jeudi 5 mai 2011

Post Doctoral position: collective behaviour of schooling fish

http://www.imr.no/om_havforskningsinstituttet/ledige_stillinger/postdoktor-kollektiv_atferd_hos_stimfisk/en

The Institute of Marine Research has a four-year Post Doctoral research position available to work with observation system for schooling fish in net pens. The position is organized under the Observation methodology research group, and the work location is in Bergen, Norway.
Closing date for applications: May 20, 2011.
Collective behaviour is an intriguing pattern-forming process in nature, and how individual rules scale to collective phenomena are still being learned. An area of particular interest is to understand how information is transferred in animal groups, and how stimuli is amplified or dampened through social interactions. The primary objective of the “CollPen” project is to improve our understanding of the interaction between direct stimuli and the information transfer between individuals in schooling fish, and to understand how this affects their behaviour, with special emphasis on noise induced behavior.

The post-doctoral fellow will be, in collaboration with the project group, responsible for carrying out experiments to derive collective behavioural information from schooling fish in net pens, including method development and analysis.

The candidate should hold a PhD. We are especially interested in candidates with documented experience in collective behaviour, sensory biology, behavioural modelling, and optical and acoustical observing systems. It is essential that the candidate show ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, and good writing and communication skills are important. Experience with computer tools to process large amounts of data is required, and in-depth knowledge of a programming language (e.g. R, Matlab, C++) is essential. Laboratory experience and FELASA certification is positive. It is expected that the candidate will spend parts of the stay at one of the collaborating labs in the project (Princeton University, Georgia Institute of Technology).
We offer:
• a challenging and creative working environment
• work at a national institute with extensive international contacts
• a good working environment
• flexible working hours, good pensions and welfare schemes
The Institute offers governmental regulated salaries as Post Doctor (code 1352). For more information, please contact project leader Nils Olav Handegard or Research group leader Espen Johnsen. The Institute of Marine Research is an Inclusive Workplace enterprise that wishes to ensure diversity in its workforce, and we are an equal opportunity employer. We therefore encourage all qualified candidates to apply for the vacancy. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Please note that information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested to be left off the list of applicants. Applicants will be notified about this in advance.

Each candidate should emphasize three of their best works in the application, including a brief description of their contribution to each one.
Please apply in writing, enclosing your CV, copy of relevant certificates and one copy of your publications, to the Institute of Marine Research, Personnel Section, P.O. Box 1870 Nordnes, NO5817 Bergen, Norway. Mark the application “17-11”.
Closing date for applications: May 20, 2011.