Evolutionary ecology of wood-boring and bark-feeding insects and their impact on coniferous tree forestry

Are you interested in evolutionary biology, insect and woodland ecology, combining field studies with Next Generation DNA forensics, and exploring concepts of invasion biology and impacts of climate change?

Non-native pests and diseases cause significant damage to trees across Europe, and have the potential for much greater future damage. Our ability to understand the invasion and evolutionary ecology of these species, including their present distribution and future spread, is hampered by a lack of knowledge of the larval stages (often responsible for tree damage and infection) of both non-native and native species present in forests.

The project combines extensive field ecology with molecular genetic (DNA) techniques of species identification and population genotyping, including Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic approaches, to determine the distribution and spread of invasive tree-damaging insects, to feed in to improved plans for biodiversity management and control of invasive species to reduce damage to the forestry sector. The project will combine genetics expertise of IBERS with long-term datasets and facilities/field sites of Forest Research to determine ecological networks of tree-damaging insects, and will have substantial impact and relevance to both the conservation of woodland biodiversity and integrated management of forests. Training will be provided in state of the art molecular genetic techniques, insect / woodland biology and field ecology, and lead to job opportunities in academic, government and industrial sectors.

We will develop and apply DNA barcoding methods to identify to species wood-boring and bark-feeding insect larvae (or feeding traces left by larvae) from a network of field sites including stressed and dying trees, fallen dead wood and control trees. Associated data on tree species, age, condition, site-specific factors, and other pests and diseases will be used to construct ecological networks, and to develop an understanding of species interactions. High-resolution DNA fingerprinting will establish how key native and invasive species disperse within and between forests, the level of population connectivity within species at different spatial scales across wooded landscapes, and variation in genetic diversity between native and non-native species, to understand local and broad-scale invasion biology. Results on dispersal and distribution of the most important wood- and bark-feeding species will be input to Ecological Niche Models to predict future abundance, distribution and impact under climate change scenarios.

Applicants should have a 1st or good 2:1 in a relevant degree, and available to take up the studentship by September 2018. The project is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the European Union’s Convergence programme administered by the Welsh Government. KESS II PhD scholarships are collaborative awards with external partners. (Applicants need only apply, they do not need to search for partners)

If interested, contact Prof Paul Shaw at [Email Address Removed] (01970 622328) or Dr Max Blake at [Email Address Removed].

To apply, please submit the following to the Postgraduate Admissions Office (address below) by 24th August 2018:
1. Research Programme Application Form, plus two references - forms downloadable from http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/
2. KESS II Participant Proposal Form (put reference AU30032 in top right hand box) and CV - forms downloadable at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/rbi/business/services/initiatives/kess/currentscholarshipvacanciesandapplicationforms/
3. PhD proposal of up to 1,000 words where you expand on your experience / interests and describe why you are a good candidate for this research studentship.

Value of Award: A stipend of £14,340 (rising in accordance with inflation for the remaining two years). Each scholarship has an additional budget for travel, equipment/consumables and training to support your research. KESS II PhD Scholarship holders do not pay fees.

Length: Full-time for 3 years. (Theses must be submitted within 42 months)

Training: a Postgraduate Skills Development Award (PSDA) is offered for each KESS II scholar (The PSDA is based on a 60 credit award, which is an additional award to the PhD).

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for a KESS II award, you must be resident, upon starting the scholarship, in the Convergence Area of Wales and you must be eligible to take paid employment in the Convergence area on completion of the scholarship. Any UK or EU citizen who is able to move to and live in Aberystwyth from September 2018 is therefore eligible.

Address for applications:

Postgraduate Admissions Office
Recruitment & Admissions
Student Welcome Centre
Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth
SY23 3FB

Reference AU30032

Closing date: 24th August 2018