POSTDOCTORAL POSITION, SOCIAL EVOLUTION AND ANTI-PARASITE DEFENCES, LAUSANNE (Scholarship)

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION, SOCIAL EVOLUTION AND ANTI-PARASITE DEFENCES,LAUSANNE

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral position in the research
group of Michel Chapuisat (Department of Ecology and Evolution,
University of Lausanne). We study social evolution, social conflicts
and collective defences against parasites in ants. Please look at
http://www.unil.ch/dee/page7000.html for information and references.

The project will focus on (1) the impact of entomopathogenic fungi on
ant societies of various degrees of complexity and (2) the collective
defences of ants against fungi. The main model system will be the
socially polymorphic ant Formica selysi and several of its naturally
occurring fungal pathogens. The project can take various directions
and there will be scope to accommodate personal ideas or individual
research projects. Along with solid background in evolutionary
biology, experience in one or more of the following areas would be an
asset: behavioural ecology, host-parasite relationship, microbiology,
fungal biology, chemical ecology, molecular techniques, population
genetics.

The position is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and
is available for three years, with a possibility of extension. The
gross salary starts at 58′994 CHF per annum. Starting date is
negotiable, from September 2009 onwards. The Department of Ecology
and Evolution is large and thriving, and provides excellent
facilities for research and training (see http://www.unil.ch/dee/).

Informal enquiries and applications should be sent to
Michel.Chapuisat[at]unil.ch. Applications should include a cover letter,
complete CV with publication list, and contact details of three
referees, preferentially embedded in a single pdf file.

I will review the applications on 22 June 2009, but will continue to
consider incoming applications until the position is filled.

Michel Chapuisat

Department of Ecology and Evolution
Biophore, Quartier Sorge
University of Lausanne
CH-1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)

Ph: +4121 6924178
http://www.unil.ch/dee/page7642.html