<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Rafael De Andrade Moral</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:Rafael.DeAndradeMoral@mu.ie">Rafael.DeAndradeMoral@mu.ie</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 12:27 PM<br>Subject: DAFM-Funded Research Master's Opportunity - Maynooth University<br>To: Hinde, John <<a href="mailto:john.hinde@nuigalway.ie">john.hinde@nuigalway.ie</a>>, <a href="mailto:clarice.demetrio@usp.br">clarice.demetrio@usp.br</a> <<a href="mailto:clarice.demetrio@usp.br">clarice.demetrio@usp.br</a>>, <a href="mailto:coilin.minto@gmit.ie">coilin.minto@gmit.ie</a> <<a href="mailto:coilin.minto@gmit.ie">coilin.minto@gmit.ie</a>><br></div><br><br> <div dir="ltr"> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> Hi John, Clarice & Coilin,</div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> If you know of anyone who would be interested, could you please forward the opportunity below to them?</div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> Best,</div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> Rafael<br> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <b><br> </b></div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <b><br> </b></div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <b>Forecasting the time of emergence of an important forestry pest</b></div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> In Integrated Pest Management, appropriate timing of management measures can help reduce the amount of pesticides or other agents used. This depends on the ability to predict the timing and severity of pest attack. The large pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, is a serious pest of forestry in Ireland and throughout northern Europe. Development takes place in the stumps of felled conifer trees and emerging adults feed on young trees newly planted on site. Currently, young trees are protected by chemical insecticides, applied when weevil attack is expected. As part of a larger project on Integrated Pest Management of this insect, the master’s project will use simulation modelling and existing data on weevil populations in Ireland in a novel approach to improve forecasting of weevil attack, based on stump assessment of weevil developmental stage and subsequent weather conditions, and likely impacts of climate change on weevil life cycles. The project will use a simulation model (Wainhouse et al., 2014, Agric. Forest Entomol. 16, 136-146) developed to represent geographic variation in voltinism of pine weevil under climate change; we have already shown that this model could be used to predict site-specific patterns of weevil emergence based on data from local weather stations. In this project, we will build on these preliminary findings, (a) incorporating data from additional sites to detect potential site-specific factors that could be taken into account in order for the model to more reliably provide accurate predictions of weevil emergence, (b) incorporating data on weevil population structure in stumps, (c) developing a simplified version of the model using in-stump population structure as a starting point and weather (temperature) data to forecast timing of weevil emergence and (d) refining the stump-assessment protocol currently used by forest managers to take account of weevil population structure and subsequent local weather conditions to more accurately predict timing and extent of weevil emergence. <p><br> </p> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> This desk-based project will be supervised by Prof Christine Griffin of Biology, Dr Rowan Fealy of Geography and Dr Rafael de Andrade Moral of the Mathematics and Statistics Department at Maynooth University. The master’s scholarship is €24,000 euro per annum for two years, to include tuition fees (€6,200 for EU students in 2018/19), with the remainder of the studentship paid monthly as a tax-free stipend.</div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br> <p>Applicants should have a primary degree (minimum 2.1) in Biology, Environmental Science or a related discipline and must be numerate. Candidates must also have excellent written and oral communication skills, and be able to work independently and as part of a team. Familiarity with statistical modelling and/or programming, preferably using R, would be an advantage.</p> <p><br> </p> <p>Applicants should submit a full curriculum vitae (with names and contact details of two referees) and a letter outlining why you are interested in the position and why you are suitable for it, to <a href="mailto:Christine.griffin@mu.ie" target="_blank">Christine.griffin@mu.ie</a> by 28th June 2019. </p> <br> </div> <div style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> <br> </div> <div id="m_-5895374508440308318Signature"> <div id="m_-5895374508440308318divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <div id="m_-5895374508440308318divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Dr Rafael de Andrade Moral</span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Lecturer in Statistics</span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Department of Mathematics and Statistics</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">Maynooth University</span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">T: +353 1 708 6645</span></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">E: <a href="mailto:rafael.deandrademoral@mu.ie" target="_blank">rafael.deandrademoral@mu.ie</a></span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">W: </span><a href="http://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/rafael-de-andrade-moral" class="m_-5895374508440308318OWAAutoLink" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt">www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/rafael-de-andrade-moral</span></a></p> <span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><span style="font-size:11pt">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div>