PhD Research Fellow in Evolutionary Ecology of Pest Resistance

This PhD position at the University of Agder (UiA) focuses on evolutionary ecology, investigating how natural pest populations adapt when exposed to long-term biological control interventions in Brazilian agro-landscapes. The project combines field sampling, laboratory experiments, and advanced statistical modelling to study genetic variation and evolutionary responses in crop pests. The successful candidate will collaborate with academic and industry partners in Brazil, Scotland, and beyond, contributing to both fundamental ecological research and applied solutions for sustainable pest management. The role is based at UiA’s Department of Natural Sciences in Kristiansand, Norway, with extended research stays in Brazil as a core component.

• Conduct fieldwork and laboratory experiments in Brazil and Norway to study genetic variation and evolutionary responses in crop pest populations under biological control.
• Develop and apply advanced statistical models (e.g., Bayesian and hierarchical models) to analyse complex biological data using R or comparable programming environments.
• Collaborate with academic and industry partners in Brazil, Scotland, and international networks to integrate field observations, lab experiments, and modelling efforts.
• Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present results at international conferences.
• Contribute to a collaborative research environment focused on robust inference about ecological and evolutionary dynamics in human-influenced systems.
• Participate in extended international research stays, including fieldwork and data collection in Brazil.
• Develop and refine research questions, methodologies, and analytical approaches under supervision.