A postdoctoral position is available at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (Italy) in the lab of Hannes Schuler. This project, funded for two years, aims to study bark beetles and psyllids and their associated microorganisms. The European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), one of Europe's most destructive forest pests, relies on tight symbiotic associations with fungi and bacteria. In this project you will dissect those partners to discover how they shape the beetle's biology. In parallel, you will characterise the endosymbionts of phytoplasma-vectoring psyllids and test how these microbes influence host fitness and the acquisition and transmission of phytoplasmas. Comparing these two contrasting systems will let you probe universal versus host-specific rules of insect-microbe cooperation and uncover microbial targets for sustainable pest control. The successful candidate will: * Collect insect samples * Conduct amplicon-sequencing and whole genome sequencing for bacteria and fungi. * Analyze bacterial and fungal communities associated with insects using bioinformatic tools. We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate with: * A strong background in molecular biology. * Experience with bioinformatic analyses of bacterial and/or fungal communities associated with insects. * A PhD (or soon to be completed) in Biology, Evolution, or related fields. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is situated in one of the most fascinating regions in Europe, at the crossroads between German-speaking and Italian cultures. The university is renowned for its trilingualism in teaching and research, its high level of internationalization, and its ideal research environment, guaranteed by excellent facilities. These attributes consistently place unibz at the top in both national and international rankings. Our lab is part of the newly funded Competence Centre for Plant Health within the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences. We are a young and dynamic research group dedicated to studying various aspects of insect-microbe interactions in a collaborative atmosphere http://hschuler.people.unibz.it If you are passionate about molecular biology, fascinated by insect-microbe interactions, and eager to join a vibrant research community, we encourage you to apply for this position. General requirements for the position: A PhD (or soon to be finished) in Biology or Evolution or related fields. The candidate should have excellent communication skills and should be fluent in English. The project is expected to start as soon as possible, but the starting date is negotiable. Application deadline is 27.06.2025 (noon). All documents for the application procedure can be found at: https://www.unibz.it/en/home/position-calls/positions-for-academic-staff/7744-pflanzenpathologie-und-entomologie-prof-schuler-hannes?groupt 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 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)