ZURICH; PHD POSITION in BIOLOGY-ECOLOGY (Scholarship)

Two PhD positions funded by the SNF are available from October 2009 at theInstitute of Systematic Botany, University of Zürich, to study pollinator mediated selection in orchids with different pollination systems. The project deals with patterns of selection in natural plant populations on a population-specific basis. Additionally, selection dynamics in different pollination systems will be investigated in an experimental approach.



You should have a master degree (or equivalent) in any field of biology/ecology and a thorough interest in evolutionary and pollination biology. Further, enthusiasm for field work with plants and insects is required. The two projects are embedded in a larger framework of evolutionary and systematics research at our institute. We are currently a group of 3 professors and 6 academic staff, as well as several PostDocs, PhDs, and Master students investigating 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 including the alps in close proximity.



If you are interested in one of the jobs, 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. 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[at]systbot.uzh.ch