samedi 23 décembre 2017

Joyeux Noël


vendredi 22 décembre 2017

Optimistic and pessimistic decision-making under ambiguity 2 PhD positions in Behavioural Biology

The Department of Behavioural Biology at the University of Münster invites applications for  two  PhD
positions from February 1
st
2018 or soon thereafter. The positions are available for three years and are
funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the recently approved collaborative research
centre (SFB/TRR 212) entitled:  A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and
Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC
3
).
Thematic background & profile
Humans differ in the way they perceive the world with some being more optimistic and some being
more pessimistic. Using laboratory mice as a model organism, the project aims to apply the concept of
optimism/pessimism  to  behavioral  ecology  for  the  first  time.  Two  main  research  questions  will  be
addressed: How does one become an optimist/pessimist and what are the fitness consequences?
We seek bright and highly motivated students who have a proven record in behavioural biology. A very
good Master degree or  equivalent in a relevant topic  is  expected. Very good knowledge of spoken and
written English is mandatory. Finally, good organizational, writing and presentation skills as well as the
ability to work well both independently and in a team environment are advantageous.
Research environment
The  successful  candidates  will  be  based  at  the  Department  of  Behavioural
Biology  at the University of Münster.  The department offers a mind-stimulating
and  interdisciplinary  research  environment.  Current  research  projects  deal
with  (1)  stress,  stress  avoidance  and  animal  welfare,  (2)  evolution  and
development  of  social  behaviour,  and  (3)  the  role  of  gene/environment
interactions in the control of emotional, cognitive, and social behaviour.
To apply, please  provide: (i) a letter of  motivation including a  statement of your research experience;
(ii)  a  CV  including  publication  list;  (iii)  names  and  contact  details  of  two  referees  willing  to  write
confidential  letters  of  recommendation.  All  materials  should  be  emailed  as  a  single  PDF  file  to:
richterh@uni-muenster.de.
The application deadline is January 7th 2018  and  interviews will take place shortly thereafter. The
preferred start date is February 1
st
2018  but is flexible.  For further information  on the project and the
Department of Behavioural Biology in Münster, please see www.ethologie.de or contact Helene Richter
(richterh@uni-muenster.de)  or  Norbert  Sachser  (sachser@uni-muenster.de)  with  any  informal
inquiries.
The University of Münster  is an equal opportunity employer. We particularly welcome applications from
women and handicapped people. Given equal suitability, qualifications and professional achievement,
women or handicapped people will be given preference, unless particular circumstances apply.

Social niche conformance during adolescence and beyond - 2 PhD positions in Behavioural Biology

The Department of Behavioural Biology at the University of Münster invites applications for  two  PhD positions from February 1st 2018 or soon thereafter. The positions are available for three years and are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the recently approved collaborative research centre (SFB/TRR 212) entitled:  A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC3).
 
Thematic background & profile
Mechanisms of adaptive shaping of behavioural phenotypes have evolved during early phases of life in numerous species. In this project we  address  the  questions:  How can  behavioural phenotypes  be  shaped by  social  experiences  during  adolescence  and  beyond?  Are  these  phenotypes  adjusted  to  the environmental  conditions?  Do  males  and  females  differ?  What  are  the  underlying  hormonal mechanisms? We aim to study these questions using a highly social rodent, the guinea pig.
We seek bright and highly motivated students who have a proven record in behavioural biology. A very good Master degree or equivalent in a relevant topic  is expected.  Very good knowledge of spoken and written English is  mandatory. Finally, good organizational, writing and presentation skills as well as the ability to work well both independently and in a team environment are advantageous.
Research environment
The  successful  candidates  will  be  based  at  the  Department  of  Behavioural Biology  at the University of Münster.  The department offers a mind-stimulating and  interdisciplinary  research  environment.  Current  research  projects  deal with  (1)  stress,  stress  avoidance  and  animal  welfare,  (2)  evolution  and development  of  social  behaviour,  and  (3)  the  role  of  gene/environment interactions in the control of emotional, cognitive, and social behaviour.
To apply, please provide: (i) a letter of  motivation including a  statement of your research experience;
(ii)  a  CV  including  publication  list;  (iii)  names  and  contact  details  of  two  referees  willing  to  write confidential  letters  of  recommendation.  All  materials  should  be  emailed  as  a  single  PDF  file  to:
kaisesy@uni-muenster.de.
The application deadline is  January 7th 2018  and interviews  will take place shortly thereafter. The preferred start date is February 1st 2018  but is flexible. For further information  on the project and the Department  of Behavioural Biology in Münster, please see  www.ethologie.de  or contact  Sylvia Kaiser (kaisesy@uni-muenster.de)  or  Norbert  Sachser  (sachser@uni-muenster.de)  with  any  informal inquiries.
The University of Münster  is an equal opportunity employer. We particularly welcome applications from women and handicapped people. Given equal suitability, qualifications and professional achievement,  women or handicapped people will be given preference, unless particular circumstances apply.

mercredi 20 décembre 2017

PhD positions in Animal behaviour and Functional Genomics at Bielefeld University

2 PhD positions in Behavioural Ecology and Functional Genomics

Two PhD positions in behavioural/evolutionary ecology and functional genomics are available at the Faculty of Biology at Bielefeld University; one in the Department of Animal Behaviour with Dr. Peter Korsten (see www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/animalbehaviour) and one in the Evolutionary Biology group with Dr. Tim Schmoll (see www.uni-bielefeld.de/(en)/biologie/Evolutionsbiologie/). The positions run from early 2018 for 36 months and are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the recently approved collaborative research centre (SFB/TRR 212) entitled: A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC3).

The goal of this project (project B04 of the collaborative research centre) is to test how male Zebra Finches conform to their social niche as set by the prevailing level of sperm competition. This will allow us to understand how individual variation in sexual competition generates individual variation, and covariation, in both competitive traits and parenting behaviour. The two PhD students will closely collaborate to (i) quantify male social niche conformance by analysing adjustment of sexual competitiveness including behavioural (e.g. aggression) and ejaculate (e.g. sperm motility) traits. They will then (ii) identify the underlying mechanisms of social niche conformance on the hormonal (via endocrinological profiling) and the gene expression (via RNAseq) levels, (iii) assess the adaptive significance of niche conformance under a niche match/mismatch paradigm and, finally, (iv) test for trade-offs between investment in sexual competitiveness versus paternal care. Sub-project A will primarily focus on male social niche conformance through adjustment of behavioural traits and the hormonal mechanisms underlying niche conformance. Sub-project B will primarily focus on male social niche conformance through adjustment of ejaculate traits and the gene expression underlying niche conformance.

The collaborative research centre: The positions will be embedded within a larger collaborative research centre (SFB) comprising 18 principle investigators, 8 postdocs and 16 PhD students based at Bielefeld University, the University of Münster and the University of Jena. The aim of the SFB is to produce a conceptual and empirical synthesis of individualisation across behaviour, ecology and evolution. The SFB will provide exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and academic networking, together with structured training, scientific exchange and early career support programmes. Full details of the SFB can be found at www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/crc212.

Main responsibilities

Research tasks (90%):
- Designing and conducting laboratory experiments in which zebra finch males are exposed to different levels of sperm competition
- Maintaining a zebra finch stock population and breeding of experimental birds
- Collecting and processing of behavioural recordings (sub-project A)
- Collecting and processing of hormone samples (sub-project A)
- Setting up a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system (sub-project B)
- Phenotyping sperm samples using CASA and other methods (sub-project B)
- Processing of tissue samples for transcriptomic analyses
- Bioinformatic processing of high-throughput sequencing data to quantify gene expression (sub-project B)
- Statistical analyses of complex experimental data
- Collaborating with other research groups in the collaborative research centre
- Writing scientific publications for international peer-reviewed journals

Organizational tasks in the research groups and collaborative research centre (10%)

Applicants’ profiles

We are seeking two bright, highly motivated and creative students with
- a university degree in a relevant discipline with specializations in one or more of the following fields: evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, animal behaviour, behavioural physiology, bioinformatics, endocrinology, neuro-ethology, transcriptomics, and/or veterinary science,
- a keen interest in using genetic and/or endocrinological methods to answer behavioural and life history questions,
- experience with carrying out animal experiments, preferably in birds,
- experience with bioinformatic processing of high-throughput sequencing data (sub-project B),
- experience with statistical analyses of complex data sets (preferably using R),
- ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and
- excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications would additionally be of advantage:
- publications in peer-reviewed international journals,
- experience with software for analysing behavioural recordings (sub-project A),
- experience with sperm phenotyping including CASA (sub-project B),
- experience with large-scale research projects.

Remuneration

Salary will be paid according to Remuneration level 13 (65%) of the Wage Agreement for Public Service in the Federal States (TV-L).
Bielefeld University is particularly committed to the career development of its employees. It offers attractive internal and external training. Employees have the opportunity to use a variety of health, counselling, and prevention programmes. Bielefeld University places great importance on a work–family balance for all its employees.

Application procedure

To apply, please provide: (i) a letter of motivation (maximum two pages) including a statement of your research interests, and skills and experience relevant to the positions and a statement for which of the two positions you apply (or your preference in case you apply for both); (ii) a CV including your publication list; (iii) names and contact details of two referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation. All materials should be emailed as a single PDF file to both principal investigators: peter.korsten@uni-bielefeld.de and tim.schmoll@uni-bielefeld.de. The application deadline is January 7th 2018 and interviews will take place shortly thereafter. After the decision, the positions should start as soon as possible. For further information on the project and the departments, please contact Peter Korsten (sub-project A) and/or Tim Schmoll (sub-project B) with any informal inquiries.

Bielefeld is a city of 325,000 inhabitants with all expected amenities and easy access to the Teutoburger Wald for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. It offers a high standard of living and is well connected to most major European cities.
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements in the provision of equal opportunity and has been recognized as a family friendly university. The University welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in Information Technology and Trades and Craft. Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state equal opportunity statutes. Applications from suitably qualified handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.

Dr. Peter Korsten
Department of Animal Behaviour / Verhaltensforschung (VHF)
Bielefeld University
PO Box 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Germany

Telephone: +49-521-106 2188

Dr. Tim Schmoll
Evolutionary Biology
Bielefeld University
Morgenbreede 45
33619 Bielefeld

Telephone: +49-160-7207626

IAST Research Fellowship Applications

The Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), France, invites applications for Research Fellowships, from 1st September 2018.

We welcome applications from researchers within a large range of disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences: anthropology, biology, economics, history, law, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology, though motivated applications from outside these disciplines will be given full consideration. Successful applicants will have demonstrated an interest in, and a commitment to, at least one of the other disciplines of IAST.

We seek candidates with a strong research background in their own discipline, but willing and able to develop research projects drawing on IAST’s substantial interdisciplinary resources, including particularly the proximity of strong groups in economics (Toulouse School of Economics, TSE). We are open to a variety of research methods, including theory, field and laboratory experiments, observational field work, and the analysis of large secondary data sets. All research interests relevant to the broad study of human behavior are welcome, but interests close to those already developed at IAST will be given special consideration, including, to cite only a few: 

·         In history: quantitative economic history (cliometrics), empirical political economy in history, qualitative economic or social history.

·         In biology: theoretical models of evolution (applied to family structure, strategic interactions, plasticity, cognition, learning, cultural evolution); related empirical work.

·         In anthropology: human biology, life history theory, human development and plasticity, health and infectious disease, aging, demography, host-parasite co-evolution, diet and nutrition, global health, evolutionary medicine and genetics.

·         In political science: public opinion and public policies, comparative studies of democratic institutions, democracy and development, experimental political science, studies of networks and their impact of individual and collective action.

·         In law: law and economics, corporate governance, criminology.

·         In psychology: cognition, the emotions, social trust, gender, group decision-making.

·         In sociology: network formation, the impact of networks on social outcomes, sociology of religion.



 Eligible applicants

Active researchers who have or will have completed their PhD after January 2015 and before September 2018. The IAST offers candidates an opportunity to devote themselves full time to their research at the start of their careers. Motivated applications will be considered from candidates whose PhDs were completed in 2014 or earlier; please explain your reasons in your cover letter.

 Conditions

Fellows are provided with office space, computer facilities and a contract for two years, renewable for a third year.

All applications need to be sent through our website http://www.iast.fr/apply before December 31, 2017

lundi 18 décembre 2017

MSc Position, USA (closes 15 Jan)

Center for Animal Welfare
University of California-Davis (UC Davis), USA

We are seeking a highly motivated student to complete an MSc project validating the use of acoustic sensors for tracking laying hen and broiler chicken movement and health parameters on commercial farms.
The individual will be expected to work at the UC Davis research facilities and travel to commercial farms to collect acoustic data. The student is expected to conduct analyses, prepare results for presentation at scientific meetings, and publish in scientific journals, in addition to successfully completing all MSc program requirements.
Candidates interested in this opportunity should have a strong work ethic and a demonstrated interest in poultry science, ethology, sensor technology, or bioengineering applied to farm animals. Applicants should have a BA/BSc in animal biology, avian sciences, ethology, bioengineering, or related fields. Applicant must be able to acquire a valid California driver’s license at start of project.
The successful candidate will be housed in the Department of Animal Science and will be part of the Center for Animal Welfare (www.animalwelfare.ucdavis.edu).
The candidate can apply to either the Animal Biology or Avian Sciences graduate groups, with deadlines for both groups on January 15th, 2018 for a start date of September 2018.
Candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Richard Blatchford (rablatchford@ucdavis.edu) for further information, including funding details.

Competitively funded PhD in equine stereotypy

Applications are invited for a 3 year, competitively funded PhD in the Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, UK, exploring the: 
Development and Pathophysiology of Stereotypic Behaviour in Horses.
Stereotypies are repetitive, invariant compulsive behavioural sequences often observed in captive or domestic animals. Domestic horses, particularly those kept in intensive housing systems (boxes, stalls, etc.) show a range of stereotypic behaviours, including oral (crib-biting) and locomotor (weaving) behaviours, with the prevalence of stereotypic behaviours over 30% in certain groups of competition horses. 
One strong risk factor for the development of stereotypic behaviour is social isolation however, relatively little is known about the mechanisms that link social behaviour and stereotypies. It has been suggested that sub-optimal social events may increase the oxidative free-radical status of the animal, via shifts in dopamine physiology, to produce the stereotypy phenotype.  Supporting this link, there is substantial evidence to suggest that free radical levels can be significantly reduced through the ingestion of antioxidants. Antioxidant supplementation may therefore have the exciting potential to reduce stereotypy development in animals predisposed to this abnormal behavioural condition.
Interested candidates should write a research proposal for a project relating to social behaviour, stereotypies and oxidative stress, or something in this general area. Based in the Centre of Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, the project will be supervised by equine behaviour specialists Dr Leanne Proops, Dr Matt Parker (University of Portsmouth) and Dr Sebastian McBride (Aberystwyth). Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact us prior to submitting a research proposal. 
How to apply: Letters of application including a CV and 500-word proposed research outline should be sent to leanne.proops@port.ac.uk and matthew.parker@port.ac.uk by 15th January. We will select projects that we feel are suitable, and then interview candidates (likely on the phone/skype). Successful candidates will then submit their application to the Portsmouth Psychology Department UK bursary competition, for which the deadline is the 11th February. 
Funding & Eligibility: The position is open to EU/UK students. The competitively funded studentship includes tuition fees and an annual maintenance grant of £14,553 (2017/18). A good undergraduate degree in a related field is essential, a postgraduate degree and experience working with horses is highly desirable.

16 PhD 9 postdoc 2 technician positions Behaviour/Ecology/Evolution Bielefeld/Münster

If you know of any students with good experimental and writing skills, point them to these PhD, postdoc and technician positions at my former research group. The deadline is very soon (7 January), since projects have to start early 2018, which I think increases the chance of good candidates.
The positions also offer opportunities for further collaboration, because a period at a partner lab is mandatory (I think for most projects).



9 Postdoc, 16 PhD and 2 technician positions -
Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction
Application deadline: 7th of January 2018

Striped mouse project: research assistant --> research manager, March 2018 to Nov 2019

Position as research assistant (March – October 2018)
and as research manager (November 2018-November 2019
at the striped mouse project in South Africa,


We are looking for an extremely motivated and independent biology student with a master’s degree to join the striped mouse project at least until November 2019 and for a maximum of 3 years, first as research assistant (March-October 2018) and afterwards as research manager. This position is suitable for somebody who would like to gain experience in field work and scientific management. Assistants / managers get free accommodation at the station and a compensation to cover their daily costs. Travel costs can be refunded by up to an additional R 12 000 / year. As such, the position compensates for all arising costs but does not represent a real employment.
As research assistant, you will help the postdoc Pauline Vuarin during her studies on the extinction risk of different sub-populations in Goegap.
As research manager you will work closely together with the station manager and both managers will share responsibilities. However, each will have specific main duties, but should also be able to deal with all other duties (for example when the other manager is on leave, or when a new manager has to be trained). Our current research manager will leave the project in October 2018. The new research manager will be instructed by the present research manager.
Skills needed: Good experience in field work and must good knowledge of behavioural ecology or a similar field of research. Experiences in working with small mammals, radio-tracking, blood sampling, living at a remote location are of advantage.
Great opportunity: This is a great opportunity to spend 1.5-3 years in Africa, acquiring important skills in field biology and project management, while improving your CV. These skills will become valuable whether you later continue with a PhD or other jobs. It will be very hard and demanding, but also a once in a life time experience!
You must be hard-working, highly motivated, able to work independently, good in communicating with people, able to supervise others, and not afraid of snakes. You should love to live at a remote place in nature, without regular internet and cell-phone reception. Most importantly, you are fascinated by nature and science!
Job description: Five working days a week (Mo, Tue, Thu, Fr, Sat), with Wednesday being used for a shopping trip to town (not counted as working day) and Sundays being free. Included are four weeks of holiday for 12 months, which has to be taken outside the main breeding season (August to November) during periods when other students are present at the research station.


Primary duties research manager / secondary duties station manager
·         Data:
o   Weekly data entry
o   Weekly data check
o   Monthly data backup
o   Monthly data report
o   Training and supervision of field assistants
o   Training of students and postdocs
o   Support for students and postdocs
o   Management of transmitters
o   Management of field and laboratory supplies

Primary duties station manager / secondary duties research manager
·         Technical support research station:
o   Water system incl. sewage system
o   Solar system
o   Gas bottles replacement
o   House and furniture
o   Running of the respirometry laboratory
o   Management of the captive colony
o   Management of the research station car
o   Management of bank account and cash box
o   Management of research station supplies

Compensation:
·         Free accommodation.
  • A monthly compensation of R 3 500, which is sufficient to pay all costs of living. This compensation will rise to R4 700 per month in November 2018, when the research assistant takes over the research manager position.
  • For travel costs, R12 000 per year can be refunded, but proof (receipts) must be presented for this. This refund is only payable after October 2019 and will not be paid if the person leaves earlier than agreed.
  • You will become an honorary researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand in the group of Prof. N. Pillay.
  • Scientific co-authorship will be possible if the manager contributes to the success of projects by not only collecting the majority of data, but also by data analysis and writing of the manuscript.
Responsibilities:
·         The manager has to cover the costs to get to the station, including travel costs and visa fees. For this, a refund can be paid (see above).
  • The manager needs to arrange for a health insurance covering him / her during the stay. A copy must be sent to C. Schradin before travelling to the stations.
Place and project: Succulent Karoo Research Station (SKRS) in the Goegap Nature Reserve near Springbok in the Northern Cape of South Africa. The research projects are on the socio-ecology of small mammals, studying ecological and physiological reasons of social behaviour, behavioural flexibility, and physiological adaptation.
Period: The new manager is expected to start in March 2018 and to stay at least until the end of November 2019, the end of the breeding season 2019. The agreement might be extended for a total period of up to 3 years.
How to apply? Please send a CV, a letter of motivation and the names and contact information of at least two scientists available for reference. The letter of motivation should state why you think you are the perfect candidate for this, and when you could start.
Application deadline: 21st of January. Skype interviews are scheduled for end of January.

Further information under www.stripedmouse.com
Dr. Carsten Schradin, Director of the Succulent Karoo Research Station, a registered South African non-profit organization supporting research in organismic biology.

Research project ANR Aquatherm

Post-doctoral position in Evolutionary Ecophysiology 

The CNRS Ecophysiology lab at CEBC, Chizé, France seeks to recruit a post-doctoral research  fellow in 2018 for a 20 months long period starting in April 2018 (possible extension to 40 months) to examine the functional basis of climate sensitivity in terrestrial ectotherms. The project is part of an ANR-funded research program to improve general understanding of the interactive effects of temperature and water constraints on the ecology of lizards and snakes (squamate reptiles). 

Project description
A  major  challenge  in  ecology  is  to  accurately  predict  responses  of  organisms  to environmental  variation.  In  this  context,  clarifying  proximate  mechanisms  and  possible functional tradeoffs is essential, and integrating physiological mechanisms with ecology and evolution is a relevant and promising approach. Water is vital for terrestrial organisms and this resource exhibits important seasonal and/or spatial fluctuations. Water restriction can alter  individual  performances  and  survival,  and  the  regulation  of  water  balance (hydroregulation)  can  interact  with  other  demands  such  as  energy  and  thermoregulation resulting in physiological and behavioral conflicts. Our group has recently shown that waterbased  functional  trade-offs  can mediate  evolutionary  conflicts  (e.g.,  cost  of  reproduction, parent-offspring conflict), climatic adaptations and  responses to climate change, but these are yet largely unconsidered in evolutionary ecology. The ANR-funded AquaTherm research program precisely focuses on the interplay between hydroregulation and thermoregulation in squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) with a multidisciplinary approach using mechanistic models, field studies of natural populations, and laboratory studies at the individual level.
The candidate will investigate the functional basis of climate sensitivity in two cold adapted squamate species. He/she will study long-term sensitivity and acclimation responses to joint changes  in  water  availability  and  temperature  focusing  on  the  critical  gestation  and  early growth  (i.e.,  summer  period)  life  stages.  This  work  will  be  based  on  experimental manipulation  of  thermal  and  hydric  conditions  using  climatic  chambers  and  longitudinal measurements  of  associated  metabolic,  water  loss  and  fitness  responses  with  state-of-the art techniques. 

Work environment
The  successful  candidate  will  be  recruited  by  the  CNRS  in  the  CEBC  laboratory  in  Chizé (http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr)  in  the  EcoPhysiology  team  and  will  also  be  able  to  closely collaborate with a dynamic group of ecologists and ecophysiologists in France. He/she will be supervised  by  CNRS  Researcher  Olivier  Lourdais,  a  leading  expert  in  thermoregulation, climatic  adaptations  and  reproductive  strategies.  The  student  will  benefit  from  the  local expertise  and  complementary  approaches  to  study  physiological  trade-offs,  behavioral responses and individual performances. Our research program involves the CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance  (Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours),  iEES  Paris,  CEBC  (Chizé)  and  SETE  Moulis  (Saint Girons) laboratories. The post-doctoral research fellow will thus work in an interdisciplinary and  lively  research  environment  and  will  contribute  to  a  national  collaborative  program involving  more  than  20  researchers  and  staff  including  world  leading  experts  in  animal ecology and ecophysiology. 

Required qualifications and skills
Candidates  should  meet  the  following  requirements  (1)  have  a  PhD  in  ecology, ecophysiology,  or  a  related  field;  (2)  a  background  in  evolutionary  ecology/  organismal biology  /  ecophysiology,  (3)  demonstrated  experience  in  experimental  research,  (4)  a successful publication record and (5) be creative and independent. Candidates are welcome to  come  with  their  own  ideas  provided  they  are  feasible  during  the  time  frame  of  the project.
Terms and salary
The position is available for a period of two years starting preferably in March 2018. Salary is
€22,000  per  year.  Review  of  applications  will  begin  on  December  15,  2018,  and  continue
until the position is filled. The initial appointment is for 20 months with potential renewal for
addition 20 months conditional on additional funding from another grant proposal.
How to proceed:
Applications should be sent to lourdais@cebc.cnrs.frApplications should include a single pdf
file with curriculum vitae including a full list of publications, a brief description of research
interests, and a list of at least one reference familiar with the applicant’s qualifications and
experience.

vendredi 15 décembre 2017

4 PhD positions on the ‘ecology of fear’ in wildlife

4 PhD opportunities are available to work with Liana Zanette at Western University, Canada.  Prof. Zanette heads the world’s leading research group experimentally testing the effects of predator-induced fear on the population and community dynamics of wildlife, and has published seminal papers demonstrating that fear itself (perceived predation risk) is powerful enough to affect wildlife population dynamics (Science 2011), the fear of large carnivores can itself cause a trophic cascade (Nature Communications 2016), andthe fear the human “super predator” inspires in large carnivores can in turn have cascading effects on ecosystems (Proc R Soc B 2017).  PhD 1 will conduct the first ever comprehensive test of the total impact of fear on the population growth rate in wildlife.  PhD 2 will conduct the first fully manipulative experimental test of whether the fear of large carnivores affects the demography of large herbivores, and has cascading trophic impacts on plant responses.  PhD 3 will test the demographic and behavioural impacts the fear of lions has on their ungulate prey.  PhD 4 will test whether ‘interrogating’ wildlife about their fear of humans can be used as a tool to diagnose the extent and intensity of poaching and disturbance by ecotourists.  PhDs 1 and 2 will be conducted on song sparrows and black-tailed deer respectively, on Canada’s Gulf Islands, and PhDs 3 and 4 will be conducted in private game reserves in South Africa.  Applicants should have an MSc, a passion for research, experience conducting field experiments, publications in internationally-competitive journals, evidence of research/interest in the ecology of fear, and have or be well-positioned to compete for an external scholarship.  Western guarantees a minimum stipend for up to four years.  Applicants should provide: (1) a cover letter; (2) CV with names of 3 referees; and (3) unofficial transcripts from previous degrees.  Use the subject line “Ecology of fear PhD” and e-mail materials to lzanette@uwo.ca.  Review of applications will begin 15 January 2018.

mardi 12 décembre 2017

Emploi

Es-tu l'élu(e) ? Tu as une formation en biologie? Tu as à coeur la création d'aires protégées et la sauvegarde de la biodiversité au Québec? Ce poste est peut-être pour toi! ICI pour postuler avant le 15 décembre, midi - > http://bit.ly/2jxPWyK

PhD studentships on the behaviour of wild spider monkeys at Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico

Two 4-year PhD studentships on wild spider monkeys

Two 4-year PhD studentships are available to carry out projects on the behaviour of wild spider monkeys at Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico) under the supervision of experienced researchers. Potential applicants should email me (faureli [ chez ] uv.mx) and mention which of the two research topics they are interested in.

Hormonal underpinnings of social interactions in spider monkeys
(in collaboration with Dr. Pedro Dias, Universidad Veracruzana)

Grooming reciprocity and negotiation in spider monkeys
(in collaboration with Dr. Gabriele Schino, CNR, Italian Research Council)

Potential applicants should have a Masters degree in a relevant field and have some knowledge of Spanish. The PhD thesis can be written in English, but knowledge of Spanish is important to navigate the bureaucracy. Specific qualifications will be asked after receiving the email expressing the research topic of interest.

Contact should be made as soon as possible as applicants need to submit a research protocol developed with the potential supervisor during the application process.

Information about the application process and the PhD program can be found at the following links (it is the information for last application round; it will be updated in 2018):

www.uv.mx/dneuro/sitios-de-interes-y-noticias-y-eventos/avisos-y-eventos/
www.uv.mx/dneuro/

lundi 11 décembre 2017

PhD positions (2), Germany (closes 7 Jan)

pdf here

Research Officer (Cohort Studies) (London_1524)

Overview

Salary
Competitive
Location
London
Job Type
Permanent
Hours per Week
35 Hours
Closing date
01 January 2018


Are you an experienced Researcher in animal welfare science with expertise in studies involving pet owners?  Do you have good knowledge of research methods, data collection techniques and statistical analysis?
Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK, with a nationwide network of rehoming centres and charity shops.  Last year, Dogs Trust centres cared for over 15,000 dogs; we never put a healthy dog down.
The Dogs Trust Research Team is looking for a researcher with quantitative research experience to join our Head Office based team on a permanent basis. The primary focus of the role will be to assist with the running of Dogs Trust cohort studies (Generation Pup and post adoption projects).
Dogs Trust is committed to ensuring best practice in the care and welfare of dogs. To achieve this aim, it is important that a robust and critical approach is taken when collecting data, and evaluating both research evidence and current activity. The collection and analysis of relevant data, for example through the use of cohort studies of dog owners, is key to developing strategies to ensure the optimum welfare of dogs.
The aim of this position is to work with the Senior Veterinary Epidemiologist to support the running of Dogs Trust cohort studies (Generation Pup and Post adoption projects). This includes helping to prepare online and paper questionnaires for data collection, liaising with owners (through email, phone and social medial communication), assisting with other aspects of data collection – including (but not limited to) veterinary records, health cards completed by veterinary practice staff and behaviour videos. Preparing data for analysis and conducting analyses of data in addition to presenting results at conferences and meetings will be part of this role.  The post holder may also be expected to assist with other projects being conducted within the Dogs Trust research group, as required by the Senior Veterinary Epidemiologist.
To be successful in this role you will have a qualification in veterinary medicine or science, animal behaviour or welfare, animal science, or a related subject, ideally with a postgraduate research qualification.  You will have a good knowledge of research methods, data collection techniques and statistical analysis, with some experience in supervising students undertaking research
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button.  Our application process requires you to submit a CV and cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role.


For further details please download the job description below:
Apply now

dimanche 10 décembre 2017

PhD position in Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

PhD position in Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Vocal communication and breeding decisions in wild zebra finches

PhD position
We offer a 4 year PhD Position (1.0 FTE) to undertake research on communication and breeding decisions in wild zebra finches within the Behavioural Ecology chair group at Wageningen University, the Netherlands in cooperation with Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. This position is financed by an Open Competition ALW grant by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
Project details
The aim of this project is to determine how animals respond behaviourally and physiologically in their breeding decisions to climatic variability, using wild zebra finches in the Australian arid zone as model. Zebra finches are the best-studied avian model organism under laboratory conditions, yet decisions and signals used to time and optimize reproduction in nature are poorly understood. Here we will use a long-term monitored Australian field population to identify how birds signal to achieve physiological and behavioural synchrony for optimizing reproduction. While the project consider all vocal signals including calls, it will specifically test hypotheses on the function of male song. This unique field project will provide key advances in our understanding of signalling and behavioural decisions of animals breeding under ecologically challenging and unpredictable climatic conditions. It also will open new doors for understanding social functions of elaborate signals and for laboratory studies on behavioural mechanisms using ecologically refined conditions. The project is supervised by Prof. Marc Naguib at Wageningen University in collaboration with Prof. Simon Griffith at Macquarie University in Sydney. The field research will be conducted at a well established zebra finch population at Fowlers Gap Research Station in New South Wales, Australia.
We ask

•       MSc-degree in Biology with specialization in Animal Behaviour / Behavioural Ecology or equivalent experience

•       Strong experimental and analytical skills

•       Good organizational and (written and spoken) communication skills in English

•       Proven ability to collaborate with others.

•       Willingness to conduct and organize extensive ornithological fieldwork at a remote location.

•       Willingness to travel internationally, to attend conferences and visit other institutes.

•       A driving licence
We offer

•       A contract with full social benefits based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities (CAO for 38 hrs/week. Initially the PhD-appointment will be for a period of 18 months. Continuation of the appointment with another 30 months is contingent on a positive performance evaluation. Based on a full time appointment, gross salary will be € 2.222 per month in the first year, rising each year up to €2.840 per month in the fourth year and includes contribution to a pension scheme. The salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance (8%) and an end of year bonus of 8,3% % of the gross salary per year.

•       Participation in the training program of the Graduate School WIAS at Wageningen University.

•       Stimulating international research environment

•       An excellent opportunity to develop an international scientific network.
The organization
The successful candidate will join the stimulating and international research environment of Wageningen University & Research. Wageningen University is worldwide renowned for its research and education in the field of life sciences. Through these activities it aims to make essential contributions to the quality of life. This approach has led to Wageningen University being ranked as the best agricultural university and #1 in environment & ecology in the world according to the National Taiwan University Ranking 2017.
This project will be carried out in the Behavioural Ecology Group within the Department of Animal Sciences with fieldwork being carried out at Fowlers Gap Research Station in NSW, Australia.
For further information, please contact Marc Naguib (marc.naguib@wur.nl).  The application deadline is 7 January 2018. - Applications should include a letter of motivation, CV and names of three references.
Please apply through this website:
https://www.wur.nl/en/Jobs/Vacancies/Show/PhD-positionVocal-communication-and-breeding-decisions-in-wild-zebra-finches-.htm

4-year PhD studentships

Two 4-year PhD studentships on wild spider monkeys

Two 4-year PhD studentships are available to carry out projects on the behaviour of wild spider monkeys at Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico) under the supervision of experienced researchers. Potential applicants should email me (
faureli@uv.mx) and mention which of the two research topics they are interested in.

Hormonal underpinnings of social interactions in spider monkeys
(in collaboration with Dr. Pedro Dias, Universidad Veracruzana)

Grooming reciprocity and negotiation in spider monkeys
(in collaboration with Dr. Gabriele Schino, CNR, Italian Research Council)
Potential applicants should have a Masters degree in a relevant field and have some knowledge of Spanish. The PhD thesis can be written in English, but knowledge of Spanish is important to navigate the bureaucracy. Specific qualifications will be asked after receiving the email expressing the research topic of interest.

Contact should be made as soon as possible as applicants need to submit a research protocol developed with the potential supervisor during the application process.

Information about the application process and the PhD program can be found at the following links (it is the information for last application round; it will be updated in 2018):

mercredi 6 décembre 2017

Open PhD position in Behavioural Ecology and Conservation

School of Life Sciences PhD Studentship
University of Sussex
Insect behaviour, life history and environmental change
A Ph.D. studentship (42 months) is available from September 2018 under the supervision of
Dr Wiebke Schuett, Department of Evolution, Behaviour and Environment, School of Life
Sciences.
Deadline: 6
th
January 2018
Environmental, including anthropogenic, change has vast consequences on individuals,
population dynamics and communities. Behaviour is often the first response to such change.
Thus, understanding individuals’ behavioural response to environmental change is important
for identifying which individuals or species are likely to persist in or disappear from altered
habitats. Individuals of many species consistently differ in their behaviour (i.e. show
personality differences). Such personality differences are often closely linked to life-history,
physiological and/or morphological traits, forming suits of correlated traits (i.e. pace-of-life
syndromes, POLS). Unravelling how environmental conditions influence POLS structure
would make an important contribution to understanding responses to and (ecological and
evolutionary) consequences of environmental change.
A fully-funded Ph.D. studentship is offered in this research area. Topics that the successful
candidate could pursue include the influence of environmental change (e.g. urbanization,
climate change) on behaviour, and other POL traits, as well as their (co)variance. This might
involve the evolution of personality differences, information use and decision-making under
unpredictable environmental conditions, causes and consequences of POLS and impacts of
environmental conditions on individuals, populations and communities. We offer the
opportunity to work on insects, but work on other invertebrates might also be possible.
Experimental work can be conducted in the field, in enclosures (preferably on ground
beetles) and/or in the laboratory (several taxa).
Please submit a formal application using our online application system at
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply, including a cover letter (headed with project title), a
short potential project outline (ca. 300-500 words), CV (max 2 pages), BSc/MSc degree
transcripts and certificates, IELTS certificate (if non-UK) and names of two academic
referees.
Candidates must hold/expect to obtain minimum 2:1 in BSc Biology or relevant subject. An
MSc degree will be advantageous. We expect a highly motivated, talented, well-organised
and meticulous candidate with strong quantitative skills. The candidate will have background
in Behavioural Ecology, Field Ecology, Conservation, Evolution and/or Experimental Ecology.
Previous experience in collecting data in the field, working with insects, behavioural
observations, physiological analyses, statistical modelling (preferentially in R) is
advantageous. Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS
score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section. A driving license is desirable.
Contact Anna Izykowska for application enquiries (a.izykowska@sussex.ac.uk)
Contact Dr Wiebke Schuett for enquiries about the project (wiebke.schuett@uni-hamburg.de)

Campagne de recrutement de Post-Doc 2018-2019- Institute For Advanced Study In Toulouse (IAST)

IAST Research Fellowships in Evolutionary Biology,

The Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST; www.iast.fr) invites applications for post-doctoral research fellowships in Evolutionary Biology, with a start date of September 1, 2018.

We welcome applications from researchers with research interests in any of the following areas: theoretical models of evolution (applied to family structure, strategic interactions, plasticity, cognition, learning, cultural evolution); related empirical work.

We seek candidates with a strong research background in their own discipline, but willing and able to develop research projects drawing on IAST’s substantial interdisciplinary resources, including particularly the proximity of strong groups in economics (Toulouse School of Economics, TSE). We are open to a variety of research methods, including theory, field and laboratory experiments, observational field work, and the analysis of large secondary data sets. All research interests relevant to the broad study of human behavior are welcome, but interests close to those already developed at IAST will be given special consideration.

Eligible applicants
Active researchers who have or will have completed their PhD after January 2015 and before September 2018. The IAST offers its researchers an opportunity to devote themselves full time to their research at the start of their careers. Motivated applications will be considered from candidates whose PhDs were completed in 2014 or earlier; please explain your reasons in your cover letter.

Conditions
Fellows are provided with office space, computer facilities and a contract for two years, renewable for a third year.

All applications need to be sent through our website: http://www.iast.fr/apply before December 31, 2017

lundi 4 décembre 2017

Stage M2 : Personnalité, investissement parental et conséquences sur le succès de reproduction chez le busard cendré (Circus pygargus)

Encadrement
Juliette Rabdeau, doctorante CEBC-Université de La Rochelle (juliette.rabdeau@cebc.cnrs.fr)
Karine Monceau, Maître de Conférences Université de La Rochelle (karine.monceau@univ-lr.fr)
Isabelle Badenhausser, Ingénieur de recherche CEBC-INRA

Période - Durée
Avril-août 2018
 
Résumé
La  personnalité  animale  décrit  des  différences  constantes  entre  les  individus  d’une  même  population,  dans  leur comportement,  à  travers  le  temps  et  différents  contextes.  Quelques  études  suggèrent  l’existence  de  liens  entre  la personnalité animale et la sélection sexuelle. Pour des espèces à soins biparentaux, des études  ont montré  que des traits  de  personnalité  comme  la  témérité  pourraient  être  un  signal  honnête  de  la  qualité  des  mâles  dans  leur investissement parental et seraient utilisés par les femelles dans leur choix de partenaire sexuel. Les combinaisons des traits de personnalité du mâle et de la femelle pourraient avoir ainsi des conséquences sur le succès de reproduction.
Dans ce projet de stage, nous étudierons les réponses comportementales à l’Homme, des mâles et femelles chez une espèce  protégée,  le  busard  cendré  (Circus  pygargus)  en  milieu  agricole.  Nous  analyserons  les  liens  de  ces  traits comportementaux  à  l’investissement  parental  du  mâle  et  de  la  femelle.  Le  busard  cendré  est  une  espèce  aux  soins biparentaux avec des soins spécifiques à chaque sexe : le mâle assure l’approvisionnement en proies pour la femelle et les  poussins,  et  défend  le  nid  tandis  que  la  femelle  incube  les  œufs  et  défend  le  nid.  Enfin,  nous  étudierons  les conséquences des combinaisons de traits de personnalité au sein du couple en interaction avec  leur investissement parental sur le succès de reproduction.

Missions  du  stagiaire :  analyses  de  données  déjà  acquises  (saison  2017) et  part  importante  de  travail  sur  le  terrain comprenant des observations comportementales et le suivi de reproduction des busards cendrés sur la Zone Atelier Plaine et Val de Sèvre (http://www.za.plainevalsevre.cnrs.fr) pour l’acquisition des données de la saison 2018.

Références bibliographiques
Réale, D., Reader, S.M., Sol, D., McDougall, P.T., and Dingemanse, N.J. (2007). Integrating animal temperament within ecology and evolution. Biol. Rev. 82, 291–318.
Schuett, W., Tregenza, T., and Dall, S.R.X. (2010). Sexual selection and animal personality. Biol. Rev. 85, 217–246.
Both, C., Dingemanse, N.J., Drent, P.J., and Tinbergen, J.M. (2005). Pairs of extreme avian personalities have highest reproductive success. J. Anim. Ecol. 74, 667–674.

Compétences particulières exigées
Connaissances en écologie comportementale et biologie évolutive.
Bonnes connaissances statistiques (modèles linéaires généralisés, modèles mixtes) et utilisation du logiciel R.
Expérience en manipulation et/ou observation d’oiseaux
Autonomie
Permis de conduire avec plus de 2 ans de permis (OBLIGATOIRE)

Gratification & Conditions d’accueil
Gratification de stage
Possibilité de logement et restauration sur place

Modalités de candidature
CV et lettre de motivation à envoyer jusqu’au 10/12/17 à Juliette Rabdeau (également pour toute demande d’informations) et Karine Monceau.

jeudi 30 novembre 2017

Proposition de stage Master 1

Effet de la durée de développement du couvain de l’abeille domestique (Apis mellifera) sur la reproduction de Varroa destructor
Laboratoire d’accueil : INRA, Centre de Recherche Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d’Azur, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement ‐ 228, route de l’Aérodrome –84914 Avignon Cedex 9 – France
Responsable du stage : Alexis Beaurepaire
Durée : 2 mois

Contexte 
Dans  un  contexte  de  déclin  avéré  des  abeilles,  nous  disposons  dans  l'unité  de  deux populations d'abeilles qui survivent bien aux différents stress puisqu’elles n’ont pas été traitées contre parasites et maladies depuis 1999. Elles représentent un formidable espoir pour l'apiculture qui ne dispose à ce
jour que de solutions chimiques à efficacité limitée, mais aussi pour l’environnement et la biodiversité
car ces abeilles sont potentiellement capables de recoloniser les cavités naturelles pour établir leur nid
à partir duquel elles pourront assurer la pollinisation des fleurs sauvages et cultivées. Nous souhaitons
comprendre  par  quels  mécanismes elles  ont  acquis  cette  résistance  pour  pouvoir  développer  des
méthodes  de  contrôle  du  parasite  alternatives  durables.  Pour  cela,  nous  nous  focalisons  sur  les
interactions entre Apis mellifera, Varroa destructor, leurs virus et leur environnement (biotope). 

Objectif et démarche
Nous souhaitons analyser l’effet de la durée d’operculation du couvain d’ouvrières et de mâles d’Apis
mellifera sur la reproduction (nombre de descendants fertiles produits) de Varroa destructor. Le but
de  ce  stage  est  de  comparer  la  durée  d’operculation  de  colonies  survivantes  et  témoins  afin  de
comprendre si le temps de développement du couvain influence la dynamique des populations du
parasite.  Pour  cela,  la/le  stagiaire  sera  en  charge  de  participer  au  développement  d’un  protocole
expérimental et de le mettre en œuvre sur le rucher de l’unité. 

Méthodologie 
‐  Aide au développement et à la mise en œuvre d’un protocole expérimental
‐  Analyse de données
‐  Rédaction d’un rapport
Profil
Etudiant Master 1 (Bac +4)
‐  Rigueur scientifique
‐  Connaissances de base en écologie comportementale et interactions hôte‐parasite 
‐  Sens du travail d’équipe
‐  Organisation et autonomie
‐  Goût pour le travail de terrain
‐  Pas d’allergie aux piqûres d’abeilles

Conditions
‐  Possibilité de logement sur place

Contact
Envoyer CV et lettre de motivation à Alexis.Beaurepaire@inra.fr