A 3 year phd position is available, for theoretical research in a joint project of the Institute of Biology at the University of Neuchâtel and the Department of Ecology and Evolution of the University of Lausanne, the latter providing the actual working location (http://www.unil.ch/dee). It is funded by a project of the Swiss National Science Foundation aiming at investigating the evolution of various partner control mechanisms in the context of cooperative interactions.
The project will be supervised by Redouan Bshary (an empirical biologist at Neuchâtel) and Laurent Lehmann (a theoretical biologist at Lausanne) and aims at studying a number of questions from a theoretical point of view.
How should an individual respond to a non-cooperative partner? Should the partner be punished or should one switch partner? How does partner switching depend on the variation of the expressions of cooperation in the population? Does it depend on the within-group network of interactions? A key aspect of the modeling will be that assumptions regarding population structure and interaction patterns will be informed by natural model systems such as vervet monkeys and cleaner fish mutualism.
Applicants should have a master degree in a relevant area (e.g. behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, economics with focus on game theory, physics, or mathematics), with strong mathematical and computing skills, and a vivid interest in fundamental research.
Inquiries and applications should be sent to laurent.lehmann@unil.ch or redouan.bshary@unine.ch. Applications should be sent by November 1st, and should include a CV, a one-page statement of research interests, and names of 2-3 referees. Only applications with all these information will be considered.