How do species at different trophic levels interact with each other, how arethese interactions modified by the spatial setting, and how do spatialeffects then reflect into rates of functional processes? If these questionsinterest you, you are invited to apply for a three-year post graduatefellowship, available from September 2005 onwards in the MetapopulationResearch Group (www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop) at the University ofHelsinki, Finland. The monthly salary is ca. 1900 EUR and your supervisorwill be Tomas Roslin.

The PhD project is aimed at analyzing how herbivorous insects on thepedunculate oak (Quercus robur) interact with trophic levels above and belowthem in a quantitative manner. Our target taxa encompass the oak and itsmicrolepidoptera, gallwasps, their parasitoids (largely Hymenoptera) and theoak mildew fungus. The project has a strong empirical focus, but allows forinteraction with several theoretically-minded members of a broader researchgroup. Finnish PhD projects typically last for four years: hence, thesuccessful candidate should dedicate him-/herself to this project until2009.

Some experience with identifying insects in general, and parasiticHymenoptera in particular, will be regarded as a major advantage (but by nomeans as a prerequisite for applying). You will also need a strong will tolearn and to experiment with new techniques, since your work will involve arange of target organisms studied both under field and laboratoryconditions.

Applications including a short CV and two letters of recommendation shouldbe submitted by 15 September 2005 to Dr. Tomas Roslin by email,tomas.roslin@helsinki.fi. Please ask your referees to send their lettersdirectly to this address, not to yourself.

For further information, please start by visitinghttp://www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop/, then direct more specific queriesto Tomas Roslin (tomas.roslin@helsinki.fi, phone +358 9 191 57750),Metapopulation Research Group, Department of Biological and EnvironmentalSciences, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.