[ABE-L] Fwd: DAFM-Funded Research Master's Opportunity - Maynooth University

[Clarice Garcia Borges Demetrio]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rafael De Andrade Moral <Rafael.DeAndradeMoral em mu.ie>
Date: Wed, Jun 5, 2019 at 12:27 PM
Subject: DAFM-Funded Research Master's Opportunity - Maynooth University
To: Hinde, John <john.hinde em nuigalway.ie>, clarice.demetrio em usp.br <
clarice.demetrio em usp.br>, coilin.minto em gmit.ie <coilin.minto em gmit.ie>


Hi John, Clarice & Coilin,

If you know of anyone who would be interested, could you please forward the
opportunity below to them?

Best,
Rafael


*Forecasting the time of emergence of an important forestry pest*

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.


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.

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.


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 Christine.griffin em mu.ie by
28th June 2019.


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Dr Rafael de Andrade Moral

Lecturer in Statistics

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Maynooth University


T: +353 1 708 6645

E: rafael.deandrademoral em mu.ie

W: www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/rafael-de-andrade-moral

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