11. ENDOWED RESEARCH SCIENTIST IN BIORATIONAL AVOCADO (Persea
americana) PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT
ONE POSITION IS AVAILABLE
Position Title: Researcher (Investigador Titular A or Titular B).
Employment Status: Full-Time, 12 months. The appointment is renewable depending
upon performance and funding. After three years, candidates can apply for tenure.
General Description: The Asociación de Productores, Empacadores, y Exportadores de
Aguacate de Michoacán, A.C. (henceforth APEAM) is a Mexican association of avocado (=
Persea americana cultivar Hass, henceforth Hass avocados) producers, exporters and
packers that has its headquarters in the centre of the Hass avocado-growing region in
Uruapan, Michoacán State, Mexico. APEAM and INECOL have agreed that the search for
sustainable solutions to phytosanitary issues affecting avocado production in Mexico
requires the highest quality research and technological advancement programs. To this end,
an endowed research position has been established using funds donated by APEAM as an
initiative to provide scientific and technological answers to the phytosanitary and crop
production demands of Persea americana cultivar Hass growers in this region and elsewhere
in Mexico.
The researcher will be based at INECOL’s headquarters in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, but
will be expected to travel and work extensively in the Persea americana cultivar Hass
growing region around Uruapan, Michoacán and elsewhere in Mexico. To foster a broad
understanding of the aims of the Biomimic cluster among the new scientific staff, once
recruited, the candidate will possibly spend a period of 1-3 months in either the Laboratorio
Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO) or CICY (Centro de
Investigación Científica de Yucatán) to establish productive collaborations, write
collaborative grants, and to foster long-term research projects. The candidate will then
return to the brand new facilities equipped with state-of-the art technologies to perform
high quality academic and technological studies. The recruited computational chemist will
actively collaborate with agronomists, biologists, ecologists, molecular biologists, chemists,
biochemists, and microbiologists to produce novel solutions to Mexico’s most pressing
problems/challenges. The recruited scientists will also meet on a regular basis with
industry and government representatives to identify demands, common interests and
suitable funding sources.
Responsibilities: The research scientist that will occupy this position will lead an
innovative research program in the following priority areas.
Develop a profound understanding of the biology, ecology and behavior of the
principal insect pests of economic importance in avocado orchards in the state of
Michoacán, and elsewhere in México, particularly seed weevils (e.g., Conotrachelus
perseae, Conotrachelus spp.), branch weevils (e.g, Copturus aguacateae), mites
(e.g., Oligonychus punicata, O. perseae) and avocado scales (e.g., Apgrallaspis spp.,
Chrysomphalus aonidum, and Hemiberlesia lataniae).
Develop and evaluate novel biorational methods of pest and disease management in
Persea americana grown in the states of Michoacán, Veracruz and elsewhere in
Mexico.
Develop economic feasibility studies of alternatives to the control of important
avocado pests, such as seed weevils (e.g., Conotrachelus perseae, C. spp.), branch
weevils (e.g, Copturus aguacateae), mites (e.g., Oligonychus punicata, O. perseae)
and avocado scales (e.g., Apgrallaspis spp., Chrysomphalus aonidum, and
Hemiberlesia lataniae).
Collaborate on studies on the isolation, characterization and potential synthesis of
volatile compounds produced by species of the family Lauraceae that are native to
Mexico, with the aim of developing and testing novel attractants for traps targeted at
native and exotic insect pests of “Hass” avocados and other cultivars such as the
“Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle” (Xyleborus glabratus) or the “Tea Shot Hole Borer”
(Euwallacea fornicatus), that vector a lethal pathogen (Fusarium sp.) of interest to
APEAM.
To help develop improved Persea americana cultivars, the candidate will collaborate
extensively with other researchers of the BioMimic cluster, participating in
collaborative studies with scientists involved in plant genomics, transcriptomics and
proteomics, and/or molecular biology/chemical ecology of plant resistance to pests
and diseases.
Participate/collaborate in studies on genomics, transcriptomics or proteomics of native
members of the Lauraceae family aimed at identifying pest and disease resistance
mechanisms that could be employed to transfer resistance to Hass avocados or other
cultivars of interest to APEAM.
Perform spatially explicit niche modeling studies to define the potential areas of
infestation by threatening exotic insect pests, such as the “Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle”
(Xyleborus glabratus) or the “Tea Shot Hole Borer” (Euwallacea fornicatus), that
vector a lethal pathogen (Fusarium sp.) of avocados and other members of the
Lauraceae.
Participate in studies focused on the development of novel tissue culture techniques
that will permit an industrial scale production of disease-free avocado plants. Once
established, these techniques will be employed in a mass production facility to supply
the needs of APEAM members.
Participate in studies on the development of novel pesticide formulations that could
effectively reduce the quantities of pesticides applied to Persea americana trees for
pest and disease control, through the use of nanotechnology-based techniques to
improve the efficacy of these products in the field.
Lead studies on mapping the precise distribution of the principal pests and diseases of
avocado in the state of Michoacán (and elsewhere in Mexico), and determination of
the principal biotic and abiotic factors that determine the distribution and prevalence of
pests and diseases of avocado in the state of Michoacán and elsewhere in México.
Studies on insect borers of stems and seeds are particularly important in this respect.
Lead studies aimed at establishing a faunistic and floristic inventory (reference
collection) of organisms present in Persea americana orchards in the states of
Veracruz and Michoacán (and elsewhere in Mexico), with particular reference to pests
and diseases of avocado and their natural enemies.
Help create a reference collection of germplasm based on native species of Persea
and closely related species that grow in the different states of Mexico.
Develop mid- to long-term strategies aimed at coping with phytosanitary restrictions
imposed on the basis of pesticide residue issues that hinder export of avocados to
lucrative markets in the future.
Identify and quantify the key factors that limit the production of Persea americana in
the states of Michoacán, Veracruz and elsewhere in México, with particular reference
to agronomic practices and local ecosystem services and likely future projections of
the role of these factors as determinants in avocado production.
Collaborate extensively with other researchers of the Biomimic cluster.
Teaching in INECOL Master's and Doctorate programs welcome but not mandatory.
Supervising graduate and undergraduate students welcome but not mandatory.
Write competitive grants to fund research activities submitted to Mexican and
international organizations/government agencies, and also to commercial companies.
Publish high quality papers in internationally recognized scientific journals, and
occasionally in books, national and outreach journals and popular magazines intended
for the general public.
Write or help write patents.
Qualifications:
Doctor degree in entomology or another discipline of clear relevance to the objectives
of the endowed position. Ideally, research leading to PhD or doctorate was related to
Persea americana or other economically important species within the Lauraceae.
At least one postdoctoral position focused on avocado pests and diseases and
avocado pest and disease control.
Special attention will be granted to those candidates having obtained outstanding
research achievements during their doctoral studies.
Experience in molecular biology tools for breeding purposes.
Experience living and working in Latin America is desirable but not essential.
Fluency or a willingness to learn Spanish, both spoken and written, is required; as are
written and spoken skills in English.
Excellent interpersonal and multitasking skills, ability to negotiate, to deal with
pressure, complex situations and stress.
Proven grant-writing skills.
Ability to work with the private sector as well as government agencies.
Work outside of regular business hours including weekends and travel is occasionally
required.
Commitment to ethics/scientific integrity.
A spirit of collaboration/team working and service to society.
A driving license.
Authorship of at least 5 recent scientific publications (at least three as first author or
corresponding author), in high quality international indexed journals.
Interested candidates from Mexico and elsewhere in the entire world should send their
updated Curriculum Vitae and additional support material of particular value for members
of the Search Committee (e.g., citation record, relevant awards, narrative of particular
achievements or contributions to science) to Dr. Guillermo Angeles, Secretario Académico
at secretaria.academica@inecol.edu.mx always cc’ing maluja.dirgral@inecol.edu.mx.
Three letters of recommendation are needed as well as the e-mail addresses and
telephones of three established scientists/professors that have agreed to be interviewed
on the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. An additional letter by the candidate
expressing interest in the job, explaining how exactly her/his training/experience fits the job
description, and expressing her/his willingness to strictly adhere to the principles of
collaboration, team working, networking and scientific integrity is also needed. Any
questions should be addressed to Dr. Guillermo Angeles.