PhD Opportunity

Molecular aggression: variation and heritability of the levels of reactive oxygen species and their effects on the evolution of life histories in the wild

School of Zoology, University of Tasmania

 
Funding:          Australian Postgraduate Award ($20,007) plus top up $6,000 per year
                        Project support - $15 000 per year (ARC supported project)

Project Description: Ageing is arguably one of the most fundamental aspects of a species life history and impacts almost every other fitness component (e.g., tradeoffs with fecundity and fertility, and investments into immunology and DNA repair). This PhD project will integrate a detailed field based component with laboratory studies on an established model system to examine free radical biology (the molecules responsible for ageing) and their effects on key life history characteristics. Specifically, it will assess the extent to which the production and maintenance of levels of Reactive Oxygen Species and other reactive metabolic by-products of respiration act as selection pressures in natural populations. This project is part of an ARC funded discovery grant to Professor Mats Olsson (University of Wollongong) and Dr Erik Wapstra (University of Tasmania).
 
Who are we looking for: You will need to be competitive for an Australian Postgraduate Award (generally first class honours). You will need to enjoy fieldwork, laboratory work and have a passion for research science. A background in evolutionary biology will be key as will a desire to combine fieldwork with experimental and laboratory work.
 
When: You will need to apply for an APA Scholarship by Oct 31st 2008 and be willing to start in 2009.

 
For more information please contact Dr Erik Wapstra at the University of Tasmania.
Ph: + 61 3 6226 2813, Email: erik.wapstra@utas.edu.au
 
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Dr Erik Wapstra
Senior Lecturer
Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group (BEER group)
and Deputy Graduate Research Coordinator
School of Zoology
Private Bag 5
The University of Tasmania
Hobart 7001
Tasmania, Australia

Phone (int) + 61 3 6226 2813
Fax (school) (int) + 61 3 6226 2745
Phone (mobile) 0427 093 693

Personal website: http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/zoo/pagedetails.asp?lpersonId=2458
BEER group website: http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/zoo/researchareasdetails.asp?lSchoolResearchAreaID=50
School website: http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/scieng/zoo/
UTAS website: http://www.utas.edu.au/