Two doctoral position opportunities in the Sea Lion Project, Galápagos

 

We are seeking to recruit two PhD students to study animal personalities, foraging strategies, and their ensuing life history consequences in Galápagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) in the research group of Oliver Krüger at the Department of Animal Behaviour at Bielefeld University, Germany  (uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/biologie/forschung/ arbeitsgruppen/behaviour).  

Field work will take place on Caamaño, a small, beautiful island near Puerto Ayora in the centre of the Galápagos archipelago. We have studied Galápagos sea lions there since 2003 with most animals being individually marked. Field seasons on Caamaño last from September-December and February-March each year. Work on Caamaño includes daily census rounds, a variety of behavioural response tests, behavioural observations, and captures of animals for tagging, growth assessment, biologging deployment, and sample collection (for genetic, stable isotope, and hormone analysis). Caamaño is isolated from civilisation and has no facilities, so an ability to work under truly primitive conditions is essential.      

The preferred starting date is 15th of September 2021, as the PhD students need to be trained during the next field season on Galápagos starting around the 1st of October 2021. All expenditure with regard to the field season will be covered, but the salary can only commence in January 2022. Both positions are part of a continuation proposal of a Collaborative Research Centre (CRC), with the final decision being made by the German Research Foundation in late 2021. Therefore, the final confirmation of the PhD can only be given at the end of the field season. Both positions will then be available for four years, starting on January 1st 2022 and are funded with a gross salary of ca. € 2700 per month.    

We seek bright and highly motivated students who have a proven record of field experience studying wild animals. A very good master’s degree or an equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, population ecology, evolutionary ecology) is expected. The ideal candidates will be able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, will have experience in statistics and, in addition to excellent spoken and written English, will either be able to speak Spanish or are willing to learn it.    

The PhD students will be based at the Department of Animal Behaviour at Bielefeld University (https://uni-bielefeld.de/uni/profil) and supervised by Oliver Krüger, Fritz Trillmich, and Joe Hoffman. The department is the oldest of its kind in Germany and currently hosts seven principal investigators, ten postdocs, and 20 PhD students from over ten different countries working on related topics in behaviour, ecology, and evolution. It offers a stimulating international environment and an excellent research infrastructure. The working language of the Department is English. Bielefeld is a city of 333,000 inhabitants, having an odd blend of big city flair infused with pockets of quiet, simple rural life and easy access to the Teutoburger Forest for hiking and other outdoor pursuits.

To apply please send (i) your CV, (ii) a letter of motivation including a 1-2-page statement of your research experience, and (iii) the contact details of three referees as a single PDF file to: oliver.krueger@uni-bielefeld.de.    

Review of applications will begin on August 1st 2021 until the positions are filled. For further information, please see www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/biologie/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/behaviour/team/ galapagos-sea-lion or contact Jonas Schwarz via email (jonas.schwarz1@uni-bielefeld.de) with any informal inquiries.     

The University of Bielefeld is an equal opportunity employer. We particularly welcome applications from women and handicapped people. Given equal suitability, qualifications and professional achievement, women and handicapped people will be given preference, unless particular circumstances apply.

Offre de stage en Ethologie, niveau M2

 Thématique du stage : apprentissage du chant chez le Diamant Mandarin (Taeniopygia guttata) : utilisation d’un robot-oiseau comme tuteur Durée du stage : 6 mois à temps complet, de janvier à juin 2022 Laboratoire d’accueil : Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, Université Paris Nanterre, 200 avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre Encadrant.e.s du stage : Sébastien Derégnaucourt (PR), Alice Araguas (doctorante, ATER), Bahia Guellaï (MCF) Gratification : oui Détails du stage : Chez le Diamant Mandarin, les jeunes mâles apprennent à chanter pendant une période sensible de la vie précoce, en imitant principalement le chant paternel. En laboratoire, la meilleure façon d’obtenir une copie fidèle du chant consiste à placer un jeune mâle en présence d’un mâle adulte. Cette procédure expérimentale qui garantit presque toujours une imitation très fidèle du modèle, constitue une référence pour explorer les aspects neurobiologiques de l’apprentissage du chant chez les oiseaux. Cependant, cette méthode ne permet pas un contrôle précis des différentes variables impliquées dans l’apprentissage du chant. Au cours de ce stage, l’étudiant.e utilisera un robot-oiseau comme tuteur de chant pour de jeunes diamants mandarins. Ce projet s’articulera autour des questions suivantes : 1) un robot-oiseau peut-il être considéré comme un tuteur de chant pour un jeune diamant mandarin ? 2) Quelle est l’importance de la contingence (physique, vocale) sur l’apprentissage du chant chez le Diamant Mandarin ? Le/la stagiaire recruté.e sera initié.e en particulier : à la réalisation d’expériences avec de jeunes oiseaux en laboratoire à la programmation et à l’utilisation d’un robot-oiseau à l’analyse d’enregistrements audio et vidéo L’étudiant.e recruté.e devra être motivé.e, rigoureux.se et avoir une bonne capacité d’organisation et de travail en autonomie. Il/elle devra manipuler quotidiennement les oiseaux pour les expériences. Merci d'envoyer CV, lettre de motivation, relevé de notes et deux lettres de recommandation avant le 07/07/21 à : Sébastien Derégnaucourt (sebastien.deregnaucourt@parisnanterre.fr) et Bahia Guellaï (bahia.guellai@gmail.com)

Recherche de vacataires au Dpt de Neurosciences / Nanterre

 

Nous cherchons des vacataires au département de neurosciences de Nanterre, pour des enseignements au niveau L3. Il s’agit des Travaux Pratiques de Psychobiologie Comparée, un module de 6 semaines (24h TP) qui fonctionne en 4 séries (septembre_octobre, novembre_décembre, janvier_février et mars_avril), vu les effectifs importants. Le contenu est assez varié, allant des émotions (mesure de la RED), en passant par le temps de réaction (comparaison auditif-visuel), l’apprentissage spatial (grâce à un labyrinthe), la psychologie évolutive (reconnaissance de parentèle) et le comportement animal (exploration chez la souris grâce à un actographe). Il s’agit de faire une séance de présentation en semaine 1 et ensuite 5 semaines des TPs et assurer les corrections. Tout est bien préparé (PPT de la séance de présentation, polycopiés et corrigés à disposition) et l’investissement peut être rentabilisé, en réalisant plusieurs groupes.

Si vous êtes intéressé.e.s veuillez contacter Tudor Draganoiu : tdragano@parisnanterre.fr

Poste d'ATER en biologie à Saint Etienne - diversité acoustique des pollinisateurs

Profil d’ATER pour les laboratoires de biologie de Saint-Etienne. 

Le profil recherche est large.

A l'adresse suivante, la procédure pour postuler. La date limite est fixée au 9 juillet.

https://www.univ-st-etienne.fr/fr/direction-des-ressources-humaines/recrutement-et-concours/ater-2-1.html

Enseignement

L’ATER prendra en charge des enseignements de biologie en licence SV dans différents domaines de la biologie (biologie et physiologie végétales de L2-L3, biologie animale et éthologie de L2-L3, biologie cellulaire et moléculaire de L1) pour un total de 192 heures réparties sur l’année 2021-2022.

 
Recherche

L’ATER sera intégré.e au sein d'un projet de recherche collaboratif mené par le laboratoire de Biotechnologies végétales appliquées aux plantes aromatiques et médicinales (LBVpam, UMR CNRS 5079) et l'Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle (ENES/ CRNL UMR CNRS 5292 & UMR Inserm 1028) de l’Université de Saint-Etienne.

Ce projet déploie des approches multidisciplinaires et innovantes pour favoriser la biodiversité des arthropodes et le service écologique de la pollinisation. L'ATER aidera au développement d'indices de biodiversité acoustiques adaptés aux communautés d'arthropodes. Ces indices visent à simplifier le recensement des insectes et à évaluer les effets de mesures de gestion en faveur des pollinisateurs. Avec l'aide de cet outil, l'ATER participera à l'étude de la communication chimique des plantes. Des expérimentations contrôlées seront menées pour identifier le rôle de certains composés volatils émis par les plantes.
Dans ce sens, le candidat devra avoir soutenu une thèse dans les domaines de la biologie végétale (préférentiellement en écologie chimique) ou de l'éthologie (bioacoustique). Suivant le profil du candidat retenu, l'ATER sera affecté soit au laboratoire ENES/ CRNL UMR CNRS 5292 & UMR Inserm 1028 ou au LBVpam, UMR CNRS 5079 de l’Université de Saint-Etienne en concertation avec les directions de ces 2 laboratoires.

Personne(s) à contacter par les candidat(e)s :

Merci d’informer Nicolas Mathevon (mathevon@univ-st-etienne.fr) et Sylvie BAUDINO ( baudino@univ-st-etienne.fr) de votre dépôt de candidature, en joignant un bref CV à votre courriel (2 pages maximum).

Volunteer Field Assistant Position at Projet Mandrillus

 

PHD

 

PhD thesis in behavioral ecology:  joint collaboration Wits (South Africa) and CNRS (France)

 

Alone at Home with Climate-Change? The Importance of good Personality!

 

Thesis subject description

Interactions with the environment, including social interactions, depend on the personality of individuals, for example whether they are shy or bold, more or less explorative. It is commonly assumed that proactive personality syndromes in early-born individuals are advantageous for competing for reproductive resources, but would be maladaptive for long-term survival in late-borns. However, we propose that not only adaptations to more intense breeding resource competition in early borns, but also adaptations to harsh environment faced by late-born cohorts shape personalities.

In this project we will study personality in the bush Karoo rat (Otomys unisulcatus), a diurnal, seasonally breeding rodent living in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. This species builds large stick lodges of 0.5-3.0 m in diameter as refugia from predators, offering a favorable internal micro-climate against extreme temperatures. These stick-lodges are expensive to build and represent a valuable resource that is used for decades by many generations. Individuals born early during the breeding season, after the long dry season when population density is very low, might easily find and occupy abandoned lodges and may even inherit one in their mother’s territory. At the end of the breeding season, population density typically more than doubles, such that late borns will need to build their own lodges or compete for existing ones. Seasonality in resource competition might select for seasonal differences in the frequency of personality types. We predict (i) bush Karoo rats from late born cohorts will be bolder, more exploratory and aggressive and (ii) express a lower stress axis activity compared to early borns. (iii) This is predicted to be associated with a better performance in competing for existing stick lodges, and increased building activity.

 

Laboratory

The successful candidate will be awarded a 3-year PhD fellowship from the CNRS to work at the Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien together with Carsten Schradin, co-supervised by Neville Pillay from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. In the field, the student will work together with Lindelani Makuya, a Wits based PhD student. In year 1 and 2, both PhD students will spend 9 months / year at the Succulent Karoo Research Station. Working language in the research group is English.

The Succulent Karoo Research Station in the Northern Cape of South Africa offers a great workplace directly at the field site in a biodiversity hotspot in a very remote location without internet, cell-phone or phone connection. The closest town, Springbok, is 20km away. In the first two years, the PhD student will spend most time there. In the third year, most time will be spent in Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most attractive cities, being 1h45 by train from Paris, 1h by plane from Amsterdam and Scandinavia, and at the border with Germany. It has a rich historical and architectural heritage, with Strasbourg's historical city centre being listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its diversity, pedestrian city centre and 500 km of cycling paths make it a very pleasant city to explore. Vibrant and affordable, Strasbourg is a true student city providing a great learning and living environment. While in Strasbourg in year 3, the student can spend 1-2 days per week working in home office.

 

What we are looking for

We are seeking a highly-motivated, independent candidate with excellent organizational skills. The student must be hard working and enjoy field work, as the first two years most time will be spent in South Africa. The ideal candidate has a background in animal behavior, behavioral ecology and evolution. Knowledge of statistical analyses in R is needed as well as proficiency in English.

 

Details: Employment for 36 months full time, gross monthly salary 2135 €.

 

Applications must include 1) a cover letter outlining why you want to work on this project, 2) a detailed curriculum vitae, 3) a list of a minimum of two referees that can be contacted, 4) master thesis and / or publications. To be fully considered for the first round of interviews around the 12^th of July, please submit your application latest the 5^th of July. If we cannot reach a decision, we will re-advertise and hold a second round of interviews middle of September (after field work by C. Schradin). Please send your application as a single pdf file to carsten.schardin@iphc.cnrs.fr, Neville.Pillay@wits.ac.za or apply directly online at https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR7178-REGSOM-082/Default.aspx?lang=EN.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Orangutan ranging decisions and socioecology

 

Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) | Orangutan ranging decisions and socioecology

At the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell / Constance

 

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at its sites in Konstanz and Radolfzell offers an international, interdisciplinary, and collaborative environment that opens up unique research opportunities. The goal of our basic research is to understand and predict animal decision-making in the natural world.

The Max Planck Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, together with the Max Planck Research Group of Development and Evolution of Cognition and the Max Planck Fellow Group Comparative Socioecology, would like to fill this position as soon as possible, ideally by September 1st 2021.

 

The position (60-100%), is limited to a maximum of 3 years and will be located in Constance.

 

Your tasks

The successful candidate will work primarily with behavioral and ranging data of Bornean orangutans collected over 15 years. By analyzing ranging data of simultaneous follows, we intend to identify the rules governing decisions by the various sex-age classes to initiate, terminate, or avoid associations with others. In addition, a comparative project will focus on social, ecological and cognitive drivers of movement and ranging by multiple frugivorous primate species using the same forest. Additional opportunities exist for involvement in ongoing projects on alternative male reproductive tactics and mother-offspring conflict under varying ecological conditions, based on existing orangutan data from a Bornean and a Sumatran population. No fieldwork is foreseen during this postdoc.

 

Your profile

Applicants should hold a PhD degree in Biology or a related field, and be distinguished by a proven academic interest and experience with data collection on the behavior of wild animals, while simultaneously having expertise in the analysis of spatial data and modern statistical modeling (including both frequentist and Bayesian analyses). Enthusiasm for working as part of an interdisciplinary, international team is expected.

 

Our offer

Candidates will work in a dynamic and highly international research environment. Our working language is English and consequently, applicants must be fluent in this language; knowledge of German is not required. The payment is made in accordance with your qualification and the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund).

 

For further information regarding this position please contact Maria van Noordwijk (vnoord@ab.mpg.de).

 

The Max Planck Society endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applications of severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. For details see http://www.mpg.de/equal_opportunities.

 

Are you interested?

Then we are looking forward to receiving your application until June 30, 2021, as a single PDF file, including a statement of interest, CV and list of publications, names of three references, contact information, and a sample publication. Please submit your application documents online.

SQEBC / TRITON - Annonces du 6 au 12 juin 2021

 

Voici les annonces pour la semaine du 6 mars au 12 juin 2021.

Pour visiter directement le site web : https://www.sqebc.org/

Stage

-  Aucune offre de stage pour le moment

Maîtrise

- [NOUVEAU] Offre de maîtrise : Préférences alimentaires en conditions hivernales chez un spécialiste du froid : le plectrophane des neiges

- Offre de maîtrise : Écologie comportementale des lamantins

- Offre de maîtrise : Écologie évolutive des marmottes

Doctorat

- [NOUVEAU] Offre de doctorat : Dynamique de population de l’ours noir dans un contexte d’aménagement forestier et de changements climatiques

- Offre de maîtrise ou doctorat : Comportement et bien-être animal - Comportements sociaux et effets génétiques indirects chez les porcs en croissance

- Offre de doctorat : Génétique quantitative en milieu naturel

- 2 offres d'étude graduée : Biologie intégrative des souris sauvages

Post-doctorat

- Offre de post-doctorat : Mesures de compensation dans l'habitat du poisson sur le territoire Eeyou Istchee : Perspectives Cries et scientifiques

- Offre de post-doctorat : Comportement aviaire, cognition et neurosciences

Annonce pour le concours de recrutement à l'école doctorale de l'université de Lyon (clôture des dossiers le 14 juin!)

 

Subject: Testing the effects of physiological stress on cognition and its links with fitness in the wild: empirical approaches

 

PhD Supervisor: Doligez Blandine (LBBE, UMR 5558, Université de Lyon 1) and Bize Pierre (School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen)

 

Description:

How animals gather, process and use information (i.e. cognitive abilities) is at the heart of  behavioural  flexibility,  which  has  been  proposed  as  a  particularly  powerful  way  for individuals to cope with spatio-temporal variation of the environment. Adjusting behavioural decisions  to  solve  unexpected  problems  imposed  by  environmental  changes  may  for instance require the ability to use novel behaviour patterns (i.e. innovation) and/or modify behaviours according to acquired information (i.e. learning). While these cognitive abilities are found in many taxa, we currently know very little about the variation of these abilities among  and  within  individuals,  and  more  specifically  the  mechanisms  underlying  this variation and its link with fitness components. This information  is nonetheless essential to understand how cognitive abilities in the wild shape the rapid adaptation of populations to past, but also current, human-induced, environmental changes.

Variation in cognitive abilities and their fitness consequences have been suggested to be  indirectly  linked  to  individual  condition  and  more  particularly  physiological  (including oxidative)  stress.  Accordingly,  an  increase  in  oxidative  stress,  as  observed  in  ageing individuals,  has  been  shown  to  lead  to  a  decrease  in  cognitive  functions  in  humans  and laboratory animals. Furthermore, oxidative stress has also been found to shape reproductive success  in  wild  populations.  Thus,  variation  in  oxidative  stress  may  simultaneously  affect cognitive abilities and fitness components, creating an indirect link between them. The aim of the PhD is to explore this hypothesis and unravel causal mechanisms linking variation in cognitive  abilities  and  variation  in  fitness  components  using  correlative  and  experimental approaches  in  a  study  population  of  great  tits  Parus  major on  Gotland,  Sweden.  In  this population,  cognitive  tests  have  now  been  successfully  implemented  during  breeding; cognitive and reproductive data have been collected, and the level of oxidative stress can be experimentally  manipulated.  The  PhD  project  includes  two  main  research  axes,  which  will provide the first in-depth investigation of physiological (stress) mechanisms underlying the links between cognitive abilities and fitness.
Objective  1:  Testing  the  link  between  adult  oxidative  stress  and  variation  in  cognitive abilities  and  its  link  with  reproductive  success,  especially  with  age. In  the  study population,  we  have  found  an  age-related  decline  in  cognitive  abilities. Based  on  blood samples collected in breeding adults whose cognitive abilities have been measured, the PhD student will first correlatively investigate whether this age-related decline is linked to an increase in several markers of oxidative stress (as well as hormonal stress). In a second step,  an  experimental  supplementation  of  dietary  antioxidants will  be used  in  adults of different  age  categories  to  test  the  causality  of  the  links  between  oxidative  stress  and variation in cognitive abilities and fitness components.
Objective 2:  Testing the long-term influence of developmental conditions, and in particular oxidative stress, on  adult cognitive abilities.Based on the long-term monitoring of the study  population,  the  PhD  student  will  first  correlatively  explore  whether  the  growing conditions  during  nestling  development  affect  cognitive  abilities  in  the  long-term,  in adulthood. In a second step, an experimental supplementation of dietary antioxidants will again  be used, this time on  nestlings, to manipulate the  level of  oxidative stress during development and test the long-term consequences on variation in cognitive abilities and fitness components after recruitment.

 

The PhD project will rely on national (S. Massemin and F. Criscuolo, IPHC, University of  Strasbourg)  and  international  (co-direction  with  P.  Bize  and  L.  Cauchard,  Aberdeen University,  UK)  collaborations.  The  feasibility  of  the  proposed  work  is  guaranteed  by  the presence  of  data  and  samples  already  collected  and  field  protocols  successfully  used  for several years in the study population, as well as funding secured for the field work and lab analyses via an ANR grant (Evol-cog, 2020-2024).
Required  skills: The  candidate  must  hold  a  Research  Master  (Master  2  Recherche)  in  the fields of evolutionary and/or behavioural ecology and/or ecophysiology, have excellent skills in  statistics  and  data  analyses  (preferentially  using  R),  and  have  strong  interest  for  (and  if possible previous experience with) both field work and lab work.

 

To apply, please send a detailed CV and a letter of motivation to blandine.doligez@univ-lyon1.fr and pierre.bize@abdn.ac.uk as soon as possible (we need to choose a candidate before june 14)

 

 

Dr. Laure Cauchard

School of Biological Sciences
University of Aberdeen

 

Offre emploi