IMPRS: 5 PhD positions; Molecular and Chemical Ecology and Evolution 1485 views

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) invites applications for 5 PhD positions in “The Exploration of Ecological Interactions with Molecular and Chemical Techniques”. IMPRS is offering 15 exciting projects focusing on different organisms and approaches.

Starting date: January 2018

Requirements:

• Applicant must be enthusiastic PhD students with strong interests in the mentioned central topic.
• Applicants must hold or expected to hold Masters or equivalent degree in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics, Analytical Chemistry, Entomology, Neurobiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Plant Physiology and Genetics.
• Applicants with exceptional record with a Bachelor’s degree may also be considered.
• All the projects are highly integrative and require willingness to closely collaborate with researchers of different backgrounds.

Benefits:

• state-of-the art equipment
• an excellent research environment
• supervision by a thesis committee
• structured training program including scientific courses
• training in transferable skills and internal conferences
• no tuition fees
• working language is English

How to apply:

• Apply online 

List of projects offered:

1. Surfing the surface: Hydrophobins on fungal hyphae
2. Mycorrhizal roots and flowers – does a common signaling system lead to phenotype associations among AMF and pollination preferences in a native tobacco?
3. Towards GC-MS: Adapting SIRIUS and CSI: FingerID for Electron Ionization fragmentation
4. Multiple chemical compounds from Mortierella hyalina, a root-colonizing fungus, promote plant performance
5. Opposing the mustard-oil bomb with a glutathione bomb
6. The role of plant defense mechanisms for maintaining the diversity of host races in the pea aphid
7. Evolution in an invasive species: How does sexual communication evolve in a recently invaded moth species?
8. Thriving in waste: The role of microbiota in black soldier fly adaptation to a highly variable environment
9. Molecular profiling Drosophila olfactory sensory neurons
10. Specificity, phylogeny and fitness contributions of phytoplasma effector proteins
11. Desert ant navigation based on olfactory cues
12. How bright and how nasty: The economics of variable aposematic traits
13. Communication: Fungal metabolites as response to organismic interaction
14. Mustard oils and fruit flies: Explaining the toxic effects of isothiocyanates on a model insect
15. Identification and functional role of male pheromones in Manduca