Two 3-year PhD positions: Animal Physiology and Behavioural Ecology
In
the context of a research project financed by the Austrian Science Fund
(FWF), the private research and animal conservation entity Waldrappteam (www.waldrapp.eu) is offering two PhD positions to investigate the costs and benefits of formation flight in birds using the northern bald ibis as a study species.
One PhD project will focus on energy consumption during migration flight, with the main question “Why do birds fly in formation?”
While we believe to know the answer to this question (formation flight
allows them to save energy), the specific challenge will be to provide
direct empirical evidence for that assertion by quantifying how much
energy the birds can save. This requires a candidate with a firm
background in animal physiology.
The focus of the second PhD project is on social dynamics of formation flight, with the question “How do the birds in a formation co-ordinate and cooperate?”
Concerning this question, there are many tentative suggestions but few
empirical data at hand. In this context, we are seeking a candidate with
an interest in behavioural ecology and/or flight mechanics and
aerodynamics of birds.
Data
for both PhD projects will be collected using high-resolution GPS
devices and heart rate loggers fitted to free-flying birds. In addition,
we plan to conduct respirometry measurements with birds in the lab.
Achieving this will be technically demanding and requires a readiness
for tinkering around with sensors and electronic devices and spending a
lot of time handling and analysing large data sets (programming
experience in Python, Matlab, or any comparable environment will be a
plus).
The
research project is aligned with an ongoing European LIFE+
reintroduction scheme by Waldrappteam and partners, which aims to
establish a self-sustaining migratory northern bald ibis population in
Europe. More information about this project can be found here: www.waldrapp.eu.
The research project will mainly take advantage of the annual human-led
migrations with human-imprinted juvenile birds. The research project
will be managed by Waldrappteam in Mutters, Tyrol, though the PhD
candidates will be based in Vienna, affiliated either with the University of Vienna or the Veterinary University of Vienna (to be decided based on interest and academic supervision).
The
research project includes several months of field work in summer and
autumn, during which the researchers will stay with the birds at field
camps in Austria, Germany or Italy or follow the birds during the autumn
migratory journey throughout these countries. German language skills
are not required but a willingness to learn basic German will facilitate
living in Austria and positively affect social life. Payment will be
according to the salary scheme of the FWF (yearly gross pay of approx.
37.000 Euro, for three years).
Please
send your application letter together with a motivation statement, your
CV and contact details of one or two reference persons (reference
letters are not required for the initial application) to: bvoelkl@waldrapp.eu.
We encourage applications of people with unusual career tracks.
Applicants from non-EU countries will have to ensure that they are
eligible to work in Austria (for the time being, the UK still counts as
part of the EU). Please indicate your preferred and earliest possible
start date in the application letter.
Application deadline: March 18th 2018; Project start: May 2018. For informal enquiries please contact Dr. Bernhard Voelkl at: bvoelkl@waldrapp.eu.