We have a postdoctoral opening in our group (www.vanasiri.in) in the broad field of evolutionary ecology. We are based at IISER Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), a young institute aiming to be a world-class centre for research and teaching. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated PhDs to live and carry out research in tropical settings.
The postdoc will have the flexibility of designing projects that complement existing research areas in the lab, or work on something new that enriches research in our group (see www.vanasiri/research). We work on various aspects of evolutionary ecology, including animal behaviour. The IISER Thiruvananthapuram campus is an outstanding location (see www.vanasiri.in/facilities) for ecological studies. Our campus includes, and is contiguous with, some of the best tropical rainforest areas in India, which translates to an abundance of study subjects and opportunities for field studies. More information about the position and application procedure here http://www.iisertvm.ac.in/openings/read_opening/115
Deadline: Screening of applications will start April 30th, but will continue until a suitable candidate is found.
Salary: Rs. 43,200 - 48,000 per month (including Housing Rent Allowance)
Life in Kerala and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum): The coastal city of Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala, and has a rich cultural heritage. It is within a stone's throw away from world-famous beaches such as Kovalam and Varkala, and lovely backwater tourism areas such as Poovar. Several hill stations (e.g Ponmudi) and wildlife sanctuaries are close by. Being a major medical tourism destination, the city has excellent medical care facilities.
It is a relatively small city, and the cost of living tends to be considerably lower than in bigger Indian cities. A 2-bedroom apartment can be had for Rs 8,000 - 10,000 per month. There are plenty of options for dining out - a meal at a decent local restaurant can start from Rs 50, but a good meal with a drink even in a five-star hotel usually costs less than Rs 1000. Costs for groceries and other daily needs can be looked up here (www.kada.in). Taxis can be hired from Rs 10 per km (a minimum fare of Rs 50), while the cost of driving your own small car (not for the faint-hearted!) is about Rs 5 per kilometer (petrol: Rs 67/litre, diesel: Rs 55/litre).
Ullasa Kodandaramaiah ullasa@iisertvm.ac.in