A PhD position is available in the lab of Hannes Schuler at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy) and aims to investigate Wolbachia in agriculturally important pest species. The position is funded for three years by the European Social Fund Plus and will start in November 2024. Wolbachia is a widespread endosymbiont which is known for affecting the reproductive success of insects. The interaction between Wolbachia and its host significantly influences the population dynamics of infected insect populations. This project aims to understand the natural dynamics of Wolbachia within insect populations. Large scale sequencing will be performed to reveal co-evolutionary relationships between Wolbachia and its hosts. Moreover, the molecular interactions between Wolbachia and its insect hosts will be studied with a specific focus on reproductive manipulation and fitness effects. We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a background in agricultural or biological sciences, bioinformatics, ecology and evolution. Competences with molecular genetic methods, next generation sequencing and bioinformatics as well as experience with ecological studies and field work are desired. The candidate should have excellent communication skills and should be fluent in English. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is located in one of the most fascinating European regions, at the crossroads between the German-speaking and Italian cultures. Its trilingualism in teaching and research, its high level of internationalisation as well as an ideal study environment guaranteed by its excellent facilities are some of the reasons why unibz regularly reaches top positions in national and international rankings. The Schuler lab is member of the newly funded Competence Centre for Plant Health, a joint institution which consists of several research groups in the field of Biology, Agricultural Sciences and Engineering https://www.unibz.it/en/home/research/competence-centre-plant-health We are a young and dynamic research group studying various aspects of insect-microbe interactions in a collaborative atmosphere http://hschuler.people.unibz.it Deadline for applications is 11.07.2024 (noon). All documents for the application procedure can be found here: https://www.unibz.it/assets/Documents/PhD/2024-25-FSE-Call-general-part-40th-Cycle_en.pdf and here https://www.unibz.it/assets/Documents/PhD/Call-PhD-Programmes/Specific-part_PhD-in-Mountain-Environment-and-Agriculture_Call_FSE_40th-Cycle_en_def.pdf For informal inquiries, and for questions about the hiring process, please contact Hannes Schuler hannes.schuler@unibz.it Prof. Hannes Schuler Competence Centre for Plant Health Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences Free University of Bozen-Bolzano Universit�tsplatz 5 I-39100 Bozen-Bolzano Tel: +39 0471 017648 http://hschuler.people.unibz.it Schuler Hannes (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)