PhD position available

[Christoph Oberprieler]

The Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten Halle of
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (Germany) seeks applicants for a
3-years research position within a project on phylogeographical and
populationgenetic aspects of phytodiversity in paleoafrican refugia in
Southern Arabia / Sokotra (Jemen). The research project is expected to
commence April 1, 2001 and will be funded by the German Ministry for
Education and Science (BMBF) in the course of an integrative scientific
program on biodiversity in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa (BIOTA;
http://www.biota-africa.org).

The project undertakes plant population genetic analyses using molecular
markers (cpDNA PCR-RFLP, AFLP) which are aimed at a reconstruction of the
chronological fragmentation of the relict habitats under study. Their
intention is to elaborate a hypothesis of the temporal and spatial
development of these habitats and will contribute to a discussion of aspects
of taxonomic differentiation, floristic evolution (together with a partial
project at Berlin Free University), functional morphological adaptations
(together with a partial project at Essen University), and will enable the
comparison of phylogeographic patterns in plants and animals of S Arabia
(together with a partial project at Zoological Museum Koenig Bonn). In
addition, population genetic studies aim at an assessment of effects of
areal fragmentation on the genetic diversity of plants in semi-arid habitats
of Southern Arabia.

Plant material for the planed molecular studies will be collected and
preserved on excursions to Southern Arabia by the other partial projects and
will be analysed by the successful applicant in the molecular ecological lab
of the Institut für Geobotanik and in cooperation with other labs of Halle
University. Besides the molecular work the successful applicant is expected
to do phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of data. In the course of
her/his employment in the project the applicant will be enabled to work for
a doctoral degree of Halle University.

The successful applicant will preferably have a diploma as a graduated
biologist (botanist), skills in molecular systematics and/or molecular
ecology, and knowledge of phylogenetic and population genetic data analysis.
Applications including a curriculum vitae, detailed statements of research
experiences, and representative publications should be mailed to the
following address until March 16, 2001:

Personalamt der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Drittmittelprojekt
Ausschreibungsnummer 18/2001
D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany.

For further information on the project contact: Dr. Christoph Oberprieler,
Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten der Martin-Luther-Universität
Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; tel.
0049-345-5526229; fax.: 0049-345-5527094; e-mail:
oberprieler at botanik.uni-halle.de

Please note that I am absent from this address between February 24 and March
22, 2001!!!

*************
Dr. Christoph Oberprieler
Institut für Geobotanik und Botanischer Garten
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
Neuwerk 21
D-06108 Halle (Saale)
GERMANY
tel. ++49-(0)345-5526229
fax. ++49-(0)345-5527094
oberprieler at botanik.uni-halle.de
http://www.biologie.uni-halle.de/bot/oberpr.html