From pests to paradise: control and conservation of molluscan biodiversity

“From pests to paradise: control and conservation of molluscan biodiversity”.

BBSRC DTP-funded PhD position

Dr. Angus Davison, University of Nottingham

Snails and slugs are a major crop pest, with a few introduced species causing worldwide problems. Yet, they are difficult to identify and we have little idea of how this biodiversity has come about, hindering appropriate control and conservation efforts. This project will use next generation sequencing methods to investigate the evolution and speciation of snails, especially with respect to characters under natural selection (e.g. shell colour and banding), and including methods that may help identify invasive or cryptic species, or species of conservation concern.

Building upon the work of a recent BBSRC-funded PhD student (Richards et al 2013), who investigated the diversity within colour polymorphic Cepaea, this new project will investigate the degree of parallelism and convergence between Cepaea and other species. Ultimately, the precise project will be determined by the interests of the student, but the overall aim is that he/she will begin to determine if the same modes of speciation and evolution are involved in widely divergent species. The conclusions will have implications for both control and conservation of molluscan biodiversity.

Although much of the work will be lab-based, with a related bioinformatics element, field collection will be a necessary component, including probable work in East Asia or the Caribbean region.

The closing date for applications for this fully funded 4 year scheme is Sunday 21 December 2014. It is advisable to make an informal enquiry with Dr Angus Davison ([Email Address Removed]) prior to making a formal application. Apply online here. http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/graduateschool/bbsrc-doctoral-training-programme-in-biosciences/index.aspx

Successful candidates will be offered four years PhD training. Part of the first year will consist of lab rotations, with the remaining time focused on the main research project. Funding requirements mean that the project is advertised under the “Agricultural and Food Security” banner. Funding available to UK residents (fees + stipend) and EU citizens (fees only).

If you are a non-EU student, or have missed the deadline, it may still be worth contacting me. Sometimes, other funding becomes available ....

Lab website: http://www.angusdavison.org