Open PhD position in Tropical Agroecology
Managing pollination and biological pest control in Peruvian cacao
agroforestry systems
Background: Cacao agroforestry systems may support high levels of
biodiversity and profit from
ecosystem services such as pest control and pollination. There is
growing evidence that cocoa
agroforestry systems based on native fine flavour genotypes and with
appropriate management
practices to optimise the provision of multiple ecosystem services can
be as productive as
monocultures with commercial non-native cacao clones and high external
fertiliser and pesticide
inputs. However, cacao production in Peru is currently hampered by poor
use of native cocoa
diversity, frequent pest and disease outbreaks, low resilience to
climatic extremes, and lack of
biodiversity-friendly ecosystem service management. We focus on single
and combined effects of
pollination and pest control services provided by arthropods (predatory,
flower-visiting and
phytophagous insects) and flying vertebrates (birds and bats) on cacao
productivity and sustainability
in relation to cacao genotypes, local and landscape management. The
project is a collaborative
project of Bioversity International, a network of Peruvian stakeholders
and research institutions, and
the universities of Göttingen, Vienna, and Würzburg.
Requirements: We are seeking two highly motivated PhD students with
strong interest and expertise in
animal ecology, tropical ecology or agroecology. Applicants should have
a MSc. or Diploma degree in
ecology or related disciplines and skills in several of the following
areas: experimental field research
(e.g. plant-insect interactions, pollination and/or pest control),
practical skills in insect, bird or bat
identification, use of GIS and statistical data analysis (preferably in
R), and scientific writing in English.
A driver license and very good language skills in English and preferably
also Spanish are required.
The candidates are expected to work both individually and in team and to
be able to integrate into an
interdisciplinary and international project with field work in in Peru.
One PhD position will be located
in the Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology
(http://www.zoo3.biozentrum.uniwuerzburg.
de/en/) at University of Würzburg and one in the Agroecology Group at
the University of
Göttingen (https://www.agroecology.uni-goettingen.de), while Vienna
University is also involved
(www.univie.ac.at/population-ecology/people/research%20associates/bm/
bm_ research.html). For
further information please contact: beam...@gmx.at,
ingolf.stef...@uni-wuerzburg.de,
ttsc...@gwdg.de
Salary and conditions: Salary and benefits are according to public
service positions in Germany (E13
TV-L, 65%). Start date: 15th April 2018 if appropriation of funds
happens as announced. The planned
duration of the project is three years. The doctoral thesis will be done
as a series of English
manuscripts. We offer the membership in an international research team,
modern facilities and a
structured graduate training program. Würzburg University is an equal
opportunities employer and
places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women.
Qualified women are
therefore strongly encouraged to apply. Disabled persons with equivalent
aptitude will be favored.
Applications: Please send your application as one single pdf file per
email to ingolf.steffan@uniwuerzburg.
de latest until 28th February 2018. Applications should include a cover
letter, a short
summary of research interests, CV, complete certificates, and the names
(with email addresses) of
two potential referees. Interviews of invited candidates will be held
from 12-14th March 2018.
