PostDoc - Impact of climate change on pest-natural enemy dynamics (Hannover)

We are looking for a highly skilled, motivated and collaborative person with a PhD (or equivalent) in Biology/Ecology or Agriculture/Horticulture to investigate the impact of climate change on plant protection strategies in horticulture. The project is part of the research initiative KLIFF (Klimafolgenforschung), which is funded by the Ministry of Lower Saxony. The network "Climate Change and Production of Economic Plants - Processes and Adaptation Strategies until 2030" consist of 14 sub-projects which investigate the impact of climate change on agriculture and horticulture (www.unigoettingen.de/zlu).

The specific tasks of the PostDoc at IPP/LUH will be:
•Define and set up a model to investigate the impact of extreme weather conditions on pest population development
•Investigate the impact of spatial and temporal differences in pest – natural enemy interaction
•Perform a sensitivity analysis and run the model under different scenarios
•To generate field data on population development of selected pest species and to validate the results with field data if available

The successful candidate will work at Leibniz University Hannover (http://www.uni-hannover.de). For more information on IPP please visit the internet (http://www.ipp.uni-hannover.de).
A background in mathematics / entomology / ecology and experience in population ecology / modeling is preferred. Funding is available for 18 month and based on TV-L E13. Working place is Hannover.
Send your application and CV, including a letter of motivation and two references to: Institute of Plant Protection and Plant Diseases, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuserstr. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany. Electronic application is preferred. Application deadline: 10.03.2012

For further information contact:
Dr. Rainer Meyhöfer, email: meyhoefer@ipp.uni-hannover.de, phone: ++49/511/7622641