THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: You will be a member of a weed biological control research team that conducts field- and laboratory-based assessments of introduced natural enemies attacking the invasive tree Schinus terebinthifolius in south Florida.  Research will be carried out in the laboratory, and in the field as appropriate, to determine and predict the host range of potential biological control agents. Methods may include, but are not limited to, mass production of high quality insects and plants, insect feeding tests to determine suitability of different plant species as hosts for candidate biological control agents, and determination of nutritional and non-nutritional plant chemistry that influences insect host range.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in Entomology or a closely related discipline is required.   Knowledge of herbivory, insect-plant interactions, plant biology, nutritional ecology, and chemical ecology, as well as a basic understanding of practices used in laboratory research, and knowledge of experimental design, statistical analysis and interpretation of data is required.

INFORMATION ON SALARY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS is available at: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html

INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Dr. Greg Wheeler
USDA/ARS, Invasive Plant Research Lab
3225 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale FL 33314
Phone: 954-475-6546
Fax: 954-476-9169
Email:  greg.wheeler@ars.usda.gov

For information about the research:  http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=66-29-00-00