An Australian Research Council-funded Postdoctoral position is offered at the University of Western Australia.
RELATING PLANT SPECIES’ PHOSPHORUS ECONOMY TO THEIR ECOLOGICAL STATUS IN AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES Requirements: PhD or equivalent in a field relevant to plant biology, preferably plant nutrition or plant-soil interactions. Appointment duration: 2.5 years Salary range: Level A $ 53,542 — $ 72,537 p.a. – minimum starting salary for appointee with PhD will be $ 70,058. This project builds on our discovery that mycorrhizal species without cluster roots and non-mycorrhizal species with cluster roots occupy distinctly different niches: the latter occur on the most P-impoverished soils in ancient landscapes. We will test the hypothesis that this is accounted for by a trade-off involving costs and efficiency of P acquisition. Furthermore, we will test hypotheses why species that are less efficient at acquiring P can co-occur with species with cluster roots on the most severely P-depleted soils. This will deepen our understanding of the functioning of the P-impoverished ecosystems in the south-western Australia biodiversity hot-spot that supports all functional groups we propose to investigate. It will also provide basic understanding of P nutrition in plants that will assist in developing crops that are more efficient at acquiring and/or utilising P. If you are interested in this position, please contact one of the Chief Investigators to obtain further information and instructions on how to apply. The Chief Investigators are: Professor Hans Lambers, email [email protected] (ph: 08 6488 7381), Professor Erik Veneklaas ([email protected]) and Professor Kingsley Dixon ([email protected]). Closing date is 16 April 2010. Late applicants may be considered.
