Postgraduate Research Assistant , University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh -Institute of Evolutionary Biology

College of Science and Engineering

Applications are sought for a Postgraduate Research Assistant in Forest Pathology to work for two years on an important aspect of the PROTREE project recently awarded under the UK s Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Initiative. The aims of the work programme are to investigate possible evolutionary changes that have taken place in the fungal pathogen Dothistroma septosporum which has recently emerged as a serious threat to the health of native Scots pine. The research assistant will be responsible for organising and executing field collections and isolations of D. septosporum from native pine populations, pine plantations and tree nurseries, the establishment and maintenance of a collection of these D. septosporum isolates, and DNA isolation from these isolates for barcoding and analysis of recent genetic changes in the population. The PGRA s work will support research by a PDRA on the same grant who will be investigating genetic structure of the D. septosporum populations! with genetic markers, and possible changes in their sensitivity to fungicides. The post is based in the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Professor Richard Ennos rennos@ed.ac.uk to whom informal enquiries may be directed.

Fixed Term: 24 months

Salary Scale:  £25,759 -  £29,837 pa

Vacancy Ref: 028288

Closing Date: 30-APR-2014  at 5pm GMT

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