PhD position - Museum and Institute
of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
We are looking for highly motivated PhD student to
participate in the project: “Adaptations and ongoing co-evolution: the case of
source and reintroduced populations of obligatory myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea teleius”. The project will be
carried out at the Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
in Warsaw, Poland under supervision of dr Magdalena Witek and dr Luca P. Casacci.
The project is financed by the
National Science Centre, which ensures a PhD student with a monthly tax-free
research stipend of 4500 PLN for three years.
Project description: Myrmica
ants are the hosts of
many organisms of various taxa, including socially parasitic Maculinea butterflies whose larvae
complete their development inside ant nests. In 1990 a successful
reintroduction of Maculinea teleius was
performed in the Netherlands where Polish butterflies were translocated. Such
difference of almost 30 butterfly generations between the source Polish and the
reintroduced Dutch population offers unique opportunity to study the local
adaptations of M. teleius butterflies
to their host ants and to detect ongoing co-evolution processes between
parasite and host populations. We plan to study genetic structure of M. teleius source and reintroduced populations.
Also, morphometric parameters of adult butterflies will be analysed. To test
adoption and survival success of M.
teleius larvae coming from different populations we will perform behavioral
experiments in the laboratory. We will study cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) profiles
of M. teleius larvae and their Myrmica host ants.
Requirements: Successful
candidates should have a Master’s degree in Biology /Ecology. The candidate
should have a strong background in evolutionary biology and animal behaviour. Experience
in behavioural ecology of invertebrates (mostly social insects and/or
butterflies), genetic or CHC profile analysis and statistics will be an additional asset. The candidate should have
very good oral and written communication skills in English.
Work description: Successful candidate will collect field data,
perform genetic analysis of microsatellites, analysis of morphological traits
of adult Maculinea butterflies, CHC
profiles of ants and butterfly larvae and perform behavioural experiments. The
study will be carried out within international team and data will be collected
in Poland, Netherland and Romania. CHC chemical profiles will be analysed in
Paris University (at prof. Patrizia d’Ettorre’s laboratory). The PhD student
will be guided by members of our team and encouraged to develop own ideas.
Application: The candidates
are asked to contact dr Magdalena Witek (mwitek@miiz.waw.pl) attaching a single PDF file with: 1) a cover letter describing the motivation and research
experiences, 2) CV 3) copy of MSc certificate and 4) names and contact details of two references.
Deadline for applications is 25th August, 2019.
1. In the first stage, selected candidates will be contacted
by e-mail to define a date for interview which will take place at Museum and
Institute of Zoology, in Warsaw or eventually by skype.
2. In the second stage (middle of September 2019) the successful
candidate will take part in the exam of the BioPlanet Doctoral
School (http://szkoladoktorska-bioplanet.pl/en/home/).
3. Starting date: 1st October, 2019
