Application deadline: 17.02.2012
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Doctoral position in Chemical Ecology and Biodiversity research (TV-TL13 65%)

Within the research program Exploratories for large-scale and long-term functional biodiversity, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), we seek a candidate to conduct research on “Chemical signatures of floral resource competition between honeybees and wild bees along a landuse gradient”. The project will be co-supervised by Dr. Thomas Eltz (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) and Prof. Dr. Nico Blüthgen (TU Darmstadt). The field work will be conducted in three Exploratories located in Schorfheide/Chorin, Hainich/Dün, and Schwäbische Alb/Münsingen. The general goal is to understand the effect of domesticated honeybees on foraging patterns and resource use of wild bees, especially bumblebees, and to clarify whether resource competition is influenced by land use intensity. The candidate will extract chemical “footprints” of bees from flowers, infer flower visitation from chemical data (GC/MS), and conduct competition experiments in the field.

The position will start in April 2012 for the duration of three years. Successful candidates should have a strong background in chemical ecology, entomology, or related fields, and should enjoy field work. A Diplom/M.Sc. degree in Biology or a related subject will be required. The position will be based at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. A Driver’s license is required, and having available an own car is useful. We expect the candidate to have good communication skills, some German language proficiency and the ability to work in a team.

The closing date for applications will be 17 February 2012. Applications should include a cover letter, C.V., list of publications, a short statement of research interests, and names and email-addresses of three references. Applications in German or English should be sent electronically by e-mail, preferably combined to a single pdf. We especially encourage women to apply. Physically handicapped persons will be given preference in case of equal qualifications.

Further information can be found here:
http://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/1/projects/weitere-projekte/aboveground-invertebrates-related-studies/footprints/
http://homepage.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Thomas.Eltz/

Please send your application to Dr. Thomas Eltz, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Lehrstuhl für Evolutionsökologie und Biodiversität der Tiere, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, thomas.eltz@rub.de, Phone INT-(0)234-32-27237.