The candidate will realize an experimental setup for spatial intensity and phase modulation aimed to obtain focusing of light beams in ordered or disordered nanostructures [1]. The degree of focusing will be studied for different kinds of nanostructures (like photonic crystals[2] and photonic glass[3]) and for nonlinear systems. Job will include the developing of a genetic optimization algorithm, and time resolved measurements. Candidate will have the opportunity to exploit advanced devices (femtosecond lasers, spatial light modulators, correlated single photon counters). The present value of the fellowship is between 1200 and 1500 euro/month depending on the CV of the candidate.
Scholarship Application Deadline: Feb. 25th 2011
Further scholarship Information and Application
PhD Position: Light Modulation for Focusing in Disordered and Nonlinear Systems, Spain
IMPRS-gBGC PhD Program 2011, Germany: Biogeochemical cycles in the earth
The “International Max Planck Research School for global Biogeochemical Cycles” located in Jena, Germany, offers fellowships to outstanding students interested in research on biogeochemical cycles in the Earth system. The school offers excellent research possibilities for students to obtain a PhD degree in a 3-years graduate program.
The elements key to life such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are continuously exchanged among the land, ocean and atmosphere in what are known as global biogeochemical cycles. Research in the IMPRS discovers how these cycles function, how they are interconnected, and how they can change with climate or human activity. Students can choose research that combines field observations, laboratory methods development, manipulative experiments, and numerical modelling to tackle current questions in global biogeochemistry. Students will also benefit from a three-month external research visit, specialised courses in e.g. statistics, Earth observation, modelling and analytical techniques, as well as in soft skills.
Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 January 2011
2 PhD Positions, Genetical Genomics of Insect-Plant Interactions, Netherlands
A major impediment in selecting resistant crop lines is that large numbers of crop lines need to be screened for the effects they have on pest insects. Moreover, the mechanisms of resistance to one pest are not necessarily also effective to another pest so that different pest species require their own approach. The goal of this research programme is to develop an automated methodology to screen large numbers of crop lines for resistance to two major pest species in Dutch greenhouse crops, aphids and thrips, and identify the responsible genetic loci by a genetical genomics approach. The method will be developed for Arabidopsis by taking advantage of the HapMap collection of ca 400 Arabidopsis accessions that have been collected globally and genotyped for 250.000 SNPs. Tools will be developed to objectively quantify differences in insect resistance in a rapid and reliable way, and subsequently genes and molecular markers will be identified for different resistance mechanisms in the model plant Arabidopsis. Subsequently, this knowledge will be transferred to ornamental and other crops. In this multidisciplinary proposal, the mechanisms will be characterized at the molecular, biochemical, physiological and ecological level and can subsequently, together with the novel insect behaviour assay systems, be used to screen large numbers of lines of various crop species for orthologous genes and markers involved in similar resistance mechanisms. For this research programme we will employ 2 PhD students.
Eligibility:
An MSc degree in Biology, Plant Biotechnology or Plant Sciences with a multidisciplinary profile. You should be a molecular biologist or plant biotechnologist with affinity to ecology of insect-plant interactions or an insect-plant ecologist that has experience with molecular techniques. Experience with investigating arthropod behaviour, statistics and computer technology will be considered an additional value. You should be a team player with demonstrable experience in collaboration with ecologists, molecular biologists and/or entomologists. Excellent communication skills.
Scholarship Application Deadline: 16 January 2011
Further Scholarship information and Application
