PHD STUDENTSHIP AVAILABLE
SOCIAL CONFLICT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
SOCIAL CONFLICT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
A fully funded PhD studentship is available to work with Prof. Andy Radford (School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol) as part of his 5-year European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. The successful candidate will focus on dwarf mongooses and be part of a 5-strong interdisciplinary ERC team examining the consequences of out-group conflict. We established the Dwarf Mongoose Project (http://dwarfmongooseresearch.weebly.com/) on Sorabi Rock Lodge Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa in 2011. We currently work with 8 groups that have been habituated to the close presence of observers; group members are individually marked and climb on a balance scale to weigh themselves.
The PhD will involve detailed behavioural observations, field-based experimental manipulations, movement modelling, hormonal assays, and analysis of long-term data.
The successful candidate will have a strong interest in social behaviour, will be highly motivated, academically accomplished, enthusiastic, and prepared for arduous fieldwork, and will have excellent communication skills. A Masters and previous fieldwork experience, especially in Africa or with social species, will be viewed as advantageous.
The PhD will involve detailed behavioural observations, field-based experimental manipulations, movement modelling, hormonal assays, and analysis of long-term data.
The successful candidate will have a strong interest in social behaviour, will be highly motivated, academically accomplished, enthusiastic, and prepared for arduous fieldwork, and will have excellent communication skills. A Masters and previous fieldwork experience, especially in Africa or with social species, will be viewed as advantageous.
[Full funding is available only for UK or EU students.]
For further information or to apply, contact Andy (andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk).
Applications consisting of a CV (including the names of 2 referees) and a cover letter must be submitted by 31st July 2016. Interviews will be in early August; the ideal start date is Sep 2016, but Jan 2017 is possible.