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/
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/