PhD Research Fellow in Evolutionary Ecology of Crop Pest Adaptation

This PhD position at the University of Agder focuses on evolutionary ecology, investigating how natural pest populations adapt to sustained human-imposed selection pressures in agricultural landscapes. The project leverages a rare opportunity in Brazil, where biological control agents have been deployed for decades, creating diverse pest populations with contrasting evolutionary histories. The successful candidate will combine field sampling, laboratory experiments, and advanced statistical modeling to quantify genetic variation in complex traits, testing whether selection histories drive resistance evolution and other life-history shifts. The work integrates fundamental evolutionary questions with applied challenges in biological pest management, including extended research stays in Brazil and international collaborations. The position is based at the Department of Natural Sciences and offers integration into a collaborative research environment studying ecological and evolutionary dynamics in human-influenced systems.

• Conduct field sampling and laboratory experiments to study genetic variation and evolutionary responses in crop pest populations under contrasting selection histories in Brazil.
• Develop and apply advanced statistical models, particularly Bayesian and hierarchical models, to quantify genetic variation in complex traits.
• Collaborate with academic and industry partners in Brazil, Scotland, and other international networks to integrate findings and expand research scope.
• Publish research findings in high-impact academic journals and present results at international conferences.
• Participate in a collaborative research environment focused on robust inference about ecological and evolutionary change in human-influenced systems.
• Engage in professional development activities and contribute to the academic community at the University of Agder.