A 24 months
postdoc position is available in the field of Eco-Physiology of Cognition at
the striped mouse research group of Carsten Schradin http://www.iphc.cnrs.fr/-Carsten-Schradin-.html
based at the Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Département d'Ecologie
Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE). The DEPE is France's largest eco-physiology
lab which also hosts one of the most important French research groups on
cognition http://www.iphc.cnrs.fr/-Strategie-scientifique,90-.html.
The DEPE offers a privileged environment for exchanging on broad questions in
ecology, animal behavior, cognition, evolution and eco-physiology, studying
vertebrate species living in extreme environments.
Research
topic: http://www.usias.fr/en/eco-physiology-of-cognition/
Increased environmental stress due to anthropologically induced climate change
might impair cognitive abilities of free ranging animals. Students of cognition
typically have little experience of physiology while students of physiology
typically do not consider cognition. Therefore we will investigate how
cognitive tasks (attention, spatial memory) in free ranging animals are
influenced by their physiological state. The postdoc is expected to work in the
new field of eco-physiology of cognition and to:
1.
Establish cognitive tests for striped mice in the
laboratory.
2.
Study how cognitive abilities in free ranging striped
mice are influenced by their physiological status, both correlational and by
experimentally altering the physiological status.
Strasbourg http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/?lang=en is
a beautiful and international city in the center of Europe, hosting many
institutions of the European Union. It lies at the river Rhine at the border to
Germany and enjoys a mild climate. West of it you can enjoy the nature of the
Alsace, east of it the black forest of Germany. The University of Strasbourg
ranks within the 5 best French universities.
Research
group: We have been studying 12 generations of striped mice
living under the harsh and unpredictable conditions of the Succulent Karoo
semi-desert since 2001. We are interested in behavioral and physiological
flexibility enabling survival in this extreme environment (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2011.05256.x/abstract).
The working language in the striped mouse research group is English. Knowledge
of French is of advantage but not mandatory. The research station http://stripedmouse.com/site1_2_2.htm is
in very remote area of South Africa but offers all necessary infrastructure for
research.
Salary:
This position is funded by the excellence initiative of the University of
Strasbourg via the Institute for Advanced Sciences http://www.usias.fr/en/.
The salary after deduction of social fees but before taxes will be
approximately 2000 Euro / month.
Starting date: Preferably
between April and June 2013, though a later start in 2013 would be possible.
Profile and requirements for the candidate:
·
You can produce outstanding academic results!
·
Strong background in cognition and a strong interest
in eco-physioloy OR strong background in eco-physiology and a strong interest
in cognition.
·
Very good writing skills proven by a good publication
record.
·
Enthusiastic about field work with the willingness to
spend 6-9 months /year in the field.
·
Good technical skills.
·
Strong experimental, analytical and statistical
skills.
·
Good organizational skills and the ability to work
independently.
Applicants
should send a cover letter detailing their motivation and expectations from
this position, and a CV (combined into a single PDF), as well as contact
information for two referees to Carsten Schradin (carsten.schradin@iphc.cnrs.fr),
before February 25th 2013. Interviews are scheduled for March 2013.