The
Faculty of Sciences is seeking to fill the following full-time vacancies
in
the Ethology Group of the Department of Biology:
1 PhD and 1 Post-doctoral position in Songbird
Behavioural Ecology
Job
description:
Although
birdsong is a classic example of a sexually selected trait, individual song
traits have often been studied in isolation and/or during a limited period
during life. In our project we will adopt an integrative approach to study the
causes and consequences of song behaviour in a colour-ringed great tit
population in which males are followed during their entire life. Song
recordings, observational data, laboratory and field experiments will be used
to examine the causes and (fitness) consequences of individual variation in all
aspects of song (while simultaneously also considering other sexual traits).
Dependent on the candidate’s interests, particular attention can/will be paid
on:
- the links between song traits, personality and
cognitive skills
- the role of song in intersexual communication
- song learning in relation to spatial movements
and social network characteristics
- the effects of pollution (light, noise,
chemical….) on song expression
- the physiological/immunological basis of
variation in song expression
Profile
and requirements:
· You
hold a Master degree in Biology or comparable with a strong background in
behavioural and evolutionary ecology, and you are enthusiastic about field
work;
· You
have strong experimental, analytical and statistical skills, good
organizational and (written and spoken) communication skills, and a proven
ability to collaborate with others (but with independence and
initiative) , and willingness to conduct/organize extensive ornithological
field work;
- You can submit outstanding academic results;
- Experience with birds, birdsong, and with (one
of) the topics mentioned above is an advantage;
- A driver’s licence and licence to carry out
experiments with vertebrates is a plus;
- The postdoc has a strong publication record in
high-quality journals, and experience with ‘communication’ research and
birdsong is a plus.
We
offer:
·
A doctoral scholarship for a period of one year, with the
possibility of renewal for a further three-year period after positive
evaluation;
·
You will enrol in the Antwerp Doctoral School training program (www.ua.ac.be/ads) allowing
you to take part in various courses, training programs and conferences within
and outside the university;
·
You will work in a team of several PhD students, postdocs and technical
staff involved in behavioural and evolutionary ecological research;
·
You will be member of the Ethology group, a dynamic and
internationally-oriented research group that combines proximate and ultimate
(and field and lab) approaches to study various questions in evolutionary
ecological research, mainly focusing on birds;
·
The postdoctoral position is for one year, with the possibility of
renewal.
·
Depending on the quality and expertises of the applicants, there is an
option to select 2 PhD students;
·
Both positions will start as soon as possible.
Interested?
·
Applicants should send their complete CV, a one-page statement of
research interests and motivation for this project, detailed information on
their study results during Bachelor/Master (PhD students) and contact
information of two referees who can supply letters of recommendation upon our
request.
·
Applications should be submitted by email to Prof Marcel Eens at marcel.eens@ua.ac.be
until the closing date: 10 January 2013
·
The selected candidates should start as soon as possible (with the
possibility that candidates can be contacted before the closing date).
·
For more information, contact Marcel Eens at the same email address or
at (+32) 3265 2284 ( see also: http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=marcel.eens
).
The University of Antwerp strives to contribute to an
open, democratic and multi-cultural society. We follow an equal-opportunity
policy.