PhD position in plant ecology and evolution

A 3 year PhD positions funded by the European Science Foundation (ESF) is
available from April 2011 at the Institute of Systematic Botany, University
of Zürich, to study the evolution of floral signalling in plants under
selection by herbivores and pollinators. The project deals with the
signalling dilemma of plants, i.e. the need to defend reproductive
structures against herbivores on the one hand, but at the same time
attracting pollinators to the flowers. You should have a master degree (or
equivalent) in any field of biology/ecology and a thorough interest in
evolutionary ecology/chemical ecology/molecular biology. Further, enthusiasm
for experimental work with plants, insects, as well as analyses of plant
volatiles by GC-MS is required. The project is embedded in a corporative
research project with collaborators in a range of European countries
(Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republik), and close
collaboration with these other labs is expected within this project. The
Institute of Systematic Botany at the University of Zürich, were the work
will be based, consists of 3 professors and 6 academic staff, as well as
several PostDocs, PhDs, and Master students. The main overall research topic
of our institute is mechanisms and patterns of evolution in plants. The
institute is located in the pretty botanical gardens and houses modern
molecular and chemical ecology labs, including greenhouses and climate
chambers for plant cultivation.

Zürich has a large and very active research community at the
University of Zürich (www.unizh.ch) and ETH (www.ethz.ch),
dealing with various aspects of organismal and molecular biology
(www.lifescience-zurich.ch). The city also offers excellent quality of
life through active cultural programs and infrastructure, as well as an
attractive surrounding.

If you are interested, please send (preferentially by e-mail) a letter
describing your motivation, C.V., copy of degrees, publications
(manuscripts) if any, and e-mail addresses of two academic referees, by 15th
of February 2011. If you have further question, don`t hesitate to contact
me.



Prof. Florian Schiestl
Institute of Systematic Botany
Zollikerstrasse 107
CH-8008 Zürich

florian.schiestl@systbot.uzh.ch