On Vocal communication and cognition in meerkats (Suricata suricatta) at the University of Zurich, Switzerland
A three year postdoctoral position in animal behaviour is available at the University of
Zurich working with Prof Marta Manser and her international team. The research
involves behavioural and vocal studies on meerkats, with fieldwork performed at the
Kalahari Meerkat Project in South Africa. Within this framework, several aspects of
research can be pursued including: causes and consequences of the variation in vocal
signals; the flexibility and intentionality in the production and perception of vocal
signals; playback experiments documenting knowledge about other group members;
underlying cognitive mechanisms in vocal communication and social interactions;
etc... The tasks will consist of collecting observational and experimental data in the
natural habitat of the meerkat, as well as the analysis of longterm data. The postdoc
will be responsible for: (1) conducting the field research; (2) analyses of behavioural
and acoustic data; (3) involvement in supervision of our field assistants, MSc and PhD
students in the field and back in Zurich; and 4) helping to organise the field site in
South Africa and the captive group in Zurich.
We welcome highly motivated applicants with PhDs in Biology/Zoology and related
fields. Applicants must have a strong background in collecting and analysing
behavioural data. People with experience in acoustic research (i.e. acoustic analysis
and playback experiments) are preferred. The working language in the group is
English, German skills are not essential. The position is available from September
2015, target application date is August 10th 2015, but open until a suitable candidate
has been found.
Applicants should please send a cover letter with a brief statement of their research
interests, a C.V. (including publication list), and the names and contact details of three
referees. Applications (preferably as a single pdf file) and informal inquiries should be
sent to: marta.manser@ieu.uzh.ch
information on our group: http://www.ieu.uzh.ch/research/behaviour/cognition.html;
http://www.kalahari-meerkats.com/