Postdoctoral position in bee behaviour, crop pollination, and biocontrol

Department of Plant Protection Biology
The Department of Plant Protection Biology at SLU is an interdisciplinary constellation, encompassing Chemical Ecology, Resistance Biology and Integrated Plant Protection research units, providing excellent opportunities for strong research collaboration within and outside the departmental area. Research efforts at the department are directed towards both fundamental and applied research. Applied plant protection research is carried out in collaboration with industry and focuses primarily on the development of environmentally sustainable pest and disease control strategies for agriculture and horticulture, both in Sweden and internationally.
Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Duties:
We seek a motivated postdoctoral researcher for a new project on designing precision pollination systems to better steer honeybees to target agricultural and horticultural crops.

The main duties of the researcher will be to develop and conduct behavioural and pollination experiments employing laboratory bioassays, semi-field foraging arenas, and participatory field trials with commercial growers. These experiments will test whether applied techniques (based on dietary and volatile conditioning) can enhance honeybee efficiency – both as pollinators and vectors of biocontrol agents to crops. The potential ecological and economic advantages arising will also be measured.

The postdoctoral researcher will take a lead role in coordinating and communicating the project, which is a collaboration between SLU, Michigan State University, and national and international stakeholders (extension services, growers associations, etc.). Other duties include writing scientific manuscripts, and – at the interest of the postdoctoral researcher – to (co-)supervise MSc or BSc level projects, and contribute to teaching (e.g. on SLU’s PhD course on Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management – IPPM).

Qualifications:
The successful candidate should hold a PhD degree in biology, ecology, agronomy, or equivalent. Practical experience relating to the scientific area of the position is meriting, including familiarity with the theory and techniques of pollination ecology, integrated pest management, chemical and nutritional ecology, and participatory research with growers. Candidates should be fluent in spoken and written English. The candidate must be capable of independent planning, and execution and evaluation of experiments. As a person you are enthusiastic and responsible and have excellent collaborative skills.

As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at most.

Place of work:
This position is based in the Integrated Plant Protection unit at the Department of Plant Protection Biology at SLU Alnarp, Sweden.

Form of employment:
Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
As soon as possible, according to agreement.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2023-02-28, use the button below. 

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se