Post-doctoral Position starting 1 February 2014 Orians Research Group @ Tufts University
The Orians Lab at Tufts University, as part of a collaborative NSF research project with Evan Preisser and Carol Thornber (University of Rhode Island), is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to study plant-mediated interactions between two sessile invasive herbivores, hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS). The position begins 1 February 2014, and is for one year with the potential for a 15 month renewal. The candidate will be based at Tufts University but will visit URI regularly (1.5 hours by car or train) to coordinate the field research and work with grant-supported graduate students. Project Overview: This research integrates community ecology (priority effects, plant-mediated interactions, etc.), nutritional and secondary biochemical analyses, and modeling to explore the individual and joint effects of these herbivores on the growth and survival of eastern hemlock. Our preliminary data indicate that the effects of HWA and EHS are non-additive. Rather, prior colonization by EHS increases hemlock resistance to HWA and ultimately increases tree growth. Future work aims to identify potential mechanisms behind this observation using experimentally manipulated plants grown in a common garden at URI. For more information on this system and background on the three investigators, please visit: http://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/orians/research/exoticInsects.htm http://ase.tufts.edu/biology/labs/orians/publications/ http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/research/competition.html http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/publications/index.html http://cels.uri.edu/thornber/ http://cels.uri.edu/thornber/publications.html Qualifications: We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated scientist who enjoys working as part of a team as well as independently. The ideal applicant is expected to have a strong foundation in plant-herbivore interactions, plant chemistry, and the design and implementation of manipulative experiments. At least one first-authored publication in press is also expected. If interested, send a C.V., statement of research interests that includes career goals (1-2 pp), pdfs of papers, and contact information (emails and phone numbers) for three professional references to Dr. Colin Orians, colin.ori...@tufts.edu. Please put "Postdoctoral Applicant" in the Subject Line. Applications will be reviewed as they are received through October 31st, 2013. __________________________ Evan Preisser, Associate Professor Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island 9 E. Alumni Ave., Kingston RI 02881 USA 401 874-2120; preis...@uri.edu; http://cels.uri.edu/preisserlab/
