dimanche 30 septembre 2012

Post doc position, Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Toulouse, France


Post-doc fellowship in Yves Trotter team. 

Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition, Toulouse, France 


Starting date: January 2013 or shortly later 

One postdoctoral position is available in the team of Yves Trotter including Simona Celebrini, Benoit Cottereau, Jean Baptiste Durand, Denis Fize and Alexandra Séverac-Cauquil. The position is related to the study of visual processing optimization by postural and navigation cues in the peripersonal space (ANR grant). This project will test the hypothesis that objects located in behaviourally relevant portions of space, either 2D or 3D, receive a privileged visual processing as a result of the combination of different sensory channels in both static (posture) and dynamic spatial contexts (navigation). 

To approach this topic of posture and navigation in the near and front space, powerful and complementary methodologies are available: psychophysics, visual evoked potential in humans, fMRI in both human and non human primates and extracellular recordings in non human primates. The candidate should master at least two of these approaches with the possibility of getting familiar with the others. 

The applicant should hold a background in neuroscience and skills with matlab. Also other programming and statistics efficiencies will be appreciated. 

The position is for 1 year-renewable with standard French salaries. Applications should be sent to yves.trotter [ à ] cerco.ups-tlse.fr including a CV and the name and contact of two references. 

Postdoc on eye-movement control during reading, CNRS & Universities of Marseille and Nice

Applications are invited for a one-year postdoctoral position on eye-movement control during reading. The aim of the project is to study the interplay between low-level visuo-motor mechanisms and language-related processes. Experience in vision research and/or psycholinguistics as well as eye-movement recording and statistical analysis of large data sets will be preferred. The position is already open and the postdoc can start as soon as October 1st. The salary will be determined according to the CNRS standards (about 2000€ net per month). Speaking French will be a plus, but fluency in English is the minimal requirement.

The experiments will be conducted in Marseille with Françoise Vitu-Thibault in the Perception & Attention group of the Laboratory of Cognitive Psychology (LPC, UMR 7290) in Marseille St Charles (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS). The rest of the project will be conducted with Frédéric Lavigne in the Language and Cognition Team of the laboratory Bases, Corpus, Language (BCL, UMR 7320) in Nice (Université of Nice, Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS). The postdoc will be based in Nice or Marseille, at his/her own convenience, knowing that he/she will have to travel frequently between the two sites (1h30 by train).

A curriculum vitae and a list of publications should be sent to both Françoise Vitu-Thibault (Francoise.Vitu-Thibault [ à ] univ-provence.fr) and Frédéric Lavigne (lavigne [ à ] unice.fr). The position will be filled before the end of 2012.

For more information, please visit the following web pages:


Frédéric Lavigne: http://www.unice.fr/bcl/auteur86

Offre de post-doc


Offre de post-doc à partir de Janvier 2013 au Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition, Grenoble. 
Nous recherchons un/une post-doctorant(e) pour participer à un programme de recherche sur la Plasticité et la Multimodalité pour la Communication Orale chez le Sourd (PlasMody) pendant 14 mois. Le post-doctorant étudiera chez l’adulte sourd la reconnaissance des visages et l’influence des interactions visuo-auditives (voix-visage) dans leur identification. Une approche en imagerie fonctionnelle du traitement de la voix et des visages sera associée aux tests psychophysiques. 
Le principal objectif du projet PlasMody est d’améliorer l’accès des patients sourds implantés cochléaires à la communication orale en se basant sur les aspects plurimodaux de la parole à savoir les interactions vision/audition et perception/production. Ce projet est soutenu par un consortium qui réunit 3 laboratoires (CerCo, Gipsa and LNPC) associés à deux départements étrangers (P. Belin Univ Glasgow et L. Ménard Univ. Montréal) et unis à deux services cliniques hospitaliers (services ORL de Toulouse et Grenoble). 
Le post-doctorant travaillera avec Olivier Pascalis au Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition, Grenoble. (http://webu2.upmf-grenoble.fr/LPNC/).
Applications et renseignement, contactez: Olivier.pascalis [ à ] upmf-grenoble.fr 

samedi 29 septembre 2012

Stage enrichissement Primates


Le CIRMF (Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, au Gabon) est un centre de recherches reconnu et réputé pour sa recherche effectuée depuis 30 ans. Le Centre de Primatologie (CDP) du CIRMF héberge 330 primates sur le site et est en charge de la santé et bien être de ces animaux. Le CDP répond aux exigences FELASA concernant l’hébergement des primates. Cependant, afin d’améliorer les conditions de vie des primates hébergés sur le site, il est nécessaire d’apporter des enrichissements quotidiens.
Dans un souci de bien être, les animaux du CDP reçoivent quasi quotidiennement des enrichissements ; cependant, de nombreuses améliorations sont à apporter au système d’enrichissement des cages du CDP, en termes de structures, de jeu, de fourragement ou de nourriture.
Le CDP recherche donc un stagiaire en éthologie pour une durée de 3 à 5 mois, afin d’élaborer un programme d’enrichissement pour tous les animaux (évaluation des besoins, recherche des possibilités d’enrichissement, construction des structures d’enrichissement, élaboration d’un programme d’enrichissement). Le stagiaire aura également pour rôle de former les soigneurs à l’enrichissement pour suivi ultérieur. Ce sujet peut s’inscrire dans la cadre d’un master 1 ou 2, ou dans le cadre d’un stage libre.
Pour postuler, contacter le Dr Barthélémy Ngoubangoye (DMV, MSc), Responsable du CdP (genistha@hotmail.com) ou Dr Anaïs Herbert (DMV, MSc), vétérinaire du CdP (anaisherbert@hotmail.com

Stage resocialisation Macaques


Le CIRMF (Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, au Gabon) est un centre de recherches reconnu et réputé pour sa recherche effectuée depuis 30 ans. Le Centre de Primatologie (CDP) du CIRMF héberge 330 primates sur le site et est en charge de la santé et du bien être de ces animaux.
Dans le cadre d’un protocole expérimental, 25 macaques crabier (Macaca fascicularis) ont été hébergés dans un bâtiment expérimental de protection A2, dans des cages individuelles. Le protocole étant désormais terminé et dans un souci de bien être animal, le CDP souhaite réintégrer tous ces macaques crabier dans une grande volière extérieure divisée en six espaces. Ces animaux ayant été hébergés dans des cages individuelles depuis plusieurs années, ils ont perdu la capacité de vivre en groupe social et ont donc besoin de suivre un protocole de resocialisation afin d’être réintroduits avec leurs congénères, ceci en accord avec leur caractère et comportement individuel propre. Ainsi, six groupes composés de ces 25 macaques ont besoin d’être élaborés, de façon à établir des groupes stables en minimisant le niveau de stress de chaque individu.
Pour ce faire, le CDP recherche un stagiaire en éthologie pour une durée de 3 à 5 mois. Ce sujet peut s’inscrire dans la cadre d’un master 1 ou 2, ou dans le cadre d’un stage libre.
Pour postuler, contacter le Dr Barthélémy Ngoubangoye (DMV, MSc), Responsable du CdP (genistha@hotmail.com) ou Dr Anaïs Herbert (DMV, MSc), vétérinaire du CdP (anaisherbert@hotmail.com

Poste à pourvoir à la SEOR


La SEOR recherche un chargé de mission - Ornithologue pour un CDD de 6 mois. 
Ses mission seront de: 
- Mener une mission spécifique faisant partie des actions du programme Life+ Cap Dom (www.life+capdom.org). Elle doit permettre la réalisation de l’action C6 dont l’objectif est d’identifier et de décrire les sites clés d’intérêt national, et donc européen pour La Réunion, pour la conservation des oiseaux de l’île, au delà des aires protégées existantes.

La finalité de cette mission est de disposer d’un outil de prise en compte de l’avifaune dans l’aménagement du territoire.

Cette mission s’inscrit à la suite de l’action A6 qui a permis de valider la méthode d’identification constituée d’une série de critères à utiliser pour effectuer la mission C6. La description précise de la mission est présente dans la fiche jointe en annexe.

- Le chargé de mission pourra être amené ponctuellement à intervenir en appui sur d’autres missions en fonction de l’avancement de l’action.

cf PDF pour voir le profil requis.

PhD position in Animal Behaviour, University of Zurich


‘Individual strategies in group coordination: the role of spatial organization and vocal signaling’ 

A three year SNF funded PhD position is available from November 2012 at the Institute of Evolutionary
Biology
and
Environmental
Sciences,
University
of
Zurich (http://www.ieu.uzh.ch/index.html), to work on group coordination in the cooperatively breeding meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Within this project under the supervision of Prof. M. Manser, we will investigate whether individuals within foraging groups use spatial locations and vocal signals strategically based on their current state of relationships with other group members. Field observations and experiments with the most advanced techniques will be carried out on a habituated population of meerkats at the Kalahari Meerkat Project in South Africa (http://www.kalahari- meerkats.com/index.php?id=1), and theoretical models will be developed in collaboration with Prof. H. Bagheri’s (UZH) and Prof. F. Schweitzer’s (ETH) research groups. 
Candidates, with a Master‘s degree (equivalent Diplom) in Animal Behaviour or a related subject, with field work experience and preferably a background (or at least a high interest) in theoretical modelling, who are used to work independent, and fluent in English (German knowledge is not requested), are invited to apply. Please send your application by email as a single pdf document (before the 25th of September 2012) to the address given below and include: 

1) statementaboutpreviousresearchandfutureresearchmotivation 

2) CV(withpublicationlist)andgraduateandundergraduatedegreecertificates 3) fullcontactdetailsoftwoscientificreferees Selected candidates will be invited for interviews at the beginning of October 2012. For additional information on the position please contact Marta Manser via email. 
Prof. Dr. Marta Manser Verhaltensbiologie, IEU Universität Zürich Winterthurerstr. 190 CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland 
email: marta.manser [ à ] ieu.uzh.ch 

jeudi 27 septembre 2012

Volunteer Research Assistants

Hiring Organization:
Durham University
Date Posted:
2012-09-25
Position Description:
As part of Durham University’s Primate and Predator Project, located in a remote area of Limpopo Province, South Africa, we are looking for 3 keen and motivated Volunteer Research Assistants for the human-primate conflict stream of the project. This PhD project is investigating the scale and nature of crop raiding on commercial farms in the area, as well as assessing local perceptions and tolerance towards primate ‘pests’. The data will enable the relative risk index of crop raiding to be modelled, and, based on this, strategies for mitigating risk will be evaluated.

Research Assistants can be expected to carry out crop damage assessment surveys (vegetation transects) and focal farm surveys (behavioural observations of primates on farms). Observation days run from sunrise to sunset; resting days will be scheduled regularly. The project is also making use of camera traps and primate GPS collars, assistants may also be required to help with these tasks.

Whilst staying at the Research Centre where the project is based, there may also be the opportunity to become involved in some of the Research Centre’s own projects, such as a giraffe identification and behaviour project and alien and invasive plant species control.
Qualifications/Experience:
We are looking for Research Assistants with the following:

* The positions would be suitable for a biological sciences (or similar) graduate or post-graduate.
* Preferably with prior field experience with primates, or with all or any of the techniques mentioned above.
* Each applicant should be an enthusiastic, hardworking and flexible team member, with the ability to work independently to a high standard and be competent working unsupervised.
* Applicants should be physically fit, ready for long challenging days spent on farms with little or no shade.
* Possession of a valid driver’s licence is desirable, but not essential.
Salary/funding:
Unfortunately funding is not available for Research Assistants, so applicants should have sufficient funds to cover airfares, accommodation, food, medical insurance and any equipment they require.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
The project is based at Mogalakwena Research Centre (www.researchlimpopo.com). Accommodation is in the form of dorm rooms (sleeping 4-6) with a shared ablutions block (hot showers) and a communal kitchen and braai area. Research Assistants will often share cooking duties and eat together. Rent is ZAR3,600 (GB£275/US$440 at current exchange) per month, which includes use of the Research Centre facilities and internet access.
Term of Appointment:
Ideally we would like Research Assistants to start as soon as possible and request a minimum stay of a 3 month probation period, after which a longer stay can be discussed (the project is running for 12 months). Please indicate your availability on your application.
Application Deadline:
To make an application (please include a brief cover letter and CV) or for further details please contact Leah Findlay at l.j.findlay@durham.ac.uk. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.
Contact Information:
Leah Findlay
South Africa
E-mail Address:
l.j.findlay@durham.ac.uk


PROPOSITION DE SUJET DE THESE



FICHE  SYNTHETIQUE

- Titre du sujet de thèse proposé : Fluctuations des populations de petits pélagiques dans le Golfe du Lion : un processus bottom-up?
- Directeur de thèse : Dr. Jean-Marc Fromentin (Ifremer, UMR EME), jean.marc.fromentin@ifremer.fr
- Tuteur principal : Dr. Claire Saraux (Ifremer, UMR EME) claire.saraux@ifremer.fr
- Laboratoire/unité, département daccueil : Ifremer, UMR EME 212, Sète France
- Période : Décembre 2012 – Décembre 2015
- Projet de rattachement : EcoPelGol (projet porté par l’IFREMER et financé par France Filière Pêche)

- Résumé : Bien que le stock de petits pélagiques soit évalué en Méditerranée depuis maintenant plus de 20 ans, de nombreuses interrogations persistent quant aux facteurs expliquant la forte variabilité spatio-temporelle de ces stocks. Afin de mieux comprendre ces fluctuations, notamment l’effondrement récent des stocks d’anchois et de sardines du Golfe du Lion, il semble nécessaire de s’intéresser à des indicateurs biologiques plus précis de l’état de santé de ces populations. Dans un premier temps, la thèse s’attachera donc à étudier l’évolution de la structure en taille et en âge des populations de 3 espèces (sardines, anchois, sprats), ainsi que de leur condition biométrique. Le développement d’indices de conditions plus précis permettra également une meilleure appréciation de la variabilité saisonnière et interannuelle de cette condition et son lien avec les principaux traits d’histoire de vie que sont la croissance et la reproduction. Dans un second temps, il s’agira de tester l’hypothèse de processus bottom-up, selon laquelle la variabilité des structures en taille et de condition des anchois et sardines proviendrait principalement de changements environnementaux affectant la production planctonique. Pour cela, la thèse étudiera d’une part l’alimentation des 3 espèces et la qualité énergétique des proies ingérées et d’autre part le lien avec les conditions environnementales au travers de l’étude de données satellitaires. L’ensemble des résultats sera synthétisé dans un cadre théorique quantitatif permettant de formaliser le lien entre les différents traits d’histoire de vie au travers d’un modèle Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB).
                                                                                          
Mots-clés : poissons petits pélagiques, processus bottom-up, condition corporelle, régime alimentaire, dynamique de population, effets environnementaux, compromis entre traits d’histoire de vie.
Pour plus d’informations ou pour obtenir le projet détaillé de la thèse, contacter claire.saraux@ifremer.fr

- Compétences attendues : Le candidat devra avoir un master 2 recherche en écologie ou en sciences halieutiques. Des capacités en langage de programmation (R, matlab, python...) seront également nécessaires, ainsi qu’une bonne maîtrise de l’anglais.

-   Candidature : envoyer un CV et une lettre de motivation, ainsi que les noms et contacts de chercheurs avec lesquels vous avez déjà travaillés à claire.saraux@ifremer.fr et jean.marc.fromentin@ifremer.fr
ATTENTION LA THESE DEVANT DEBUTER AU 1er DECEMBRE, LES CANDIDATURES SONT A ENVOYER LE PLUS RAPIDEMENT POSSIBLE


Project manager

Hiring Organization:
Orangutan Tropical Peatland Research Project
Date Posted:
2012-09-23
Position Description:
OuTrop is looking for a new Project Manager to manage its field research project in Sabangau, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo). OuTrop’s projects include research on: primate behaviour and population assessments in three species (orang-utans, gibbons and red langurs), biodiversity monitoring, camera trapping, forest dynamics, regeneration in our Seedling Nursery, and numerous student and short-term research projects.

The successful candidate will manage and coordinate our field research projects, including managing Project staff; act as the main point of contact between Project Directors and other Project personnel; be responsible for ensuring effective project operation; help supervise Project accounts; and be expected to familiarise themselves with all field research protocols on the project, in order to provide support in maintaining data quality to our Project Scientists, to help define tasks and objectives, and potentially to take a leading role in certain projects.

We are looking for a highly organized person, with excellent coordination and management skills, tropical research experience (preferably with primates) and a dedication to wildlife conservation. The candidate needs to be flexible, patient, amicable (good social skills), well organized, a good communicator, and physically and mentally fit. Applicants must also have the ability to cope well under stress and to readily master new skills. Previous experience of similar projects in Indonesia and ability to speak Bahasa Indonesia to conversational level are essential.

Duties include:

• To lead the Research Team and manage all field research activities, including staff (western and local), scheduling, operations/logistics and equipment management, to ensure the smooth running of the project.
• To be the point of contact between the Project Directors, Scientists and other personnel to ensure that instructions are carried out, and research and other tasks are properly implemented.
• To pay staff wages and oversee project accounts together with our Accountant.
• To assist in defining objectives, responsibilities and tasks of the Research Team.
• To work together with the Project Scientists to ensure that all work is carried out according to protocol and that data quality is maintained and, where possible, increased.
• Depending on the successful candidate’s experience, to aid in production of Project outputs and grant proposals, and to take a leading role in selected projects.
Qualifications/Experience:
• Staff management and coordination experience.
• Experience in tropical field research projects (min. 1 year).
• Undergraduate or (preferably postgraduate) Biology or other relevant university degree, preferably in ecology/conservation/primatology.
• Excellent computing skills (including Access, Excel, Word, etc)
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Previous experience of working in Indonesia and competence in the Indonesian language is essential.
Salary/funding:
• Ca. GBP 250/month.
• Local stipend to cover basic food and other minor costs in Palangka Raya.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
• Accommodation in the research camp in Sabangau and OuTrop office/house in Palangka Raya, with all associated facilities; and food at research camps.
• One set of international flights up to GBP 700 and one set of domestic flights from Jakarta to Palangka Raya will be reimbursed for each 12 month contract period.
• All visa-related costs.
• Travel insurance up to GBP 25/month.
Term of Appointment:
1 year (extendable upon agreement by both parties)
Application Deadline:
1600h WIB (GMT+7) 28th September 2012.
Comments:
Interviews will be conducted in the first week of October, with an aim for the applicant to start work in the field in late 2012, depending on availability, departure times of existing personnel and length of time taken to obtain a visa.

To apply, please send a covering letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for the position, an up-to-date CV to and names/addresses of two suitable references to OuTrop’s Managing Director, Dr Mark Harrison: mharrison@outrop.com with the job title as the email subject.
Contact Information:Dr Mark Harrison
United Kingdom
E-mail Address:
mharrison@outrop.com

Research Opportunities with captive, rehabilitant and wild baboons, South Africa

Hiring Organization:
C.A.R.E Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education
Date Posted:
2012-09-20
Position Description:
The Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (C.A.R.E) is a non-profit organization specializing in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of chacma baboons.

C.A.R.E is an exciting location to pursue undergraduate or graduate level research.
The centre currently houses approximately 400 captive chacma baboons. These baboons range in age from infancy to late adulthood. The large number of socially housed baboons and the ability to collect data in close proximity to them creates a unique environment for a plethora of captive research studies.

Additionally, C.A.R.E is home to a wild, habituated troop of approximately 100 baboons who roam the premises and adjacent land. Specific research may also be conducted on this resident troop where appropriate.

C.A.R.E is open to students interested in investigating the following general areas:

Behavior
Enrichment
Parasitology
Genetics (limited to non-invasive sampling)
Nutrition

Each research proposal will be evaluated on an individual basis and therefore students in fields other than the above are still urged to apply. C.A.R.E does not participate in invasive research.

For more information about the centre, please visit http://AfricanPrimateCare.com
Qualifications/Experience:
Research at C.A.R.E is limited to undergraduate and graduate students or researchers affiliated with a university.
Preference will be given to students at the post-graduate level or above.

To apply to undertake a research project please submit a detailed research proposal and a copy of your CV a minimum of 3 months ahead of the intended study start date to research4care@gmail.com. You are also required to provide a letter of confirmation/recommendation from the head of your academic institution or project supervisor. C.A.R.E’s Director will review the proposal to determine the feasibility of the desired study as well as the limitations that may arise. Comprehensive consideration of the research concept and planning before arriving at C.A.R.E is the most important element to a successful project.
Salary/funding:
No funding will be provided. The program fee for undertaking research at this site is as follows:
$360 per week September through May*
$450 per week June through August*
*Our program fee is tax deductible for students from American universities

This program fee EXCLUDES:
1. The cost of flights, travel insurance and visas.
2. Optional trips, activities and items of a personal nature.
3. Supplies/Equipment necessary to carry out any part of the research project. Some necessary items may not be available locally or even in the country. Please arrange for this prior to arriving at C.A.R.E.
Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
This program fee INCLUDES:
1. Transportation to and from the local airport.
2. Comfortable but basic accommodation in shared rooms (twin/triple), communal showers and bathroom facilities. Hot running water, drinking water and washer are also provided.
3. Three meals a day.
4. On-site assistance and expertise where possible.
Term of Appointment:
Ongoing - dependent on requirements of researcher
Application Deadline:
Ongoing
Comments:
The Centre for Animal Rehabilitation and Education (C.A.R.E) is a non-profit organization specializing in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of chacma baboons located in Grietjie Private Nature Reserve bordering Kruger National Park, South Africa. C.A.R.E was founded by the late Rita Miljo in 1989 and currently houses approximately 400 baboons. The vast majority of these baboons were brought to C.A.R.E as orphans and have been successfully integrated into social troops, forming the familial bonds they were deprived of as a result of South Africa’s negative image of this species. C.A.R.E also houses a small number of rescued pet baboons as well as providing sanctuary for baboons retired from laboratory settings. Additionally, C.A.R.E is home to a wild, habituated troop of approximately 100 baboons who roam the premises and adjacent land.
Contact Information:Joselyn Mormile
South Africa
Telephone Number:
+270738493177
E-mail Address:
research4care@gmail.com

mardi 25 septembre 2012

PhD position in Animal Behaviour


‘Individual strategies in group coordination: the role of spatial organization and vocal signaling’

A three year SNF funded PhD position is available from November 2012 at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich (http://www.ieu.uzh.ch/index.html), to work on group coordination in the cooperatively breeding meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Within this project under the supervision of Prof. M. Manser, we will investigate whether individuals within foraging groups use spatial locations and vocal signals strategically based on their current state of relationships with other group members. Field observations and experiments with the most advanced techniques will be carried out on a habituated population of meerkats at the Kalahari Meerkat Project in South Africa (http://www.kalaharimeerkats.com/index.php?id=1), and theoretical models will be developed in collaboration with Prof. H. Bagheri’s (UZH) and Prof. F. Schweitzer’s (ETH) research groups.

Candidates, with a Master‘s degree (equivalent Diplom) in Animal Behaviour or a related subject, with field work experience and preferably a background (or at least a high interest) in theoretical modelling, who are used to work independent, and fluent in English (German knowledge is not requested), are invited to apply. Please send your application by email as a single pdf document (before the 25th of September 2012) to the address given below and include: 
1) statement about previous research and future research motivation
2) CV (with publication list) and graduate and undergraduate degree certificates
3) full contact details of two scientific referees

Selected candidates will be invited for interviews at the beginning of October 2012. For additional information on the position please contact Marta Manser via email.

Prof. Dr. Marta Manser
Verhaltensbiologie, IEU
Universität Zürich email: marta.manser@ieu.uzh.ch
Winterthurerstr. 190
CH-8057 Zürich
Switzerland

Post-doctoral research associte position

A post-doctoral research associate (RA) position in Dr. Mikko Juusola’s laboratory (University of Sheffield, UK) and Ph.D. studentship in Dr. Gonzalo de Polavieja’s laboratory (Cajal Institute, Spain) available to study neural information processing in Drosophila visual system. These 3-year positions are part of a joint research project, named: “From wiring to brain function in Drosophila; the role of intrinsic activity” funded by the Leverhulme Trust, UK, and aimed at studying the impact of intrinsic activity in neural communication at the first synaptic layer, which forms the lamina optic lobe. The RA will work mostly on experiments to study the role of intrinsic activity in neural image processing in the lamina in the Juusola Lab. This research will require a range of techniques, including fly genetics, live optical Ca2+-imaging (two-photon microscopy), electron-microscopy and electrophysiology. Candidates should have knowledge of and expertise in fly genetics and/or optical Calcium-imaging; prior experience in the mathematical analysis or electrophysiology is highly desirable. An ability to work in a team is essential. The starting salary will be £28,401 to £31,798 per annum, depending on the qualifications. The Ph.D. Student position: The student will work mostly on theory; using a complete wiring diagram of the lamina and apply novel theoretical approaches to analyse and model neural activity (or animal behaviour) in the de Polavieja Lab. Students with undergraduate degree from engineering, physics and mathematics and biologists with a strong motivation for quantitative work are encouraged to contact us. Besides covering the university fees, the stipendium provides £13,590 per annum for living expenses. Both the RA and the Ph.D. student are required to spend some time each year working in our respective laboratories (Sheffield and Madrid) on various experimental and theoretical aspects of this project and to facilitate any related analysis and modelling tasks. Travel and accommodation will be covered by the grant. Recent related works from our laboratories include: • Song, Z., Postma, M., Billings, S.A., Coca, D, Hardie, R.C & Juusola, M (2012). Stochastic, Adaptive Sampling of Information by Microvilli in Fly Photoreceptors. Current Biology 22: 1371 • Wardill, T.J., List, O., Li, X., Dongre, S., McCulloch, M., Ting, C.Y., O’Kane, C.J., Tang, S., Lee, C.H., Hardie, R.C. & Juusola, M, (2012), Multiple Spectral Inputs Improve Motion Discrimination in the Drosophila Visual System. Science 336: 925. • Rivera-Alba M, Vitaladevuni SN, Mischenko Y, Lu Z, Takemura S, Scheffer L, Meinertzhagen IA, Chklovskii DB & de Polavieja G (2011). Wiring economy and volume exclusion determine neuronal placement in the Drosophila brain, Current Biology 21, 2000 • Pérez-Escudero A & de Polavieja G (2011). Collective Animal Behavior from Bayesian Estimation and Probability Matching. PLoS Comp. Biol. 7(11): e1002282 • Sorribes, A. Armendariz BG, Lopez-Pigozzi D, Murga C & de Polavieja G (2011). Origin of behavioral bursts in decision-making circuitry. PLoS Comp. Biol. 7(6): e1002075 doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002075 • Tang, S. & Juusola, M. (2010). Intrinsic Activity in the Fly Brain Gates Visual Information during Behavioral Choices. PLoS one 5(12): e14455. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0014455 • Perez-Escudero A, Rivera-Alba M & de Polavieja G (2009). Structure of deviations from optimality in biological systems', PNAS 106, 20544 • Zheng, L., de Polavieja, G.G., Wolfram W., Asyali, M.H., Hardie, R.C. & Juusola, M. (2006). • Feedback network controls photoreceptor output at the layer of first visual synapses in Drosophila. J. Gen. Physiol. 127: 495 • de Polavieja, G.G., Harsch, A., Kleppe, I., Robinson, H.P.C. & Juusola, M (2005). Stimulus history reliably shapes action potential waveforms of cortical neurons. J. Neurosci. 25: 5657 • Juusola, M. & de Polavieja, G.G. (2003). The rate of information transfer of naturalistic stimulation by graded potentials. J. Gen. Physiol. 122: 191 Both positions will be filled from 1st of January 2013 to 31st December 2015. Please contact: M.Juusola@sheffield.ac.uk or gonzalo.depolavieja@gmail.com for more details http://www.shef.ac.uk/bms/research/juusola https://sites.google.com/a/neural-circuits.org/neural-circuits/Home

Postdoc position at Queen's


The BioMotionLab at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, seeks to fill a positions for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to  join a research project investigating sensorimotor control of posture and locomotion in pigeons.

 Successful candidates will bring along a strong academic resume, experience in at least some of the areas listed below, and a keen interest to learn about all of them: single cell electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, physiology of visual and vestibular system, biomechanics, 3D computer graphics, robotics, neuro-computational modelling, optimal control theory. We also expect good writing and presention skills, and experience with computer programming (Matlab and/or C++).

 The BioMotionLab is an interdisciplinary research facility hosted by the Department of Psychology and populated with students from Psychology, Biology, Computing, Neuroscience and Mechanical Engineering. Check out its website at http://biomotionlab.ca   http://biomotionlab.ca/.

 Please send your application to Prof. Niko Troje, Queen's University, by e-mail in a single pdf, including a letter outlining your interests and suitability for the position, a detailed CV including a list of publications and received funding, and contact details of 2 referees, to: troje@queensu.ca <mailto:troje@queensu.ca.

lundi 24 septembre 2012

1st call for abstracts: UFAW International Symposium 2013, 4-5th July 2013 Barcelona, Spain

Science in the Service of Animal Welfare: Priorities around the world

UFAW International Animal Welfare Science Symposium Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain 4-5th July 2013

Background and Aims of the Symposium

Around the world the importance of science in elucidating and tackling animal welfare problems is increasingly recognised, but priorities, concerns and approaches vary between nations and cultures. The aim of this symposium is to provide a forum for all those active or interested in animal welfare science and its application around the world, to meet and discuss current topics in this field and international variation in priorities, concerns and approaches to animal welfare science. The symposium is open to papers on recent studies or reviews in any aspects of animal welfare science (but we would welcome the inclusion of some papers on topics of major animal welfare importance in fields that have tended to receive little attention, eg humane slaughter of fish caught at sea, welfare aspects of vertebrate pest control, tackling anthropogenic threats to the welfare of free-living wildlife eg through environmental toxins, introduced infectious diseases, environmental degradation or global warming).

Contributing to the Symposium

UFAW is inviting contributions to the symposium. Submission should include the title of the proposed contribution, the nature of the contribution – talk or poster, the name and full contact details of all contributors and an abstract, which must be in English, and should be no longer than 400 words. Further details on formatting the abstract and the information that should be included can be found on the Barcelona 2013 webpage: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/conf.html
Please send a copy of the abstract by email to wickens@ufaw.org.uk AND a hard copy marked for the attention of Stephen Wickens, UFAW Barcelona 2013 by Monday 3rd December 2012.

Abstracts of all accepted talks and posters will be placed on UFAW’s website in advance of the symposium. Contributors to this meeting are also welcome to submit their papers for consideration for publication in UFAW’s peer-reviewed journal ‘Animal Welfare’.

Further details, including how to register for the symposia and booking of accommodation, can also be found on the UFAW ‘Barcelona 2013’ webpage: http://www.ufaw.org.uk/conf.html. This webpage will be updated regularly with further details about the symposium as they become available.

We hope that this meeting looks of interest and hope to see you in Barcelona.

Stephen Wickens, PhD UFAW Development Officer

Background to UFAW
UFAW, the International Animal Welfare Science Society, is an independent, scientific and educational animal welfare charity. The organization promotes high standards of welfare for farm, companion, laboratory and captive wild animals and those with which we interact in the wild.

dimanche 23 septembre 2012

VSC spécialisé en Ecologie/Agronomie


Employeur : CIRAD (Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement)
Contrat : VSC : 1 an
Lieu de travail : CIRAD-PRAM, Le Lamentin, Martinique, France
Salaire : 18526 euros/an + billet avion aller-retour + mutuelle + tickets restaurant
Date de prise de fonction : Novembre 2012
La personne sera recrutée par le CIRAD (UR26, Systèmes de culture bananiers, plantains et ananas) et affectée au PRAM (Pôle de Recherche Agro-environnementale de la Martinique).
Mission
La biodiversité joue un rôle majeur dans les systèmes de culture en fournissant de multiples services écosystémiques. La quantification des services écosystèmiques des agroécosystèmes insulaires représente un enjeu majeur pour la durabilité de la production dans ces zones, pour la protection des milieux naturels environnants, et pour le maintien de leur biodiversité intrinsèque.
Ce poste, qui s’insère dans le cadre d’un projet Européen, concerne la quantification des services écosystèmiques dans les systèmes de culture à base de bananiers plantains à la Martinique. Les services étudiés comprennent la fonction de production, la régulation des ravageurs, et le maintien d’une diversité floristique. Le travail consistera à mesurer ces services sur un réseau de parcelles chez des agriculteurs et à analyser les données, afin de comprendre comment les mécanismes de régulation biologique peuvent être reliés à la diversité biologique. Les mesures réalisées comprendront :
·         des mesures de diversité floristique (approche par traits fonctionnels),
·         la caractérisation du réseau trophique des arthropodes (mesure d’abondance et approches isotopiques),
·         des suivis de dynamique des populations de ravageurs des cultures (notamment le charançon du bananier),
·         la mesure de la productivité de parcelle.

Profil
·         Bac +5 en écologie/agronomie
·         Répondre aux critères de sélection des VSC
·         Autonomie
·         Intérêt pour le travail de terrain
·         Bonnes bases en statistiques
·         Des connaissances en botanique et/ou entomologie sont un plus
·         Permis B obligatoire

Candidature
Envoyez par mail une lettre de motivation et un CV à Philippe Tixier (tixier@cirad.fr)
UR26 Systèmes de culture bananiers, plantains et ananas CIRAD-PRAM
Quartier Petit Morne – BP 214
97285 Le Lamentin Cedex 2  Martinique
Tel : 0596 423 017(+596 596 423 017 from abroad)
Fax : 0596 423 001 (+596 596 423 001 from abroad)

Bibliographie

Duyck, P.-F., Lavigne, A., Vinatier, F., Achard, R., Okolle, J., Tixier, P. 2011. Addition of a new resource in agroecosystems: do cover crops alter the trophic positions of generalist predators of the litter? Basic and Applied  Ecology, 12, 47–55.
Duyck, P.-F., Dortel, E., Vinatier, F., Gaujoux, E., Carval, D., Tixier, P., 2012. Effect of environment and fallow period on Cosmopolites sordidus population dynamics at the landscape scale. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 44, 49-55.
Mollot, G., Tixier, P., Lescourret, F., Quilici, S., Duyck, P.-F., 2012. New basal resource increases predation on a pest in a banana agroecosystem. Agricultural and forest entomology. in press
Djigal, D., Chabrier, C., Duyck, P.-F., Achard, R., Quénéhervé, P., Tixier, P., 2012. Cover crops alter the soil nematode food web in banana agroecosystems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 48, 142–150.
Duyck, P.-F., Dortel, E., Tixier, P., Vinatier, F., Loubana, P.-M., Chabrier, C., Quénéhervé, P. 2012. Niche partitioning based on soil type and climate at the landscape scale in a community of plant-feeding nematodes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 44, 49-55.
Quénéhervé, P., Barrière, V., Salmon, F., Houdin, F., Achard, R., Gertrude, J.-C., Marie-Luce, S., Chabrier, C., Duyck, P.-F., Tixier, P., 2011. Effect of banana crop mixtures on the plant-feeding nematode community. Applied Soil Ecology, 49, 40-45.
(Jaffe, Mauleon et al. 1991)

3 RA positions in honeybee computational neuroscience and robotics


Three postdoctoral positions are available at the Universities of Sheffield (two posts) and Sussex (one post) as part of the EPSRC funded, ‘Green Brain’ project. This exciting new project will develop computational neuroscience models of learning and decision-making in the honeybee brain, and controllers based on these to run on an NVIDIA GPU supercomputer controlling a flying robot in real time. Invertebrate neuroscientists are continuing to demonstrate that despite their small sized brains, insects, such as honeybees, have comparable cognitive sophistication to those of larger-brained animals, including vertebrates. Honeybees, in particular, have been demonstrated to be able to manage speed-accuracy trade-offs in decision-making, exhibit positive and negative-reinforcement learning, and transfer concepts such as 'sameness' and 'difference' across sensory modalities. This project is intended to advance our understanding of the invertebrate brain by computational neuroscience modelling, with the ultimate long-term goal of achieving a complete brain model of an animal such as the honeybee. To achieve this goal, modern GPU super-computing will be used to build
detailed models of brain function that can run in real time and can interface with a flying robot to study its behaviour in an embodied context. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with honeybee experts in Toulouse. It is expected that the long-term goal of a full brain model will not only represent a significant basic research achievement, but also lead to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, control of autonomous agents and computational insights into cognitive mechanisms in higher animals

The postdoctoral positions of the research associates on this project are as follows:

1. Computational neuroscientist (Sussex): Your primary responsibilities will be to further develop models of the honeybee olfactory system and learning pathways, develop GPU modelling tools, and integrate your work with the other research associates.


2. Computational neuroscientist (Sheffield): Your primary responsibilities will be to model the honeybee optic tubercle and visual learning pathways, to investigate multi-modal integration and learning, and to integrate your work with the other research associates


3. Roboticist (Sheffield): Your primary responsibility will be to develop and maintain the GPU-supercomputer-controlled flying robot, and integrate the work of the other research associates into the platform


Successful candidates must hold a PhD or equivalent degree in a quantitative science discipline. All posts require a keen interest in computational neuroscience and the basis of learning and behaviour in animals. We are looking for candidates with a strong mathematical, computational and computational neuroscience background (posts 1 and 2) and keen interest in robotics (post 3). Knowledge of the insect olfactory system (post 1), visual system (post 2) and robotic controllers (post 3) is desirable, but is not a requirement. All positions require good programming skills and experience with GPU computing would be a big plus. The positions will involve travel between Sheffield and Sussex and occasionally to the collaborating experimental bee researchers in Toulouse.

For informal inquiries about the positions, please contact Dr. James Marshall, James.Marshall@shef.ac.uk or Dr. Thomas Nowotny, t.nowotny@sussex.ac.uk.


Candidates interested in applying for the University of Sussex job please apply through www.sussex.ac.uk/jobs. Candidates interested in the posts at University of Sheffield please apply through http://www.shef.ac.uk/jobs. If candidates are interested in several posts please apply on both sites. Sheffield Refs: UOS005250, UOS005253 Sussex Ref: 816.

Please provide a CV with publication list, a brief (1 page) statement of why you are interested in the position and about your future career plans with your application form.

Salary range: starting at £28,401 and rising to £37,012 per annum, according to post and experience

Expected start date: 1 December 2012

Closing date for applications: 14/17 October 2012

Interviews are anticipated for: 1 November 2012

For full details and how to apply see

The Universities of Sheffield and of Sussex are committed to equality of opportunity.