Requirements:

The candidate must be a South African citizen, an enthusiastic and motivated individual, who is able to work independently and show initiative, who enjoys fieldwork and who would appreciate the opportunity to work in one or both of the UNEXE and UPMC laboratories.  An honours degree in ecology, entomology or related field is necessary. All applications will be considered with the understanding that preference will be given to suitable candidates from the designated groups.

Value (to cover living expenses and university fees):

• Masters R105,000/annum for 2 years;

All funding to cover the trips and expenses for the six month-long European exchanges (flights, accommodation, living expenses), as well as some Hoedspruit field site expenses (accommodation), is available through SANBI.

Project offered:

The research consortium is investigating how natural vegetation near farmland can sustain populations of natural enemies of pest insects and of pollinators, but also how it could be a source of the pest insects themselves, thus providing both ecosystem services (ES) and disservices. The project is one of the first studies to take an in-depth look at the trade-offs between ES and the costs of natural systems, giving insight into the quantitative effect of the natural ecosystem on crop production.  Our field sites are in the Hoedspruit area, near Orpen gate of Kruger Park and the Blyde River Canyon. The students would also spend six months at the UPMC and/or Exeter on a student exchange, in the laboratories of Elisa Thébault (UPMC) or Frank Van Veen (UNEXE).  The student can register at their choice of South African University, if they can identify a supervisor with whom they would like to work and that supervisor is willing.

Application procedure:

Each application is to be accompanied by a standard bursary application cover sheet
(attached to this advert). Send all documents to students@sanbi.org.za with “Ecological Network MSc Bursary” in the subject line.

For more information please contact Dr Colleen Seymour (c.seymour@sanbi.org.za)

SANBI reserves the right not to fill this position.