PhD Position in Plant-Pollinator Interactions

The "Ecosystem Functioning" group (head Prof. Dr. Alexandra-Maria Klein)

of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Chemistry at the Leuphana

University of L?neburg in Germany invites applications for a

PhD Position in Plant-Pollinator Interactions

The position is available from 1st May 2010 (or later, depending on

final approval) and is for three years.

The research will be conducted as part of a DFG Forschergruppe in an

experimental plant-diversity gradient of the Jena experiment

(http://www.the-jena-experiment.de). The research will span observations

of flower-visiting insects, pollination experiments, measurements of

chemical flower traits like nectar and pollen quantity and quality -

sugar and amino-acids in pollen and nectar with HPLC as well as the

identification of staple isotopes in nectar and pollen. Experiments will

be highly linked and coordinated to experiments of other scientific

disciplines (multiple above and belowground processes) in the

Forschergruppe. Research in the ecosystem functioning group ranges from

basic to applied ecology in an interdisciplinary context. Research

projects span macroecological and chemical aspects and include outreach

activities to stakeholders such as conservation organizations and

farmers. Research focuses on documenting and understanding biodiversity

and ecosystem functioning relationships with respect to plant-consumer

interactions for human wellbeing. Model organisms are pollinating bees

and other functional taxa such as insect, mammal, and bird herbivores

and seed dispersers. Successfull applicants should have a MSc or diploma

in biology (botany, entomology), chemistry or ecology and have excellent

knowlege of scientific writing in English. Knowledge in insect

determination (Apidae, Diptera) is desirable. Furthermore, experience in

using the statistical programme R and the package "bipartite" to analyse

plant-pollinator interaction webs or similar programms will be

advantageous. Applications must include a cover letter (including the

date on which the applicant could start the position), curriculum vitae,

publication list and names and email addresses of two academic referees.

Application material should be submitted no later than 12 May 2010,

preferably as a single PDF attached to a single email with the subject

line "PhD in plant-pollinator interactions" send to:

severloh@uni.leuphana.de Or via mail to: Leuphana University L?neburg,

Personalabteilung Kathrin Severloh Kennwort: Plant-pollinator

interactions, Scharnhorststra?e 1, 21335 L?neburg

For any questions please contact Alexandra-Maria Klein

(aklein@uni-leuphana.de) or Christoph Scherber (cscherb1@gwdg.de)