Post-doc for pollination biologists

[Steve Johnson]

POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIP IN POLLINATION BIOLOGY

Here is an opportunity for someone with a PhD to do pollination research in South Africa, one of the most biologically diverse parts of the world with its own Cape Floral Kingdom and a plethora of fascinating pollination systems. We have a very active pollination biology research group here at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, a pleasant university town near the botanically rich Drakensberg mountains. Facilities are very good, with an extensive library, state of the art computers, spectrometers for colour analysis, microscopes (light and SEM), herbarium, four-wheel drive vehicles etc

The value of the postdoc is  $15 000 per year ($1250 per month), which is enough for an individual or family to live very comfortably in South Africa.

Successful applicants would be free to pursue any kind of research in pollination biology on a collaborative basis. We focus on pollination biology in the South African flora, especially related to formation of pollination ecotypes and plant speciation, plant breeding systems and ecological determinants of fruit and seed set, floral mimicry in orchids, interpretation of ecological traits using cladistic analysis, convergent evolution in plants with specialized pollination systems, and uncoupling of plant-insect mutualisms in fragmented habitats.

Researchers staying for periods shorter than a year would receive funding on a pro rata basis.

Applications must include a full CV with publications and an outline of research interests, and must reach me  (JohnsonSD at nu.ac.za) by 31 June 2000. The starting time would be between 30 September and 31 November 2000.  The main flowering season in this region is from October to March 

For some representative publications from our lab during the past two years, see   http://www.botany.unp.ac.za/Staff/Johnson/steve.htm. 

Steven Johnson


Note new email address: JohnsonSD at nu.ac.za

School of Botany and Zoology
University of Natal
Private  Bag X01 Scottsville
Pietermaritzburg 3209
South Africa

Tel 033-2605148
Fax 033-2605105