POST-DOC OPPORTUNITY at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

We are looking for an
ENTOMOLOGIST/NEMATOLOGIST/CHEMICAL ECOLOGIST

The position is part of a government-sponsored project in collaboration
with industry. The project will be part of our research on plant-mediated
interactions in the rhizosphere and the principal aim is to develop novel
methods for the employment of entomopathogenic nematodes against root
pests. The successful applicant should have experience with applied
entomology, nematology and/or chemical ecology. He or she should be
qualified to take on a leadership role in a highly collaborative project.
The work requires extensive traveling and fieldwork.
The project follows our previous work on the chemical ecology of
plant-herbivore- nematode interactions. See: Rasmann,

Rasmann, S., T. G. Köllner, J. Degenhardt, I. Hiltpold, S. Töpfer, U.
Kuhlmann, J. Gershenzon, and T. C. J. Turlings (2005). Recruitment of
entomophatogenic nematodes by insect-damaged maize roots. Nature
434: 732-737

Degenhardt, J., I. Hiltpold, T. G. Köllner, M. Frey, A. Gierl, J.
Gershenzon, B. E Hibbard, M. R. Ellersieck, T. C. J. Turlings (2009).
Restoring a maize root signal that attracts insect-killing nematodes to
control a major pest. Proc. Natl. Acad. Science USA 106: 13213­13218

Hiltpold I., M. Baroni, S. Toepfer, U. Kuhlmann and T. C. J. Turlings
(2010). Selection of entomopathogenic nematodes for enhanced
responsiveness to a volatile root signal can help to control a major root
pest. Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 2417-2423

Hiltpold, I., B.E. Hibbard, B.W. French and T.C.J. Turlings (2012).
Capsules containing entomopathogenic nematodes as a Trojan horse approach
to control the western corn rootworm. Plant and Soil 385: 11-25

Turlings, T.C.J., I. Hiltpold and S. Rasmann (2012). The importance of
root-produced volatiles as foraging cues for entomopathogenic nematodes.
Marschner Review for the "Rhizosphere 3" Special Issue.
Plant and Soil 358: 51­60



The position is available immediately. Details can be obtained by sending
an email to Prof. Ted Turlings (ted.turlings@unine.ch). Deadline for
applications: Oct. 19, 2012