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Urgent! PhD position: Evolution of Chemoreception in Parasitoids Job Opening In Munich – Now Hiring Technical University of Munich

PhD position: Evolution of Chemoreception in Parasitoids



Job description

PhD position: Evolution of Chemoreception in Parasitoids

03.06., Wissenschaftliches Personal

Chemical signaling, the most ancient and widespread form of communication, plays a crucial role in maintaining species boundaries through exclusive communication channels that potentially drive speciation.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), lipids found on the surface of insects, have been shown to encode species-specific sexual signals in various insect taxa.

However, how insects perceive, discriminate, and process the biological information encoded in CHC profiles remains poorly understood.

PhD Position:

The PhD candidate will investigate the chemoreception networks involved in CHC perception, particularly in the context of prezygotic reproductive isolation within a species complex of parasitoid wasps (Nasonia).

Our previous research has already deciphered the patterns of sexual attractiveness in Nasonia CHC profiles.

Expanding on this foundation, the PhD candidate will employ a suite of advanced techniques—single-sensillum recording (SSR), gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electro-antennographic detection (EAD), RNAi knockdowns, and behavioral olfactometer assays—to elucidate how divergence in CHC perception has potentially contributed to prezygotic reproductive isolation.

This will largely advance our still limited knowledge on the intricate mechanisms of CHC perception in particular and on speciation mechanisms mediated by chemosensory evolution in general.

The successful candidate will join the newly established Heisenberg group “Evolution of chemical communication” (PD Dr. Jan Buellesbach) at the Plant-Insect Interactions group (Prof.

Sara D.

Leonhardt) as part of the TUM Department of Life Science Systems.

Starting date is fall .

The position is fixed-term (36 months).

Salary scale: TV-L 13, 65%.

As part of the assigned duties, there will be ample opportunity to conduct the independent scientific research necessary for the completion of a doctorate.

The limitation complies to § 2, 1 WissZeitVG.



Job profile – We require

•Strong interest and motivation in conducting evolutionary and chemical ecological research at different levels.

•MSc/diploma in a relevant field (e.g., evolutionary biology, chemical ecology, sensory biology).

•Strong experience with chemoreception and sensory biological techniques (SSR, GC-EAD, EAG).

•Experience in analytical chemistry (GC-FID, GC-MS).


•Experience in or willingness to learn statistical data analyses, data processing and analytical chemical analyses.

•Excellent command of English language (written & oral) and experience with scientific writing.



We offer

•Friendly and inspiring working atmosphere in a highly international young research group, as part of a vivid ecological department.

•Graduate Education at an excellent university ranked number 1 in Germany and 12th worldwide.

•Free access to transferable skill and statistical courses as part of the TUM Graduate School and the Biodiversity Exploratories.



Salary & Conditions

TUM strives to raise the proportion of women in its workforce and explicitly encourages applications from qualified women.

Applications from disabled persons with essentially the same qualifications will be given preference.


Required Skill Profession

Life Scientists



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