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Dr J Cresswell, Prof N Smirnoff
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
We are inviting applications for this PhD studentship to commence September 2013. This studentship will be based in Biosciences (Streatham Campus, Exeter) at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter.
BACKGROUND. Bees can be exposed to agrochemicals in mixture when they forage from flowering crops such as oilseed rape, apples and a range of fruits & vegetables that are normally protected by various plant protection products (PPPs) including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Regulators approve individual PPPs for use when they demonstrate no unacceptable impact on non-target organisms including bees, but PPPs do not have to be tested in mixture. A few combinations are already known to have disproportionately harmful impacts, or cocktail effects, but the joint effect on bees of many routinely used combinations and application timings is unknown.
OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMME OF WORK. In this project you will investigate the potential for cocktail effects on bees resulting from the agrochemical mixtures routinely used by farms in the food supply chain of a major food retailer. First, you will use LC-MS analysis identify relevant mixtures in the nectar, pollen and environment of treated crops. Second, you will determine their potential impact through laboratory toxicity testing. Third, you will conduct a controlled semi-field trial to test for mixture impacts at field-realistic levels on bumble bees.
ABOUT YOU. You must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant biological or environmental science. Full training will be provided, but experience of laboratory techniques and bioassays would be an advantage. You should be confident in presenting your work in public. You will join an enthusiastic research group with access to excellent facilities.
TRAINING AND CAREER. This project provides a distinctive training in ecotoxicology and the high profile topic of bee health. You will be well equipped for postdoctoral research or employment in the environmental, food supply or regulatory sectors.
The studentship will cover a stipend (£13,726 per annum for 2013-2014), research costs and tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment of the tuition fees plus a small contribution for living costs. Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit and are awarded for three years of full-time study (part-time pro-rata).
Application procedures:
Please upload the following documents (as.pdf files) to the studentship application form - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/studentships/application/
• CV
• Covering letter (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)
• 2 references (if your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to [Email Address Removed])
If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email [Email Address Removed] or phone +44 (0)1392 725150/723310. Project specific queries should be directed to the supervisor Dr James Cresswell ([Email Address Removed] or +44 (0)1392 723779.
BACKGROUND. Bees can be exposed to agrochemicals in mixture when they forage from flowering crops such as oilseed rape, apples and a range of fruits & vegetables that are normally protected by various plant protection products (PPPs) including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Regulators approve individual PPPs for use when they demonstrate no unacceptable impact on non-target organisms including bees, but PPPs do not have to be tested in mixture. A few combinations are already known to have disproportionately harmful impacts, or cocktail effects, but the joint effect on bees of many routinely used combinations and application timings is unknown.
OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMME OF WORK. In this project you will investigate the potential for cocktail effects on bees resulting from the agrochemical mixtures routinely used by farms in the food supply chain of a major food retailer. First, you will use LC-MS analysis identify relevant mixtures in the nectar, pollen and environment of treated crops. Second, you will determine their potential impact through laboratory toxicity testing. Third, you will conduct a controlled semi-field trial to test for mixture impacts at field-realistic levels on bumble bees.
ABOUT YOU. You must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant biological or environmental science. Full training will be provided, but experience of laboratory techniques and bioassays would be an advantage. You should be confident in presenting your work in public. You will join an enthusiastic research group with access to excellent facilities.
TRAINING AND CAREER. This project provides a distinctive training in ecotoxicology and the high profile topic of bee health. You will be well equipped for postdoctoral research or employment in the environmental, food supply or regulatory sectors.
The studentship will cover a stipend (£13,726 per annum for 2013-2014), research costs and tuition fees at the UK/EU rate. Students who pay international tuition fees are eligible to apply, but should note that the award will only provide payment of the tuition fees plus a small contribution for living costs. Studentships will be awarded on the basis of merit and are awarded for three years of full-time study (part-time pro-rata).
Application procedures:
Please upload the following documents (as.pdf files) to the studentship application form - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/money/studentships/application/
• CV
• Covering letter (outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project).
• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)
• 2 references (if your referees prefer, they can email the reference direct to [Email Address Removed])
If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email [Email Address Removed] or phone +44 (0)1392 725150/723310. Project specific queries should be directed to the supervisor Dr James Cresswell ([Email Address Removed] or +44 (0)1392 723779.
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