Hiring Organization:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Date Posted:
2012-02-22
Position Description:
We are offering a PhD fellowship working on a project that investigates the hormonal foundations of chimpanzee’s social behaviour, starting in July 2012 and running for 4 years.
Our general interest is to understand the evolution of sociality and social cognition. Specifically, we are interested in the role that hormones, like cortisol, oxytocin or vasopressin, play in the social life of animals. This PhD project will investigate some aspects of how hormones regulate chimpanzees’ sociality and / or how chimpanzees’ social behaviour modifies hormone levels. The PhD candidate will conduct the study with the habituated chimpanzees of the Taï Chimpanzee Project (Côte d’Ivoire), which will include behavioural observations, urine and fecal collection and hormonal extraction. The candidate will measure the hormone concentrations in the Lab for Field Endocrinology at the MPI EVA under the supervision of Dr. Tobias Deschner.
Qualifications/Experience:
MSc (or comparable degree) in Biology, Physiology, Neurobiology or Evolutionary Anthropology. Good knowledge in evolutionary biology, animal behaviour and endocrinology are crucial for a successful application. The PhD candidate will need to work independently in a remote and physically demanding tropical forest habitat. She / he will need good social skills to work and live amongst a group of international colleagues with different cultural backgrounds. The successful applicant will need to speak French - or be willing to rapidly learn it. Previous experience with fieldwork and in a hormonal lab will be beneficial.
Salary/funding:
Supported by a PhD stipend. In addition the successful candidate is expected to write a research proposal to apply for grant money.
Term of Appointment:
Starting July 2012 (four years)
Application Deadline:
31 March 2012
Comments:
Applications including a cover letter stating research experience and interests, detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of three referees should be sent electronically (ideally two people who can comment on your academic skills and one who can comment on any practical experience you may have). Application deadline is 31 March. The evaluation process will start afterwards, with interviews being held after 15 April.
Contact Information:
Dr. Roman Wittig
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany
Telephone Number:
+49 341 3550 204
Fax Number:
+49 341 3550 299
Website:
http://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/
E-mail Address:
wittig@eva.mpg.de