Thesis supervisor: Attila Hunyadi
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Szeged Abbreviation of location of studies: SZTE
Description of the research topic:
Ecdysteroids are herbal analogs of the insect molting hormone, with a complex defensive role against pests. Our research group previously discovered that plant-originated ecdysteroids may accumulate in the blood of insectivorous animals (e.g. songbirds, bats) through the food chain, and they may reach amounts large enough to exert toxic effects on blood-sucking ectoparazytes.The PhD topic is connected to a complex multidisciplinary research program on the above aspects of these compounds. The work aims at exploring their complex ecological role through studying the ecdysteroid content of a wide variety of biological samples of animal origin by using high-end analytical and preparative chromatographic techniques. Due to the intensive international collaboration, good English language skills are a must.
Required language skills: fluent english Recommended language skills (in Hungarian): fluent english Number of students who can be accepted: 1