POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROIMAGING

A postdoctoral position is available at the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory at the Monell Chemical Senses Center to study neuronal and behavioral processing of multisensory integration in humans. Our lab is concerned with basic research to achieve a better understanding of the cerebral basis for chemosensory and  multisensory processing. This work covers a wide range of methods, including psychophysical and cognitive tests in healthy individuals, functional brain imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging and EEG/ERP), structural brain imaging, intracranial recording, and brain morphometry.

The Monell Chemical Senses Center provides state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment and a highly collegial environment for cutting-edge science in sensory research. Our imaging projects are performed at the University of Pennsylvania where we have direct access to three MRI scanners (3T and 7T). The

center also offers competitive compensation packages.

Ideal candidates will have a PhD (and possibly postdoctoral experience) in psychology, neuroscience, biology, or a related field with a background in neuroimaging methods, and should have a demonstrated record of productivity. Programming skills in Matlab for acquisition and data processing are advantageous.

The successful candidate will become an integral member of the center and have the opportunity to develop independent projects or collaborative projects with  some of the top behavioral and neuroscience researchers examining chemosensory and multisensory processing.

Position is open for start ASAP or according to agreement. Salary is in accordance with NIH standards and based on qualifications. For more information, please see: http://flavor.monell.org/~jlundstrom

Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae, names and contact information of two references to:

Dr. Johan Lundstrom

Monell Chemical Senses Center

3500 Market St.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Or e-mail jlundstrom@monell.org

Postdoc: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Toronto

The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto invites applications for Departmental Postdoctoral Fellowships in the areas of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, broadly defined. One position is available this year, and we expect that another will become available next year through an ongoing EEB Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Positions may continue for two years, subject to review after one year, and can begin as early as July 1, 2011. The salary starts at $40,000 per year, with research expenses covered by the Postdoctoral Advisor.

The Fellow will be a fully participating member in the Department. Candidates must identify and communicate with a potential advisor (or advisors) in advance of the application process. All full-time faculty members at the St. George (downtown) campus of the University of Toronto are eligible to serve as advisors (see www.eeb.utoronto.ca/postdoc/ for a list of potential supervisors). Opportunities for teaching in an upper level course may be available, if the candidate wishes to teach. 

To apply, applicants should first contact and obtain the agreement of a faculty advisor (or co-advisors). Afterwards, applicants should submit a cover letter clearly indicating the proposed faculty advisor(s), a curriculum vitae, copies of 2 publications, and a short (1-3 pages) description of past research accomplishments and future research plans. Applicants should include names and e-mail addresses of two potential referees. Applicants should also indicate the date they will be available to begin the position. All application materials must be submitted as PDF’s in a single email to: Elizabeth Rentzelos. Review of applications will begin on Feb. 1, 2011.

The University of Toronto is a leading academic institution in Canada with over 60 faculty members specializing in ecology and evolution. Strong links exist between the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Royal Ontario Museum, the Centre for Global Change, the Centre for Environment, and the Faculty of Forestry. The University owns a nearby field station dedicated to ecological research (the Koffler Scientific Reserve, ksr.utoronto.ca). The department also has a partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that helps provide access to infrastructure, including lab facilities in Algonquin Provincial Park (www.harkness.ca), funding, and long-term data sets. Genomic analyses are supported by the Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function (www.cagef.utoronto.ca).

–
Megan Frederickson
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto
25 Harbord Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G5, Canada
Email: m.frederickson@utoronto.ca
Web: labs.eeb.utoronto.ca/frederickson

MS. Position: Establishing Bedding and Boarding Requirements for Finisher Pigs through Scientific Validation

Animal Science Department

Iowa State University

Ames IA, USA

A full time research based MS position (with stipend) is available for May 2011 to May 2012 at Iowa State University. Transportation of swine is an essential element to the multi-site pork production model that is currently used in the USA and the conditions under which pigs are handled and transported can have a direct impact on their well-being. For market pigs, the transportation process is a combination of novel experiences that can be perceived as stressful. If the pig in not able to cope with these stressors, producers will see increased losses through elevated mortality, morbidity and decreased product quality and increased waste and a reduction in production efficiency. The objective of this project will be to provide science based recommendations for bedding practices during market pig transport that help manage the internal environment of the transport trailer to prevent thermal stress. This study will provide the macro-details of the internal trailer environment and its impact on the pig by:

- Determine the proper use of bedding and weather boards/plugs in controlling the internal environment of the trailer so as to provide for the thermal comfort of the pig during cold temperatures.

- Determine if the use of bedding in moderate and warm temperatures is needed in handling areas and on trailers to prevent slips and falls.

The ultimate research goal is to develop industry recommendations for internal trailer environment management protocols that will optimize internal trailer temperature, maintain pig comfort and core body temperature and minimize transport losses.

The ideal candidate must have a strong academic performance (3.0 or above) in a biological discipline, such as animal behavior, animal science or veterinary science. Practical experience with pigs, willingness to travel and an interest in working in a multi-disciplinary research group is required. For further details about the project, contact Dr. Anna Johnson. For information about the graduate studies program in the Department of Animal Science and for application procedures (open until filled) please go to the web page at http://www.ans.iastate.edu/stud/prosp.grad/ and contact Donna Nelson at dlnelson@iastate.edu or by phone at (515) 294-2160 together with the title of the research project.

Anna Johnson

2356-F Kildee Hall

Ames

IA

50011-3150

USA

Phone: (515) 294-2098

E-mail: johnsona@iastate.edu

PhD position: Evolution of paternal care and infanticide by males in mammals

PhD Project Details 

Dept/School School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast PhD Supervisor(s) Dr I Capellini  Prof R W Elwood

Funding Availability  Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Application Deadline 10 January 2011

Evolution of paternal care and infanticide by males in mammals

Paternal care and infanticide by males lie at opposite ends of a continuum of male behaviour towards infants. Hypotheses to explain the evolution of paternal care include enhanced offspring survival, male reproductive strategy to guarantee future mating opportunities or to reduce sperm competition. These hypotheses make different predictions in relation to the conditions that favoured the evolution of paternal care, such as certainty of paternity, mating system, ability of males to monopolize receptive females, presence of alternative strategies to secure paternity or simply the lack of alternative mating opportunities. Likewise, infanticide by males is supposed to enhance the likelihood of paternity of infanticidal males and its occurrence is predicted when females have relatively long lactation, are polyestrous, reproduce aseasonally, and can be monopolized.

Studies on individual species found support for each of these hypotheses but the generality of patterns and the ultimate causes of paternal care and infanticide by males remain elusive. How these behaviours associate with and affect maternal reproductive traits, such as interbirth intervals, oestrous type, polyandry, have been little investigated, and little is known about if and how paternal care and infanticide by males are evolutionary associated.

By using phylogenetic comparative methods and explicitly accounting for the species' evolutionary history, this project is the first to comprehensively investigate the evolution of paternal care and infanticide by males and its implication for female reproduction in mammals.

Funding Notes

DEL funded (Department for Employment and Learning Studentships)

For further information on this project, please contact Dr Isabella Capellini (Isabella.Capellini@dur.ac.uk) or Prof. Robert Elwood (R.Elwood@qub.ac.uk)

For further information on eligibility for the above funding, please visit the following website:

http://www.delni.gov.uk

For further information about the School, please visit the School of Biological Sciences website:

http://www.qub.ac.uk/bb

PhD position on cooperation in wild Assamese macaques

Hiring Organization:

Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University Göttingen

Position Description:

We are seeking to fill a PhD position working on the cognitive and emotional bases of cooperative behavior in wild Assamese macaques at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. The Assamese macaque project is run by Julia Ostner and Oliver Schülke (www.uni-goettingen.de/en/field-site/153680.html), Courant Research Centre Evolution of Social Behaviour, Georg-August University Göttingen. Candidates will enroll in the graduate program of Göttingen University. The research project will focus on triadic awareness, emotional book-keeping, and contingent reciprocity.

Field work at Phu Khieo will include detailed behavioral observations combined with playback experiments.

Qualifications/Experience:

Applicants should have a Masters degree in Biology, Ecology, Animal Behavior, Physical Anthropology, Primatology, or a related field. Prior experience with playback studies is a plus.

Fieldwork (approx. 1.5 years)is physically very demanding (long rainy season, difficult terrain, isolated and basic field conditions, long days in the forest) and potentially dangerous (encounters with king cobras, leopards, bears, elephants are possible),hence, interested individuals should be physically fit, have previous experience with field work in the tropics and be comfortable being away from family and friends for extended periods of time. Successful candidates should be able to work and decide independently, be comfortable alone in the forest, while still being a good team player.

Candidates should hold a valid driver's license. The language in our team is English, but candidates should be willing to learn basic Thai.

Salary/funding:

A stipend (approx. 800-1000€/month) is available for the first year. Funding for a PhD position is available for year 2-3.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):

Travel costs and accommodation will be covered.

Term of Appointment:

minimum 3 years, starting as soon as possible

Comments:

Applications should include a letter describing research experiences and motivation, a CV and contact information of two referees. Applications should be  send to Julia Ostner (jostner@gwdg.de). Review of applications will start January 3rd 2011 and will continue until position is filled.

Contact Information:

Julia Ostner

Kellnerweg 6

Göttingen 37077

Germany

Telephone Number:

+49-551-393925

Website:

http://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/153624.html

E-mail Address:

jostner@gwdg.de

Postdoc position in Animal Behaviour

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 in relation to physiological aspects on meerkats, with fieldwork performed at the Kalahari Meerkat Project in South Africa.
Within this framework, several aspects of research can be pursued including: playback experiments documenting knowledge about other group members; hormone analyses investigating the physiological correlates of status, condition, age and vocal signals; and the flexibility and individuality in the production and perception of vocal signals.
The tasks will consist of collecting observational and experimental data in the natural habitat of the meerkat. The postdoc will be responsible for: (1) conducting the field research; (2) analyses of behavioural and acoustic data; and (3) involvement in supervision of our assistants, MSc and PhD students in the field and back in Zurich.
We welcome highly motivated applicants with PhDs in Biology/Zoology. 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 January 2011. Target application date is November 15th, 2010, 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 cv (including publication list), and the names and affiliations of three references. 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/