PhD in Sustainable Viticulture — Università degli Studi di Palermo

Key details

• Host institution: Università degli Studi di Palermo
• Location: Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
• Application deadline: July 4, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Apply by email to [email protected] (subject line and attachments per the official instructions).
• Full vacancy text and updates: Euraxess listing.

About the position

We are offering a PhD position within the White Wine Identity project at the Università degli Studi di Palermo. The research focuses on sustainable plant protection in viticulture, combining sensory ecology and biopesticide testing.

Research Focus

The successful candidate will investigate the sensory mechanisms regulating habitat and host search in the main leafhopper species associated with autochthonous and allochthonous grapevine cultivars in western Sicily. The work involves:

• Electroantennography and behavioural bioassays to analyse leafhopper responses to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by cultivated and wild plants.
• Assessing plant attractiveness and the influence of vineyard management practices on insect colonisation.
• Evaluating the biocidal impact of essential oil-based products as alternatives to synthetic insecticides, using a Potter Precision Tower to determine both lethal and sublethal effects.

Objectives

The study will contribute to developing sustainable plant defence protocols that comply with environmental criteria and the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle of the White Wine Identity project.

Candidate Requirements

• Background in entomology, chemical ecology, plant protection, or a related field.
• Experience with laboratory bioassays, electroantennography, or behavioural testing is advantageous.
• Willingness to conduct fieldwork in western Sicily.