MS/PhD Assistantship: Herbivore-induced plant volatiles and
attraction of predaceous arthropods
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MS/PhD Assistantship: Herbivore-induced plant volatiles and
attraction of predaceous arthropods
I have USDA funding to support a graduate research assistantship at
either the MS or PhD level in the Department of Entomology at Purdue
University. The project is aimed at manipulating herbivore-induced
plant volatiles (e.g., methyl salicylate) in agricultural fields with
the goal of attracting natural enemies and enhancing their impact on
plant-feeding insects in the context of biological control. This
project will include components of landscape ecology and enemy
movement between crop-noncrop habitats, plant 'priming' responses to
volatiles (e.g., inter-plant communication) at the molecular-level,
and behavioral responses of predators to volatile exposure/intensity
in the field (i.e., learning and habituation to constitutively expressed cues).
Ideal students should be highly enthusiastic and interested in
working at the interface of ecology, entomology, and agriculture.
Position comes with an annual stipend of $18,500, full tuition
waiver, and benefits package including health insurance. Preferred
start date is Summer 2011, although this may be flexible.
For additional information visit the following websites:
Kaplan Lab: http://www.entm.purdue.edu/ecolab
Purdue Entomology: http://www.entm.purdue.edu
Interested individuals should contact me directly via email
([email protected]) to discuss their background, qualifications, and
research interests. Please provide a cover letter, CV, academic
transcripts and GRE scores (unofficial are fine), and contact
information for at least 3 references.
--
Ian Kaplan
Assistant Professor
Purdue University
Department of Entomology
West Lafayette, IN
