natural
enemies would be an advantage. The three-year position will be based on
the island (an external territory of Australia), but substantial periods
will be spent in Southeast Asia.
A second postdoctoral fellow has already been appointed, and is
assessing the dependence of high-density supercolonies of the yellow
crazy ant on associated honeydew-secreting scale insects. Both positions
are funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts, through the Director of National Parks.
Please contact Dr Dennis O'Dowd ([email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>) or Dr Peter Green
([email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>) for further
information on the project, and visit
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/pc/vacancies/all-vacancies.htm Position no.
50027509 to download the position description and application
documentation. Applications are open until 30 October 2009 or until a
suitable applicant is found.
