PhD on "Fruit Fly Performance" 
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

A PhD opportunity exists on a project investigating ecological and sexual performance of Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni; Tephritidae) (‘Q-fly’). Supervision will be by Dr Polychronis Rempoulakis and Prof Phil Taylor of Macquarie University’s Department of Biological Sciences (http://bio.mq.edu.au/) and Dr. Solomon Balagawi of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (Manager of Q-fly mass-rearing facilities at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute, Menangle, NSW) (http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/). 

This project will use a series of established and novel tests to (a) identify factors affecting the performance of wild type, mass-reared and sterilized Q-flies and (b) mitigate the effects of stressful handling procedures. A set of new tests and techniques will be devised and applied under both the laboratory scale and mass production conditions. These tests will be undertaken to ensure that mass rearing and handling of Q-flies reared for SIT is designed in such a way that maintains the highest possible performance in the field. Performance assays developed and verified in this project will provide the basis for quality management in mass rearing facilities and will also provide a basis for experimental investigations of fruit fly physiology and behaviour. 

Financial Support: This project is part of a $20.5 million multi-institution ’SIT Plus’ collaboration that aims to develop a detailed understanding of Q-fly biology as a foundation for effective, environmentally benign and sustainable management practises to combat this major pest, and especially to develop the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).

Contact Person: Dr Polychronis Rempoulakis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deadline:Expressions of interest close at midnight on Friday 15 January 2016 

For more delails please click here