A Postdoctoral position is offered at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy) in the lab of Hannes Schuler. The position is funded for three years and aims to study different factors that are influencing the transmission of phytoplasmas by psyllid species. Phytoplasmas are bacterial pathogens that cause hundreds of plant diseases affecting many important vegetables and fruit crops, thus being responsible for high yield losses worldwide. These pathogens reside in the plant's phloem and transmission among plants is mainly mediated by phloem-sucking insects. Apple proliferation is a disease caused by the phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma mali'. While several phloem feeders occur on apple, only a small number of species are able to acquire and transmit phytoplasmas. We aim to unravel different phytoplasma transmission pathways in different insect vectors using a population genetic approach. We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a strong background in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. The candidate will be responsible to investigate factors affecting transmission efficiency of Phytoplasma mali by the two main vectors Cacopsylla picta and Cacopsylla melanoneura by performing population genetic analyses of the insects and the phytoplasma. The project is funded by a joint project of the Province of Bolzano and the Fonds National de la Recherche FNR, Luxembourg and is in close collaboration with Michael Eickermann (Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology) and Wolfgang Jarausch (RLP Agroscience, Germany). The position will be based at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Northern Italy. 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. The Schuler lab is member of the Competence Centre for Plant Health, a joint institution which consists of several research groups in the field of Biology, Agricultural Sciences and Engineering. We are a young and dynamic research group studying various aspects of insect-microbe interactions in a collaborative atmosphere http://hschuler.people.unibz.it We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a strong background in insect ecology and evolution. Competences with molecular genetic methods, next generation sequencing and bioinformatics as well as experience with ecological studies, collection and handling of insects are desired. General requirements for the position: PhD degree in Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Biotechnology, Ecology and Evolution with a multidisciplinary profile. The candidate should have excellent communication skills and should be fluent in English. The project is expected to start in April 2025, but the starting date is negotiable. Application deadline is 08.01.2025 (noon) For informal inquiries, and for questions about the hiring process, please contact Hannes Schuler hannes.schuler@unibz.it All documents for the application procedure can be found here: https://www.unibz.it/de/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/7504-allgemeine-und-angewandte-entomologie-prof-schuler-hannes-pos-1?group Prof. Hannes Schuler Competence Centre for Plant Health Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences Free University of Bozen-Bolzano Universitätsplatz 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)