Postdoctoral Position

Postdoctoral Position in ?Natural Chemical Defense of Conifer Seedling against Insect Pests?at Umeå Plant Science Centre Swedish forests are managed by clear-cutting followed by planting of conifer seedlings.One of the most serious re-establishment problems is that adult pine weevils (Hylobius abietis) frequently kill the newly planted seedlings by feeding on the stem bark.This damage is a significant economic burden for Swedish forestry and therefore considerable research efforts have been made to find ways to minimize this damage (for more information, see: http://www2.ekol.slu.se/snytbagge).The current postdoctoral position is part of the project Parasite Resistant Trees funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.In this new project we will study the interplay between the pine weevil and its conifer hosts to investigate how the properties of the host plant might be manipulated and utilized to reduce feeding damage.This study will focus on the determining the composition of the bark metabolome using mass spectroscopy and the identification within this metabolome of feeding deterrent compounds.The project will then move to investigating treatments and management practices in the seedling nursery that can be used to enhance the accumulation of these feeding deterrents in the conifer bark and to studies to determine whether these changes influence feeding by Hylobius in the laboratory and in the field.Qualifications Applicants should have a PhD in biological chemistry, forestry/plant physiology, chemical ecology/biochemistry or similar subject, preferably not more than 3 years old.The candidate should have experience with metabolomic experiments or mass spectrometry.In addition, demonstrated skills in planning and statistically analyzing experiments will be of merit.The applicant should have the ability to work both independently and in a team, and to communicate well in written and spoken English.A driver?s license is desirable.Forms for funding or employment Employment as a postdoctoral fellow for 2 years Application The application should include: (i) a cover letter, (ii) a curriculum vitae, (iii) a publication list, (iv) transcript of records from higher education, and (v) the names and contact information of 2 references.Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled.Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.We look forward to receiving your application!