Postdoctoral Researcher and PhD studentship position available in ant-plant interactions and tropical habitat change
Successful applicants will join a project exploring the shifts that occur in a mutualistic ant-plant network when tropical rain forest is logged, fragmented, and converted to oil palm plantation in Malaysian Borneo. The positions provide the opportunity to collaborate with two cutting-edge large-scale manipulations of tropical forests: 1. The Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems project (SAFE), the world’s largest rain forest fragmentation experiment. 2. The Sabah Biodiversity Experiment (SBE), a project assessing the impacts of different diversities of tree planting on ecosystem functioning. Duties include spending extensive periods of time in the field in Malaysian Borneo. The successful applicants will join the Ant Research Group (http://antscience.com/) at the Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. The laboratory group is a dynamic, multinational group studying ant ecology, evolution and biogeography, and is embedded within the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, a world-class centre for interaction network research with regular publications in Science, Nature and other leading journals.
To apply, please send a CV, contact details for three references, and cover letter stating qualifications, previous work and motivation to Tom Fayle (tmfayle@gmail.com) by February 29th 2016. Position start date is May 1st 2016. Applicants from all countries are eligible.
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Postdoc: Biology Centre of Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
A highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher is sought to lead a team conducting field surveys for ant-inhabited trees, measuring ant and plant fitness correlates, and performing experimental manipulations of the mutualistic communities, in particular in relation to forest regeneration. They will also conduct analyses and write papers on the main project findings. There will also be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the postdoc’s own choosing. The successful applicant will be employed on a grant held by Tom Fayle (http://www.tomfayle.com/Required
• A PhD degree in either entomology or plant ecology
• Experience and enthusiasm for working in the field for extended periods of time in challenging conditions in tropical rain forest
• Ability to lead field teams
• Good publication record for career stage
• Experience in ecological statistical analyses
Desirable
• Previous work on insect plant interactions
• Experience of molecular laboratory work, specifically DNA barcoding for species identifications
• Experience in use of methods for statistical analysis of interaction networks
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PhD studentship: University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
A highly motivated postgraduate student is sought to conduct field surveys for ant-inhabited trees, measure ant and plant fitness correlates, and perform experimental manipulations of the mutualistic communities, in particular in relation to forest regeneration. There will also be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the student’s own choosing. The student will receive a scholarship from the University of South Bohemia and employment on an ongoing grant for three years, sufficient to cover living expenses in Czech Republic.
Required
• A master’s degree (non-negotiable requirement for PhD study in Czech Republic)
• Interest in the ecology of insects or plants
• 1st or 2.1 undergraduate degree in ecology or related subject (or equivalent)
• Enthusiasm for working in the field for extended periods of time in challenging conditions in tropical rain forest
• Ability to work independently
• Experience in the use of ecological statistical analyses
Desirable
• Previous experience of tropical field work
• Research experience with plant or insect ecology
• Experience of molecular laboratory work, specifically DNA barcoding for species identifications
• Experience in ecological statistical analyses
Desirable
• Previous work on insect plant interactions
• Experience of molecular laboratory work, specifically DNA barcoding for species identifications
• Experience in use of methods for statistical analysis of interaction networks
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PhD studentship: University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
A highly motivated postgraduate student is sought to conduct field surveys for ant-inhabited trees, measure ant and plant fitness correlates, and perform experimental manipulations of the mutualistic communities, in particular in relation to forest regeneration. There will also be opportunities to develop the project in a direction of the student’s own choosing. The student will receive a scholarship from the University of South Bohemia and employment on an ongoing grant for three years, sufficient to cover living expenses in Czech Republic.
Required
• A master’s degree (non-negotiable requirement for PhD study in Czech Republic)
• Interest in the ecology of insects or plants
• 1st or 2.1 undergraduate degree in ecology or related subject (or equivalent)
• Enthusiasm for working in the field for extended periods of time in challenging conditions in tropical rain forest
• Ability to work independently
• Experience in the use of ecological statistical analyses
Desirable
• Previous experience of tropical field work
• Research experience with plant or insect ecology
• Experience of molecular laboratory work, specifically DNA barcoding for species identifications
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