We seek a PhD applicant (start date prior to 30 June 2025; fully funded
PhD position - $NZD35,000 p/a stipend plus tuition fees) to explorethe factors that determine species invasiveness in a robust blow
fly system. A major focus is determining whether individuals exhibit
competitive superiority across multiple invasion-related traits to enable
their invasion success, and whether such factors can be manipulated to
influence invasion outcomes.
The successful applicant will have:
- Knowledge of at least one of: invasion biology, genomics, ecology;
- Experience or interest in developing skills in the phenotyping and
analysis of life history traits (particularly in insects);
- Interest/experience in fieldwork;
- An ability to work well alongside a fantastic team towards common
objectives.
The candidate will be based at the University of Waikato under the Chief
Supervision of Dr. Ang McGaughran and be co-supervised and/or mentored
by Dr. Chrissie Painting (University of Waikato), Prof. Ruth Hufbauer
(Colorado State University, USA), and Dr. Nathan Butterworth (Monash
University, Australia).
Hamilton is an inland city in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. It
is bisected by the Waikato River and is the country’s fourth-most
populous city. Within close proximity are some of the best surf and
swimming beaches in the country, as well as beautiful cultural areas
and walking tracks. The University of Waikato is a leading New Zealand
university, with the Hamilton campus offering modern facilities, vibrant
student life, and easy access to nature and recreation. Our landmark
new building – the Pā – is a special feature of campus life that
reinforces our distinctiveness and the interconnectedness of our campus
community. For more information about Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science,
please visit our website:
https://www.waikato.ac.nz/int/
