Could you please post the following announcement? Thanks for your help, Barbara Ekbom
Dear colleague, A PhD-position for four years is available on ecosystem services and biological control in agricultural crops at the Swedish Unversity of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology in Uppsala Sweden. The deadline for applications is 18 February 2013. Please spread the word and circulate to potential candidates. Read more below and here: http://www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/new-phd-student/Read-more/?sprak=e&Uid=831 The group: http://www.slu.se/ecology/riccardobommarco http://www2.ekol.slu.se/ecoservices Best wishes and sorry about cross-posting Riccardo Bommarco Mail: [email protected] 1 PhD student in the research education subject: Ekologi Integrated management of the ecosystem service biological pest control Determining how landscape scale land-use, agricultural practices, and external inputs to agriculture affect species diversity, species interactions, and flow of ecosystem services, is a major area of ecological research. To develop productive, sustainable and environmentally friendly crop production systems we need more information on how to efficiently integrate external inputs, such as pesticides, with the use and management of ecosystem services provided by beneficial organisms, such as biological pest control and crop pollination. In this context, more information is needed about how communities of beneficial organisms (e.g. predatory insects, spiders, and parasitoids that feed on crop pest insects) are affected by agricultural practice at local to landscape scale. Even less is understood on how potential shifts in community composition of service-providing organisms translate into flow and stability of the ecosystem service. A fundamental question is whether or not diverse assemblages of natural enemies suppress prey populations better than species poor assemblages. A more predictive framework has been suggested to include natural enemy foraging mode and habitat domains in the analysis of webs of interacting enemies and prey. For instance, when dealing with predator assemblages that contain generalist natural enemies, it becomes important to consider the diversity of prey items in the food web. Composition of prey species may also affect interactions among predators and parasitoids. The successful applicant for the position is expected to carry out research concerning how landscape and agricultural practice, species identity, community composition, and food web structure, determine the delivery of the ecosystem service, biological control. The applicant will furthermore explore options to minimize negative impacts of insecticide use; the development of insecticide resistance in the pest, and reduced natural enemy populations. The work One PhD-student will conduct manipulative field-, and small scale experiments in agricultural crops to better understand and manage ecosystem services. The student will use the acquired information to participate in the development and dissemination of integrated pest management schemes for agricultural crops. The candidate will collaborate closely with the advisor, a postdoc, and another PhD-student who focuses on crop pollination, to produce scale dependent ecological production functions that link land-use to ecosystem service delivery in crops. The successful candidate will enter a strong interdisciplinary research team with extensive national and international collaborations that generate cutting-edge research to promote sustainable agriculture (see http://www.slu.se/ecology/riccardobommarco and http://www2.ekol.slu.se/ecoservices). Location The position is based at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Ecology, in Uppsala, Sweden. At the Department of Ecology, we conduct empirical and theoretical research for sustainable forest and agricultural production and efficient biological conservation. Our research on populations, communities, and ecosystems forms the foundation for studying influences of land use and climate on animals, plants, soils nutrient status and greenhouse gas balances. Solutions are sought that will mitigate climate change, preserve threatened species, benefit biological diversity and ecosystem services, and control pests in forest and agricultural landscapes as well as in urban areas. Qualifications Applicants should have a Masters degree (or equivalent) in biology, agronomy, environmental science, or similar subjects with specialization in ecology, and should be interested in combining basic and applied ecological questions. Advanced level courses in community, population and landscape ecology, crop protection, and insect ecology are therefore meriting, as is experience of ecological field work with insects and plants. Also, skills in planning, execution, statistical analysis, and reporting of experimental data are meriting. The applicant should have the ability to work both independently and in a team, and to communicate well in written and spoken English. Driving license is required. The university strives to achieve an even gender balance. Therefore, applications from women, as well as from men are encouraged. Forms for funding or employment Employment as PhD student 4 years Instructions for applicants Please visit the announcement home-page and read the instructions carefully. Announcement home-page: http://www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-studies/new-phd-student/Read-more/?sprak=e&Uid=831 -- _____________________________________ Riccardo Bommarco, Professor Lab group: http://www2.ekol.slu.se/ecoservices Personal page: http://www.slu.se/ecology/riccardobommarco Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Ecology Box 7044, SE-750 07 Uppsala, SWEDEN Phone +46-(0)18-672423, Fax +46-(0)18-672890
