New Zealand – Marsden PhD Scholarship in Molecular Research at Otago University
Position: Marsden PhD Scholarship Opportunity
Organization: New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research
Location: Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
Studentship title: Bacterial evolution in quantum leaps: The molecular basis for mobility of pathogenicity islands.
Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship to study the role of mobile genetic elements in the spread of virulence factors within bacterial populations. The phytopathogen Erwinia carotovora will be used as a model system to investigate the molecular basis for mobility of the pathogenicity island HAI2, which encodes coronafacic acid (cfa). Cfa is a virulence factor involved in the development of blackleg disease in potato.
The PhD studentship will be based in the Plant Pathology and Microbiology Group at the New Zealand Institute of Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand as part of a Royal Society of New Zealand-funded Marsden grant. The studentship will commence in March 2007 (some flexibility), and includes a NZ$ 24,500 tax-free stipend and course fees for 3 years at Otago University.
This project is a collaboration between Otago University (www.otago.ac.nz), New Zealand Institute of Crop & Food Research, and the University of the West of England, United Kingdom (www.uwe.ac.uk). For more information about the project please refer to the New Zealand Institute of Crop & Food Research website at www.crop.cri.nz. Alternatively, contact either Dr Andrew Pitman at the New Zealand Institute of Crop & Food Research (pitmana@crop.cri.nz) or Professor Clive Ronson at Otago University (Clive.Ronson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz).
Applicants should submit a full Curriculum Vitae with a covering letter indicating their interest in the project and the contact details of at least two referees to Dr Andrew Pitman (pitmana@crop.cri.nz).
Candidates should have or expect to obtain, a first or upper second class honours degree and have a background in molecular biology/bacteriology/genetics.
Applications close: 18 December 2006
The Institute is an equal opportunity employer.
Please kindly mention GetScholarship.net when replying to this position