Offre de stage de niveau master 2/Césure

Titre : Moineau des villes, moineau des champs : quelles différences de fonctionnement de population ?

 
Lieu : Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle (CRBPO, Paris 75005) & Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CNRS, Villiers en Bois 79360)
Dates: durant la période septembre 2017- janvier 2018
Durée approximative: 5 mois
Domaine : Ecologie, Démographie
Niveau académique : Césure, Diplôme Universitaire, Master 2

Contexte :  Récemment,  les  populations  de  moineaux  domestiques  ont  subi  un  déclin  important  dans plusieurs  pays  Européens  (e.g.,  Angleterre,  Belgique,  De  Laet  &  Summers-Smith  2007,  De  Coster  et  al. 2015). En Angleterre, ce déclin semble particulièrement plus marqué en zone urbaine  (De Laet & SummersSmith 2007), suggérant que les caractéristiques associées à un mode de vie urbain pourraient être mises en cause.  Plusieurs hypothèses ont  ainsi  été  proposées  pour expliquer les tendances de population  observées. Ainsi, certains auteurs ont par exemple mis en cause  une modification trophique due aux changements des pratiques  anthropiques  (Meillère  et  al.  2015),  d’autres  ont  suggéré  que  la  démographie  des  moineaux domestiques  pouvait  être  impactée  par  les  expansions  récentes  de  certains  prédateurs  (Bell  et  al.  2010). Enfin,    la  raréfaction  du  nombre  de  cavités  nécessaires  à  la reproduction  de  cette  espèce  a  également  été proposée pour expliquer un déclin des moineaux urbains (Shaw et al. 2008). Le  premier  objectif  du  stage  sera  d’analyser  les  tendances  de  populations  des  moineaux  domestiques  en France et de les mettre en relation avec  des caractéristiques d’habitat  reflétant le  degré d’urbanisation  et les caractéristiques de l’habitat urbain (p. ex. âge du bâti). La réalisation de cet objectif reposera sur les  analyses de  comptage  d’oiseaux  en  France,  mis  en  place  par  le  CRBPO  depuis  2001  (programme  STOC  Points d’écoute,  Jiguet  &  Moussus  2010)  et  sur  les  analyses  de  paramètres  démographiques  des  populations  de moineaux suivies en France par capture-marquage-recapture (SPOL Moineau, analyses de survie,  âge-ratio, Meillère et al. 2017).
Le deuxième objectif sera d’aborder une approche spatiale plus fine afin de déterminer  plus précisément, au sein  du  milieu  urbain,  les  habitats  les  plus  favorables  ou  défavorables  au  moineau  domestique.  Cette approche s’effectuera à l’aide de suivis précis réalisés en 2006 et 2016  à Paris  (Malher et al. 2010). La mise en  relation  des  caractéristiques  urbaines (bâtis,  végétation,  activité  anthropique)  avec  l’abondance  relative des moineaux permettra de mieux évaluer l’impact des caractéristiques urbaines sur cette espèce sentinelle du milieu urbain.

Méthodes : Analyses statistiques classiques (GLMM, GAMM), Analyses de CMR, Analyses spatiales.
Compétences requises : Connaissances statistiques, Connaissances des méthodes de CMR, Connaissance en analyses spatiales, Capacité de gérer des jeux de données importants.
Encadrement : Le stagiaire partagera son temps entre Paris et Chizé et travaillera en étroite collaboration avec les chercheurs du CRBPO (Frédéric Jiguet et Pierre-Yves Henry), de l’IEES (Clotilde Biard) et du CEBC (Frédéric Angelier et François Brischoux).
Rémunération : stage gratifié. La première partie du stage d’effectuera au CRPBO (Paris) et la deuxième partie au CEBC (Villiers en Bois)
Pour plus de détails et pour faire acte de candidature, transmettre un CV (mentionnant les rangs et mentions), une lettre de motivation ainsi que les contacts de référents, aux deux adresses suivantes : henry@mnhn.fr et frederic.angelier06@gmail.com

Références dans le domaine :
Bell, C.P., Baker, S.W., Parkes, N.G., Brooke, M.L., Chamberlain, D.E. (2010) The role of the Eurasian sparrowhawk in the decline of the house sparrow in Britain. The Auk 127:411-420.
De Coster, G., De Laet, J., Vangestel, C., Adriaensen, F., & Lens, L. (2015). Citizenscience in action—Evidence for long-term, region-wide House Sparrowdeclines in Flanders, Belgium. Landscape and Urban Planning, 134, 139–146.
De Laet J, Summers-Smith JD. The status of the urban house sparrow Passer domesticus in northwestern Europe: a review. J Ornithol. 2007; 148: 275–278.
Mahler, F., Jiguet, F., Julliard, R., Maintigneux, P., Mor, S., Riabi, T. (2010) The House sparrow Passer domesticus in Paris: a 5-year study. Alauda 78:217-224.
Meillère, A., Brischoux, F., Parenteau, C., & Angelier, F. (2015). Influence ofurbanization on body size, condition, and physiology in an urban exploiter: Amulti-component approach. PLoS One, 10(8), e0135685.
Meillère, A., Brischoux, F., Henry, P-Y., Michaud, B., Garcin, R., Angelier, F. (2017) Growing in a city : Consequences on body size and plumage quality in an urban dweller, the House sparrow. Landscape and urban Planning 160:127-138.
Shaw, L. M., Chamberlain, D., & Evans, M. (2008). The House Sparrow Passerdomesticus in urban areas: Reviewing a possible link between post-declinedistribution and human socioeconomic status. Journal of Ornithology, 149(3),293–299.

Offre service civique -- médiation scientifique et actions de volontariat international -- Station Biologique de Paimpont

La Station Biologique de Paimpont recherche 2 volontaires en service civique pour une mission mixte de "Valorisation du patrimoine local et de l'environnement et promotion de l'engagement volontaire au sein d'équipes européennes de volontaires."
Accueilli.e.s pour une durée de 7 mois à partir du 2 mai prochain, les volontaires auront pour missions principales :

• Le développement de la médiation scientifique
• Appui à la création d'outils pédagogiques et d'animations scientifiques
  
• Participation à l'organisation d'évènements autour des sciences sur le territoire (notamment Festival des Sciences en Brocéliande 2017 et programmation annuelle)
• Participation au recensement et à l’acquisition de données naturalistes sur le territoire (inventaire "éclair" de la biodiversité en Brocéliande - bioblitz)
  

• La contribution aux actions de volontariat international
• Appui à l'organisation, l'accueil et l'animation d'une équipe de 12 volontaires en Service Volontaire Européen (2x3 semaines en été) pour la valorisation du patrimoine bâti en Bretagne et la sensibilisation à la citoyenneté européenne

=> Pour voir la fiche détaillée de la mission, en savoir plus et proposer votre candidature, rendez-vous sur le site officiel : cliquez-ici
Cet accueil est rendu possible grâce à notre partenaire associatif "Etudes et chantiers Bretagne Pays de la Loire".

Côté pratique :
- Hébergement sur place pris en charge
- 30h/semaine
- Encadrants : Station Biologique de Paimpont : Régis Supper - médiateur scientifique // Etudes et Chantiers : Etienne Leterrier.

L3, M1 ou M2 : Psychologie du développement - codage de données, IAST, Université Toulouse Capitole

[stage] Psychologie du développement - codage de données (1 mois rémunéré)

Dans le cadre d’une recherche en psychologie portant sur le développement de l'utilisation d'outils et des comportements de jeux chez le bébé, nous recrutons un(e) stagiaire pour apporter une aide au codage de données. Ce stage est gratifié.

PROFIL RECHERCHÉ : obligatoirement étudiant(e) et de préférence en L3, M1 ou M2 de psychologie, éthologie ou biologie du comportement.

LIEU : Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Université Toulouse Capitole (UT1)

DATES ET DURÉE DE LA MISSION : Le volume horaire total correspond à un équivalent d'un mois à temps plein (environ 140 h) et peut être fractionné. La mission doit être terminée avant l’été 2017 et commencera dès que possible.

NATURE DE LA MISSION : codage de vidéos en aveugle (codage de comportements de manipulation d'objets en situations de jeu et dans diverses tâches de résolution de problèmes). L'étudiant sera formé à l'utilisation du logiciel d'annotations BORIS ainsi qu'à l'utilisation d'un éthogramme, ce qui peut être un atout dans le cadre de sa formation.

PERSONNE À CONTACTER :
Envoyer un CV et une lettre de motivation à :
Dr. Lauriane Rat-Fischer (lauriane.rat-fischer [ chez ] iast.fr)

Postdoctoral Opportunity in Neuroethology in Berlin, Germany

Postdoctoral Position in Neuroethology of Weakly Electric Fish at Humboldt-University in Berlin (maximum 6 years)

A postdoctoral position is available in the newly established Behavioural Physiology Lab at the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and the Institute of Biology of the Humboldt-University in Berlin, Germany. The focus of the research group is on understanding neural mechanisms of sensory information processing and their evolution, using the electrosensory system of weakly electric fish. Topics of particular interest are function and evolution of topographic sensory maps and neuromodulation of early sensory processing. The successful applicant should have experience in intra- and extracellular electrophysiology. Additional expertise in immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, and/or computational neuroscience as well as proficiency in Matlab programming would be considered an asset. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting up the experimental rig for in vivo electrophysiology and associated methods. A serious commitment to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level is expected, as teaching is an integral part of the position. 

The appointment is for a maximum of 6 years. The salary corresponds to E 13 TV-L. The Behavioural Physiology Lab is well equipped and offers access to a large number of state-of-the-art resources through the Institute of Biology (https://www.biologie.hu-berlin.de) and the Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure (http://www.neurocure.de). Berlin offers a vast and vibrant research landscape with outstanding opportunities to develop collaborations within (e.g., Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience: https://www.bccn-berlin.de) and outside of the Humboldt-University.

The deadline for applications is 12 April, 2017. To apply, please send a single pdf file including (1) a cover letter, (2) your CV, (3) a statement of research interests, and (4) contact information for 3 academic referees to ruediger.krahe@hu-berlin.de. Please mention the job identification number AN/041/17. Informal inquiries to the same email address are welcome.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Krahe, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-University Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 18, 10115 Berlin

Mailing address: Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.

Postdoctural Position Opportunity at Georgia State University in Atlanta

A 4 year funded position is available for a talented and motivated Ph.D. with interests in researching the mechanisms underlying the development, plasticity, and maintenance of central visual system circuitry in mammals. This NSF-funded project concerns the role of sensory experience, BDNF signaling, and synaptic plasticity in the development and maintenance of central visual circuitry.  Experience with in vivo or in vitro electrophysiology/pharmacology in mammals, gene and protein expression assays, and/or expertise in molecular approaches to studies of neural circuitry is necessary. 

The successful candidate would be joining a highly interactive and dynamic group of more than 60 neuroscience faculty in the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.  State- and business-funded support of higher education in Georgia has provided state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.  The Georgia State/Georgia Tech/Morehouse Med/Emory University research community offers many opportunities for collaborative neuroscience research.  In addition, we have several inter-departmental and inter-institutional research centers that focus on neuroscience research.  See http://neuroscience.gsu.edu/ for details.  Atlanta, a key player in the civil rights movement and the site of the 1996 Olympics, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city with excellent cultural and recreational opportunities.

We are dedicated to increasing the diversity of researchers working in neuroscience.  Candidates from demographic groups that are underrepresented in this field are especially encouraged to apply.  Trainees will be supported and mentored to become independent investigators.  Salary and benefits are competitive.  Interested candidates should send a cover letter, c.v., and names of three references to Professor S.L. Pallas, Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 5030, Atlanta, GA 30302, fax: 404-413-5446, email: spallas@gsu.edu.  The lab webpage is located at: http://sites.gsu.edu/spallas/

Georgia State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and  does not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender,  veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected status.

Livestock Scientist

Established in 1843, Rothamsted Research is one of the UK’s leading Research Institutes
delivering world‐class agricultural science.
Livestock Scientist
Location: Okehampton, Devon
To apply, complete an application form at http://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/jobs and return to the HR Group, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, (e‐mail rres.hr@rothamsted.ac.uk)
As users of the disability symbol, Rothamsted Research guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies
An Equal Opportunities Employer
Interviews will be held: w/c 01/05/2017
Closing date: 21/04/2017
Please quote reference: 1551

We are seeking a highly qualified postdoctoral scientist with a PhD in animal science, animal nutrition (ruminants), animal behaviour, livestock production systems, pasture management or similar field. Initially a three‐year position, you will be based at Rothamsted’s North Wyke site, home of the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP) in Devon, UK (http://rothamsted.ac.uk/farmplatform).
In order to support the projected global population of 9.15 billion people at mid‐century, a 70% increase in global food production is believed to be required. Pasture‐based ruminant production systems can utilise soils unsuitable for arable crop production by converting forages/fibrous feedstuffs into high‐quality protein sources for humans. Concurrently, ruminants are a significant source of emissions, polluters of waterways and also a cause of semi‐permanent land degradation. Given this strong trade‐off between the costs and benefits, there is an urgent need for strategy development to improve system‐wide performance of pasture‐based livestock production.
Rothamsted is now launching a five‐year, £8.5m strategic research programme entitled Soil to Nutrition (S2N) in April 2017. Using the NWFP’s state‐of‐the‐art facility, you will design and deploy field experiments for cattle and sheep within the S2N framework, carry out supplementary lab analyses to elucidate dynamic flows of nutrients, assess the production efficiency and welfare of grazing animals through behavioural analyses, engage in agricultural system modelling and development of sustainability metrics useful for producers/policymakers.
This full time fixed term role is initially offered for three years with a starting salary in the range of £29,842 to £32,315 per annum.
Enquiries should be addressed to Head of Sustainable Agriculture Sciences (North Wyke), Professor Michael Lee (michael.lee@rothamsted.ac.uk).
Rothamsted Research, North Wyke Site is situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, to the west of Exeter in Devon. We offer excellent facilities, 25 days’ holiday and an attractive benefits package. Our commitment to learning and development, as well as equality and diversity, create a welcoming environment for all prospective employees.

Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare M.S c . & Ph.D. opportunities

The Animal Behavior and Welfare L aboratory in the Department of Animal Science at Texas & University is seeking highly motivated graduate students to conduct research on beef cattle welfare. The laboratory ’s research is aimed at quantifying the behavior of livestock that will provide producers with scientificall y supported management strategies to enhance animal welfare and optimize productivity. Research topics include: 1. Management practices to enhance the welfare of receiving cattle 2. The rela tionship between c attle temperament, the intestinal microbiome, and physiology 3. Impa ct of nutrition on cattle behavior 4. D eveloping and validati ng te chnology to characterize individual cattle behavior Desired qualifications for candidates include : - A nimal handling and movement experience - R ecording live or video based behavior data - E xcellent computer skills - Bench laboratory experience ( preferred ) The successful applicant will have excellent communication skills (oral and written), as frequent communication with producers , stakeholders and collaborators are integ ral to our research objectives . Interested students should contact Courtney Daigle ( cdaigle@tamu.edu ) prior to applying to the graduate program and sho uld include a CV, GPA history, GRE scores, and a summary of relevant experience and career goals. Graduat e students will be provided with teaching or research assistantships. Texas A&M University also o ffers competitive gradu ate fellowships . More information about the department and the graduate program at Texas & University can be found at animalscience.tamu.edu

Master’s opportunity in the behaviour and welfare of free - range laying hens.

Master’s opportunity in the behaviour and welfare of free - range laying hens. The Animal Behaviour and Welfare team at CSIRO and the University of New England, Armidale, NSW is searching for a Master’s student to join the group. The student will be working on a project looking at the effects of early rearing environments on the range use, health and welfare of free - range l aying hens. The student will utilise radio - frequency identification, behavioural observations , behavioural testing and physiologic al sampling methods based at an experimental free - range facility. This project is aimed at understanding and improving rearing practices to prepare birds for a free - range environment. T he student will obtain skills in experimental design, use of RFID techn ology, behaviour obser vations, animal handling, data collection, data analysis, peer - reviewed publications and oral presentation . The student should have a strong interest and background in animal behaviour research with some prior experience in statistic al analyses. The student will be provided a stipend of $26,682 AU per annum for 2 years full - time research and will be encouraged to apply for a University of New England Australian Post - graduate Award (applications close September 30, 2017). To apply pl ease send a cover letter stating your background and career goals, current CV and academic record to Dr Dana Campbell ( dana.campbell@csiro.au ). Please also email for further information as required . The succes sful student is anticipated to start July 2017 but start - date is negotiable .

Graduate research assistantships

Télécharger l'annonce ici

1 PhD project 2017 - 2020

Phenotypic characterisation of feeding behaviour in dairy goats Caractérisation phénotypique du comportement alimentaire chez la chèvre laitière For more information, p lease contact one of the supervisors ( Christine DUVAUX - PONTER christine.duvaux - ponter@agroparistech.fr or Birte L NIELSEN birte.nielsen@inra.fr ) b efore the 2 1 st of April 2017 . Summary of the proposal Feedin g behaviour of adult ruminants varies between individuals but appears to be a relatively stable trait within each animal. However, little is known about the relative contributions of genotype, early experience, and the social environment in which the feedi ng behaviour is measured. This PhD project will investigate feeding behaviour parameters in two breeds of dairy goats from birth until weaning at two different ages, and relate this to the feeding behaviour of the same animals post - weaning when housed eith er individually or in groups. The results of the project will reveal to what extent feeding behaviour characteristics of an animal is adaptable to changes in external factors, including increased competition from conspecifics and nutritional challenges, su ch as a sudden decrease in the quality of the feed . These characteristics will be compared to the production traits of the animal in later life, as well as those of its parents and offspring. T he knowledge accrued in this project will contribute to on - goin g phenotyping of ruminant livestock for use in management - and breeding decisions. The successful candidate would start 1 st of October 2017. The experimental part of the project will take place at the goat farm in Grignon , 40km west of Paris, and a desk - s pace will be made available for the candidate at AgroParisTech ( 5 th arrondissement , P aris ) . Candidate profile The candidate for this project should have an MSc in biology or animal science . Candidates with an interest in and basic knowledge of animal beh aviour science and/or analysis of large biological data sets are preferred. The candidate will acquire a range of skills during the course of the project, including methods for the fundamental study of feeding behaviour, temporal development within individ uals, and correlations between disparate biological functions as well as the application and verification of automatic data registration. Prior experience in one or more of these areas would be an advantage, but is not a requirement. English should be mast ered at B2 level or higher, and proficiency in (or willingness to learn) spoken French would be appreciated .

A PhD graduate student assistantship - Automatic Identif ication of Behavior to Improve Group - Living in Pigs

Annonce à télécharger ici

PhD Studentship - Improving the survival of lambs from larger litters

Télécharger l'annonce complète ici

Chargé(e) de mission spécialisé(e) en éthologie – CDD 6 mois, Paris

Pour mener à bien ses activités d’expertise auprès des citoyens, des pouvoirs publics et des acteurs de l’élevage et de la distribution ainsi que ses missions d’information et de pédagogie sur le sujet de l’animal auprès du public, la fondation Droit animal, éthique et sciences (LFDA) cherche un chargé de mission pour 6 mois, formé en éthologie (Master ou doctorat), possédant de préférence des connaissances sur les filières de l’élevage et familiarisé avec les systèmes d’audits bien-être en élevage.
Vos principales missions concerneront :
• la recherche bibliographique scientifique et la rédaction de fiches sur les sujets d’actualité liés à la  condition animale ;
• la participation aux réflexions stratégiques avec nos partenaires en rapport avec le bien-être animal ;
• la participation à la réalisation de posters sur l’animal dans le cadre d’une exposition pour les 40 ans de la fondation (fin août 2017) ;
• la rédaction d’articles de vulgarisation scientifique ;
• la participation aux actions nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de la fondation.
Les qualités demandées pour la réalisation de ces missions sont le sérieux, la rigueur, l’autonomie, un bon niveau rédactionnel et de bonnes capacités relationnelles.
Début de la mission : dès que possible.
Nous vous remercions de faire parvenir votre CV et une lettre de motivation à :
Sophie Hild, directrice de la LFDA : dir@fondation-droit-animal.org

La fondation Droit animal, éthique et sciences (LFDA) est une ONG de protection animale qui vise à faire reconnaitre les droits fondamentaux des animaux à l’aide des avancées de la science et de l’éthique. Avec un discours welfariste et modéré, elle veille à la promotion du droit animal et la bonne application des textes réglementaires et de loi qui y sont relatifs, prend part à plusieurs comités consultatifs auprès des ministères de l’Agriculture, de l’Enseignement etc., et produit une revue trimestrielle gratuite. La fondation fonctionne actuellement avec 2,5 ETP.

Proposition de stage

Offre de stage en psychologie du développement

Dans le cadre d’une recherche en psychologie portant sur le développement de l'utilisation d'outils et des comportements de jeux chez le bébé, nous recrutons un(e) stagiaire pour apporter une aide au codage de données. Ce stage est gratifié.

Profil recherché : obligatoirement étudiant(e) et de préférence en L3, M1 ou M2 de psychologie, éthologie ou biologie du comportement.

Lieu : Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Université Toulouse Capitole (UT1)

Dates et durée de la mission : Le volume horaire total correspond à un équivalent d'un mois à temps plein (environ 140 h) et peut être fractionné. La mission doit être terminée avant l’été 2017 et commencera dès que possible.

Nature de la mission : codage de vidéos en aveugle (codage de comportements de manipulation d'objets en situations de jeu et dans diverses tâches de résolution de problèmes). L'étudiant sera formé à l'utilisation du logiciel d'annotations BORIS ainsi qu'à l'utilisation d'un éthogramme, ce qui peut être un atout dans le cadre de sa formation.

Personne à contacter : 

Envoyer un CV et une lettre de motivation à :

Dr. Lauriane Rat-Fischer (< lauriane.rat-fischer [ chez ] iast.fr >)

Offre de doctorat

4 PhD positions available in Behavioural and Physiological Ecology

We  have several PhD positions available in the Griffith Ecology lab at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Please see details below, and at https://griffithecology.com

4 PhD positions in Behavioural and Physiological Ecology

at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

We are pleased to announce multiple opportunities available for a start from mid to late 2017

 

1: Adapting to a foreign climate: the reproductive ecology of the house sparrow in Australia

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was introduced into Australia in the 1860’s and has since become well established across a broad range of climates in both countries. This project will take advantage of this ‘experimental’ introduction to focus on behavioural and physiological adaptations to different climates through a field-based comparative approach. This research will complement our existing work on related questions in endemic Australian species and will provide insight into the capacity of avian species to adapt to changing climates. This project will involve periods of field-work in Broken Hill, Armidale and Hobart in Australia, along with a range of behavioural, molecular and physiological assays. The project will involve collaboration with other groups in Australia and the US.  

 

2: The challenge of growing in a hot climate (in the zebra finch)

In recent years we have characterised the very hot conditions in which zebra finches are raised (with nests often reaching temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, as well as identifying adverse effects of these conditions on embryonic development, offspring growth, and adult sperm. This project is supported by an ARC funded project and will investigate the adaptations that this iconic and well-studied species has to deal with the extreme climate in which it lives. The project will take a variety of approaches including behavioural work, and assays of metabolism and physiology, and combine fieldwork and laboratory work. The project will be run in collaboration with Dr Christine Cooper (Curtin University, Western Australia), Prof. Pierre Deviche (Arizona State University, US), and Prof. Pat Monaghan (Glasgow, UK).

 

3: Social structuring and life-history in free-ranging domestic sheep

In this project we will examine the importance of social structure and collective intelligence to life-history trade-offs and productivity in domestic sheep in the rangelands of Australia. The project will use tools from social network theory and spatial ecology to characterise individual and group behaviour and investigate their effect on individual quality and productivity (lambs and wool) in this challenging, but economically important part of Australia. The project will be based at Fowlers Gap (near Broken Hill in the arid zone) and require field work and well-developed analytical skills. This work will be run in collaboration with partners in the pastoral industry and be jointly supervised by Dr Stephan Leu (also at Macquarie University).

 

4: Parasite transmission dynamics in an Australian lizard

This project will investigate the relationship between host spatial and social behaviour and bacterial transmission. It combines social network theory, spatial ecology and wildlife epidemiology to determine how different bacterial strains are transmitted through the population and how individual behaviour and consequently population social structure changes as a function of infection status. The project combines the analysis of a very comprehensive (already collected) dataset with scope for the student to develop his/her own ideas and conduct fieldwork. The student should be interested in social networks and disease modelling and have strong analytical skills. This project will be jointly supervised by Dr Stephan Leu and A/Prof Martin Whiting (both at Macquarie University). We also have strong relationships with disease modelling colleagues in the US.

 

Application

The Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University is a vibrant environment which offers excellent support to postgraduate students. A Macquarie University Excellence in Research Scholarship has already been assigned to one of these projects, but there are other scholarship opportunities available to suitably competitive candidates. International candidates are welcome to apply for any of the projects listed above.

The 2014 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $26,682 pa tax exempt for 3 years (indexed annually). In addition to external grant support for projects, there is additional internal funding (up to $17,000) available to cover direct research expenses and conference travel. 

Applicants should ideally have a research-based MSc in a related discipline (with a minimum 50% research component), and additional relevant research experience, qualifications, and details of awards or prizes. For projects 1, 2, and 4 an ability to work in remote and harsh conditions as well as experience in capturing and handling animals is desirable. A driving licence is required for all projects.

Applications should include 1) your CV, 2) a brief statement of your reasons for applying (max. 500 words) and the project you are applying to work on, 3) contact details of two academic referees, 4) your nationality (for scholarship eligibility purposes). Applications should be submitted electronically as a single PDF file.

Applications for these positions (and any initial enquiries) should be emailed by 7th April 2017 to: simon.griffith@mq.edu.au

Prof. Simon Griffith, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia

Postdoctoral Position in Applied Ethology and Welfare

The Swine Teaching and Research Center located on the New Bolton Center campus of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania is looking to fill a postdoctoral position starting July

1, 2017 (or sooner if possible), under the direction of Thomas D. Parsons, VMD, PhD. Talented individuals are being recruited to join a research program that addresses the social behavior and welfare of gestating sows housed in large groups. Specific projects continue to explore the notion of animal personality and the delineation of behavioral phenotypes in large pen gestation as well as looking at novel metrics of affective state. Work will be carried out at the Penn Vet Swine Center that houses a 250 sow herd and provides a unique opportunity to study gestating sows under a variety of housing scenarios. Expertise in applied ethology, experimental design, and statistics is highly desirable. Please contact Tom Parsons (thd@vet.upenn.edu) if you are interested.

Training Coordinator - An exciting new role in the field of Animal Welfare

The Training Coordinator will work closely with the Executive Director (ED) to plan and execute the various PAACO animal welfare auditor training session s that are conducted each year . Additionally, the Training Coordinator will help to create and enhance all training materials , as well as the w eb content and industry outreach materials. A few examples includ e :  Coordinate PAACO t raining s essions by creating the graphic and web notifications  Assist the ED with the registration and logistics of the trainings  Curriculum development o Identify and coordinate the development of online training: slide, video, audio o Seek new information that will benefit certified auditors  Become well - versed in ISO requirements and assist with certification programs  Identify industry training needs by interacting with company personnel, trade associations and scientists  Identify and a ssist with grant writing to support the creation of additional training  Assist with the development of international training programs Education : Minimum BS in Ag Communications , Ag Leadership, or Ag Education Experience:  Production livestock experience /background  Significant speaking and communication experience (competitions, judging teams, FFA, etc . )  Advanced computer skills with PowerPoint, Adobe, layout and design programs  Internship experience or past employment is required Key Attributes:  A passion for animal agriculture  Maturity, confidence, and strong work ethic  Communication skills and poise in public speaking  Enjoys interacting with people  Interested in continually learning new things  Organized and proactive approach to work  Self - starter who is self - motivated Flexible l ocation based in the Midwest. Proximity to Kansas City a plus. Approximately 30% t ravel t ime Contact: Collette Kaster, Executive Director ckaster@animalauditor.org 402 - 403 - 0104

Job Posting

Strategic Alliances Manager American Humane Farm Program & American Humane Conservation Washington, DC American Humane seeks a highly motivated Strategic Alliances Manager to build and maintain the American Humane Certified ™ Program . This position works collaborati vely with the Communications te am and is based at American Humane’s national headquarters in Washington, DC. The Strategic Alliances Mana ger reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer. Founded in 1877, America n Humane is co mmitted to ensuring the s afety, welfare and well‐being of animals. Our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturi ng the bonds between a nimals and humans. We are first to serve, wherever animals are in need of rescue, shelter, protection or security. Through our innovative leadership initiatives – from our “No Animals Were H armed®” program in Ho llywood to broad‐based farm and conservation animal wel fare certifications, to rapid r esponse rescue and care across the country – American Humane sets the gold st andard as the most visionary an d effective animal welfare organization in the nation. Position summary: The Strategic Alliances Manager develops alliances and collabor ations that expand American Humane’s third party animal welfare audit programs in the farm, zoo and aquari um spaces. The Manager is responsible for securing external program development opportunities and maintai ning and nurturing relationships with key leaders at certified and prospective institutions. This positi on plays a key role in developing and implementing outreach strategy as it relates to program growth. Responsibilities:  Develops strategic outreach oppo rtunities for certification pro grams and staff.  Provides opportunities for national and international spokesper sons for the program, reflecting the mission and values of American Humane.  Develops opportunities to expand the programs.  Works to differentiate American Humane and our certification pr ogram from other third party certification programs.  Works collaboratively with Communi cations team to develop outre ach opportunities.  Works with certified institutions to coordinate with their outr each and communications efforts.  Seeks and delivers public speaking engagements, radio and TV in terviews and uses social networking, coordinating public appearances w ith AH’s communications strate gy and Communications department.  Provides stories, data and conten t for use by the Communication s department on website, social media, appeals, funding proposals, projects and general public informa tion.  Ensures that all program and informational materials, trade sho w graphics and displays, and website are up to date and reflective of program standards Essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities:  Diversity of marketing and sales experience  Bachelor’s degree required  Excellent verbal and written communication skills; active liste ning  Adept at building collaborative r elationships and demonstrating diplomacy with diverse constituencies  Demonstrated ability to provide effective and timely solutions  Ability to work with team members to implement annual program g oals Direct reports:  None Physical demands and work environment:  Extensive travel, potentially to remote locations and internati onal  Exposure to barns with intensive animal production  Exposure to bio secure environments, requiring donning of prote ctive gear Employees are expected to adhere to all organizational policies and to act as role models, demonstrating American Humane’s core values: C ompassion A ccountability R espect for all L oyalty to mission S ustainability H onesty, integrity, trust To apply, please email resume and cover letter to humanresource s@americanhumane.org American Humane is an Equal Opportunity Em

Co-worker Scientific Research (m/f)

Co-worker Scientific Research (m/f) 

Fulltime / Vienna Headquarters 

Main duties: 

• Doing literature research on animal based measures (ABM) with focus on wild animals, especially bears 

• Developing and evaluating ABM for animal welfare as sessment of brown bears in human husbandry 

• Creating an adequate, multi-dimensional assessment protocol for brown bears in human husbandry 

• Supporting a software development for an animal rec ord keeping system 

 • Writing and publishing of scientific publications ( primarily papers in impact-listed journals) 

• Collaborating with the University of Copenhagen 

Requirements: 

• Diploma in the field of Zoology, Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Welfare Science, Wildlife Ecology/Management or rel ated fields (university degree obligatory) 

• Good knowledge of animal based measures/animal welfare advantageous 

• Advanced knowledge of bear ecology, biology and behaviour advantageous 

• Proficiency in scientific and statistical data analysis 

• Proficient project management skills 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English 

• Affinity to scientific work and experience in writing scientific papers 

• High social competence in a multicultural environment 

• Willingness to travel internationally 

What we offer: 

• A dynamic and pleasant working environment in a motivated team 

• A fully integrated and respectful partnership within an international organization 

• An attractive working place with technically advanc ed infrastructure located close to the centre of Vienna **with the great chance to experience the rich culture and history of Austria 

• Work experience in Headquarters of an international organization limited to 12 months 

• Local and international career development opportunities 

We welcome enquiries from everyone and value divers ity in our workforce. We offer you a gross salary of minimum EUR 21.000 per year, depending on your qualifications, skills and professional experience. 

Are you looking for such an opportunity? We look forward to meeting you! Please send your application in English, preferably via email, to VIER PFOTEN International Sabine Hartmann, Director of Science Unit www.vier-pfoten.org Email: recruiting-science@vier-pfoten.org 

** 2015: city with the highest quality of living na med by international staff members (source: www.mercer.com)

Résponsable du pôle Ecologie

L’Agence Études de la direction territoriale Seine-Nord de l’Office national des forêts recrute en CDI un(e) responsable pour le pôle écologie.

Présentation de la structure :
La direction territoriale Seine-Nord de l’Office national des forêts couvre trois régions administratives : Ile-de-France, Hauts-de-France, Normandie. Elle gère 310 000 ha de forêts. L’agence Etudes et Expertises de la direction territoriale Seine-Nord regroupe des experts et spécialistes qui apportent leur compétences, soit en appui aux forestiers quant à la gestion de ces forêts, soit au service de tiers dans le cadre d’activités commerciales. Elle comprend trois unités de production (ou pôles), chacune spécialisée dans quelques thématiques. Le pôle Patrimoine culturel et paysage regroupes les paysagistes DPLG, les archéologues et géomaticiens. Le pôle Arbre Conseil® regroupe les experts et conseillers Arbre Conseil® spécialistes de l’arbre d’ornement et de l’arbre hors forêt. Le pôle Ecologie et gestion des milieux naturels regroupe les écologues et naturalistes, soit 6 personnes dont le (la) responsable. L’agence Etudes et expertises comprend en tout 22 personnes.
Le pôle Ecologie et gestion des milieux naturels réalise diverses prestations : inventaires, cartographies, programmes d’action, plans de gestion, animation de sites Natura 2000, appui technique, etc. 50 à 60 % de ces prestations sont réalisées pour les besoins propres de l’ONF et portent sur les forêts domaniales dont il a la charge ; le reste est réalisé pour le compte de tiers (collectivités, établissements publics, entreprises,…) dans le cadre des activités marchandes. La zone d’action couvre principalement le territoire de la Direction Territoriale ; selon leurs compétences, en cas de spécialisation sur des taxons pour lesquels localement les experts font défaut, les naturalistes sont susceptibles d’intervenir sur l’ensemble du territoire national.

Descriptif du poste :
Le (la) responsable du pôle Ecologie :
• Organise et pilote la réalisation des études en vue de satisfaire les commanditaires, que ceux-ci soient internes à l’ONF ou externes ;
• Propose en interne des offres d’étude devant répondre aux interrogations des services ONF gestionnaires de forêts et d’espaces naturels ;
• Assure, avec les personnels en charge de la réalisation des études, les relations avec les différents maîtres d’ouvrages et éventuels sous-traitants ou cotraitants ;
• Appuie le service commercial en vue d’élaborer des offres de prestations vers l’externe ;
• Pilote le plan de charges de ses personnels ;
• Assure, avec ses personnels, une veille technique dans les champs de compétence de son agence ;
• Participe directement à la production d’études, à hauteur d’environ 80 jours/an.

Conditions particulières d’exercice du poste :
Déplacements sur l’ensemble du territoire de la Direction Territoriale, notamment lors des campagnes de terrain, même si la majorité de l’activité reste sédentaire.
Le responsable du pôle écologie assure le management d’une équipe comprenant 5 collaborateurs. Ces derniers sont basés comme lui à Fontainebleau, à l’exception d’un personnel délocalisé sur Rambouillet.
Par nature, l’activité des écologues est relativement saisonnière (calendrier des campagnes de terrain commandé par la biologie des taxons ciblés), ce qui impose un surcroît de rigueur dans la planification du travail de chacun.

Profil du candidat :
Niveau et/ou formation de base : ingénieur ou master dans les domaines suivants : écologie, gestion des espaces naturels et des écosystèmes terrestres, gestion forestière, biologie des espèces et des populations,…
Expérience : Expérience en matière de management d’équipe appréciée;
Compétences liées au poste :
– Savoir manager et piloter une organisation ;
– Assurer avec fiabilité une représentation de bon niveau ;
– Connaissances en matière d’écologie et de gestion des milieux naturels ;
– Sens de la négociation ;
– Sens des relations publiques ;
– Compétences en animation d’équipe ;
– Compétences en conduite de projet.

Rémunération :
Selon expérience, à titre indicative, de 34 600 à 39 000 € brut annuel avec une prime variable de 1200 €.

Contact :
Monsieur Sylvain DUCROUX, Directeur de l’agence Études
Tél. : 06 23 37 18 49
courriel : sylvain.ducroux@onf.fr

Modalité de candidature :
Adresser un CV et une lettre de motivation à sylvain.ducroux@onf.fr
La date limite de candidature est fixée au 15/04/2017

phD studentship in visual ecology of herbivorous pest insects

Application Date: 14 April 2017
The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand is inviting applications for a PhD studentship to examine fundamental aspects of insect vision in several pest insects in order to develop visually more attractive trapping systems.
This is an exciting opportunity for a student to contribute to the understanding of insect vision with the aim of translating this knowledge to improve monitoring and control of several important phytophagous pest insects such as Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and bugs in the Miridae and Pentatomidae family. The work is of national and international significance for agricultural production of pesticide free food. The PhD studentship is a collaborative project between New Zealand, the Netherlands and Sweden and the successful candidate should be willing to work for substantial time in both Europe and New Zealand.
The successful candidate will investigate the anatomical composition of the insects’ eyes and collect information on colour sensitivity of the different ommatidia to model the potential vision of the insect. The acquired information will be used to develop visual attractive objects that will be tested and adopted further for optimal attraction of the target insects in behavioural assays (lab and field). The visually attractive objects will be integrated with olfactory stimuli and optimised for attraction. The fundamental understanding of insect vision and olfactory stimuli in decision making of insects may lead to new designs of trapping systems for better monitoring and new control options such as mass-trapping and lure & kill. Background
Although visual ecology of insects has been studied from the early 1950’s, there has not been a thorough understanding of the visual decision making processes in phytophagous insects so far. There is a lack of knowledge in how insects integrate visual and chemical stimuli when trying to find suitable host plants, and the available information has not led to significant improvements of traditional trapping systems for pest insects (e.g. sticky traps, water traps, funnel traps). Phytophagous insects respond positively to colour patterns related to plants and plant parts (e.g. flowers and fruit) with the goal of identifying suitable food plants and/or places for mating and reproduction. Odours may be perceived by the insect from a distance and used as a guide to where visual information becomes available. From this point on, however, it often remains unclear if and how chemical and visual stimuli interact in leading the insect to the target source. Aspects such as flight, target approach, landing and searching on the target plant, are different processes in decision making that may be influenced by different stimuli. This project will study agriculturally important pests such as thrips, the European tarnished plant bug and the brown marmorated stink bug by integrating established knowledge on their behaviour towards olfactory stimuli with newly generated knowledge on visual orientation. Ultimately, the aim is to increase our fundamental knowledge of how phytophagous insects respond to plant stimuli to improve the efficiency of traps which may lead to new options for sustainable pest management and border biosecurity.
The research will be undertaken jointly with the Bio-Protection Research Centre, New Zealand, Plant & Food Research, New Zealand, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), the Netherlands, who have extensive experience in plant-insect interactions (chemical ecology and biocontrol), and researchers at Lund University, Sweden, who are investigating fundamental aspects of vision in animals and insects. We offer
The three-year scholarship provides a stipend of NZ$ 28,000 a year tax-free, and also covers university fees. The successful candidate will be based at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. Besides their own research, they will attend courses and workshops in relevant transferable skills like scientific writing and project management as well as participate in our biennial Bio-Protection Research Centre symposium, weekly seminar series and group meetings. Each PhD student receives individual supervision and mentoring and is guided in her/his research work by a PhD advisory committee. Qualifications
Applicants for this project should hold a first class or high 2A honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant area, preferably with interest in visual and chemical ecology. Applicant’s should also hold a full driver’s licence. The position is open to applicants of any nationality, provided they fulfil Lincoln University’s English language requirements, can obtain a student visa, and are eligible for admission to the PhD programme. To apply
Applications should include:
 evidence of qualifications and research experience  a curriculum vitae and contact details of two academic referees  a cover letter that states why the candidate is interested in the position and how their qualifications would map onto the proposed research.
Please email applications to Dr Michael Rostás michael.rostas@lincoln.ac.nz The closing date for applications is 14 April 2017.

Ornithological field technicians

We are seeking to recruit three research technicians for a collaborative project (University of York and Natural England), based at the Humberhead Peatlands NNR, near Doncaster.

The project is part of a wider EU LIFE+ funded project called ‘That’s LIFE’, focusing on the restoration of lowland blanket bog through scrub removal and re-wetting. The Humberhead Peatlands is an SPA for its breeding population of nightjars and an SAC for its lowland bog habitat.

The nightjar project fieldwork aims to collect data on any behavioural and population changes that occur as a result of this restoration work. The work involves ringing, tagging and tracking European nightjars, as well as nest finding to investigate breeding productivity and exploring their food resources through moth trapping on the NNR from June to August 2017.

We are able to offer some shared accommodation close to the field sites. Fieldwork involves long hours in the field, primarily overnight, with some afternoon work required. In addition, staff will assist with maintenance of kit and recording of data. The work will be conducted in small teams of employees, students and volunteers.

Position 1: Senior avian research technician

We are seeking an experienced avian field technician (grade 4 ~ £20,624 pro rata dependent on experience). One person required for 8 -10 weeks, on a full-time basis.

The ideal candidate would have:

·         A or C-permit ringing licence

·         Experience of ornithological fieldwork, particularly ringing and breeding surveys

·         Experience of, and enthusiasm for, working outdoors

·         Full, clean driving licence

·         Good physical fitness

Desirable criteria:

·         Experience of fitting or using radio/GPS tags

·         Own transport

Positions 2 & 3: Research technicians (grade 3 ~ £17,898 pro rata dependent on experience). Duration – 6-8 weeks

We are also seeking two field assistants (grade 3) who would have a T or C ringing permit, or at a minimum some experience of handling birds.

This position would additionally require a full clean driver’s licence, some experience of outdoor fieldwork, and the ability to work enthusiastically in small teams for long hours in the field.

All positions would start June 1^st (approx.) 2017, and would continue until mid-August.

Position 4/5: Student internship

Starting end of June

Ecology / zoology degree

Fieldwork experience desirable but not essential

Can develop own project for dissertation

Accommodation and small stipend offered

If you are interested in the role please contact Dr Kathryn Arnold Kathryn.Arnold@york.ac.uk, with your CV, references and a short covering letter, detailing previous experience.

For informal enquiries, please contact Lucy Ryan (PhD Student) ljr540@york.ac.uk.

Deadline 14^th April 2017

Please note that the positions will be offered subject to satisfactory references, check of eligibility to work in the U.K. (verified copy of passport) and proof of qualifications if necessary.

Whilst we will attempt to reply to all candidates, the volume of applications we receive may mean that this is not possible. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Looking for a student for wolf studies...

...at the Wildpark Schloss Tambach, Weitramsdorf bei Coburg, Germany

We are currently looking for one student for a 5-6 months long research project starting as soon as possible.

The projects will involve observational work on a pack of 34 European wolves living at Wildpark Schloss Tambach (Germany), collecting data on the social interaction of the wolves in the pack, and coding the behaviour from videos, together with a Research Assistant already familiar with the pack.

Students will learn:

• Wolf behavior
• Live and video observation methods
• Potentially some initial statistics and
• if interested will participate in writing up of potential manuscript resulting from the project

Students may use the data collected for the project as Master or undergraduate thesis, but interns are also welcome to apply. Accommodation is basic (but in the park, so the location is very convenient) and shared with the research assistant.

Supervisors: Sarah Marshall-Pescini (sarah.marshall@vetmeduni.ac.at) and Friederike Range (friederike.range@vetmeduni.ac.at), Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Wolf Science Centre, Austria.

Please send letter of interest and CV to Sarah Marshall-Pescini. A decision will be made by the end of March 2017, with a start date of mid April.

Post-doc Développement du langage et réseau social de l’enfant, Université Grenoble Alpes (deadline : 15 avril 2017)

Post-doc Développement du langage et réseau social de l’enfant, Université Grenoble Alpes

Dans le cadre du projet ANR DyLNet (Language dynamics, linguistic learning, and sociability at preschool: benefits of wireless proximity sensors in collecting big data), le laboratoire Lidilem recrute un post-doc pour une durée de 3 ans.

Entrée en fonction : 1^er juin 2017

Profil recherché :

- Expertise dans le domaine du langage et/ou dans les recherches en éducation

- Solides compétences en traitement quantitatif des données

- Compétences dans la transcription de corpus oraux

- Une expérience en milieu scolaire serait un atout

Pour le détail de l’offre et la procédure de recrutement, voir : http://www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/recrutement-au-fil-de-l-eau-des-personnels-administratifs-et-techniques-34769.kjsp?RH=1451903278976

Job announcement

Stephen Montgomery is looking for a postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) to join the Zoology Department at the University of Cambridge for 12-months to work on mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies.

We have recently confirmed previous reports that Heliconius have massively expanded mushroom bodies (see Montgomery et al. 2016 J. Comp. Neurol. 524 (9):1747-1769), providing a novel case study for investigating the causes and consequences of volumetric expansion of 'higher order' brain regions. We are interested in understanding the cellular basis of mushroom body expansion by investigating how the number of neurons and synaptic complexes vary with size, and by testing the hypothesis that mushroom body expansion co-occurs with changes in input to the mushroom bodies from other brain regions.

If you or anyone you know are interested in more details they can be found here:
http://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/13015/

PhD project Strasbourg: Evolution of social organization and its variability in mammals

Evolution of social organizationand its variability in mammals
Projet (maximum 4000 caractères, espaces et sauts de lignes compris):
Background
Formerly it was believed that each species has one specific form of social organization. However,
it is now widely known that intra-specific variation in social organization (IVSO) is common in
some but not in other species. In this PhD project we want to investigate which environmental
factors and which factors of the life history are associated with the occurrence of IVSO.
In collaboration with Dr. L. Hayes (University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, USA), we are
building up a dataset on mammalian social organization, identifying in which species intraspecific variation in social organization occurs. We only consider information from primary
literature, which often differs dramatically from what is reported in secondary literature (Valomy,
et al. 2015). We will include information on the environment and on different life history
parameters into the dataset. The statistical supervisor for this project will be Dr. C. Bertelsmeier
(University of Lausanne, Switzerland), an expert in phylogenetically controlled analyses of large
datasets.
We will test which environmental factors and which life history parameters are associated with
the occurrence of IVSO. For example we predict that IVSO occurs more frequently in species
that occur in habitats characterized by high inter-annual year variation in rainfall and food
abundance. We will also differentiate between the four different mechanisms that can lead to
IVSO (genetic variation; developmental plasticity; environmental disrupters; social flexibility;
Schradin 2013). For example, we predict that IVSO occurs more often in species that are
typically characterised by one dominant breeding pair, indicating that environmental disrupters
(death of one dominant breeder) cause the observed variation.
Finally, we will use the new database to approach questions regarding social evolution in
mammals that have been previously tested with simplified databases where each species has only
one form of social organisation. This includes the ancestral form of social organisation in
mammals, the evolution of group living, the evolution of monogamy and the evolution of
paternal care.
The database for IVSO is partly built up by master students (approx. 50% of the species are
done). The PhD student will have to finalise the database and check the existing database. For
each major mammalian taxa, we aim for one paper describing the occurrence of IVSO (for an
example see Valomy et al. 2015). The PhD student will then include available information on
environmental and life history data, develop and run statistical models to test for the specific
hypotheses, and write publications.
Opportunity to conduct field work in South Africa: The PhD student will also have the
opportunity to spend 5 months in South Africa in the first year, conducting field work within a
postdoc project. This project is about IVSO in African striped mice and whether it is an
adaptation to geographic variation in population structure. The PhD student would then become
co-author on the major publication of this project. This would require that the PhD student is hard
working and very well organised, for both projects (database and field work).
Objectives of the study:
Contrats doctoraus proposal C. Schradin   Intra-specific variation in social organisation
2
  Study the influence of environmental unpredictability on IVSO
  Study the influence of life history parameters on IVSO
  Which ones of the four mechanisms leading to IVSO (see Schradin 2013) are
occurring in nature? Especially, when is IVSO an adaptive strategy, when enforced
by extrinsic factors?
  How does our understanding ofsocial evolution (monogamy, cooperative breeding,
paternal care, group versus solitary living) change when IVSO is taken into
account?
Keywords:
Social evolution; mammals; statistical modelling; international collaboration; field work in Africa
Compétences souhaitées (maximum 600 caractères, espaces et sauts de lignes compris)
Requirements by the ED to make an application likely to be successful:
1.  The applicant must be within the top 33% of the master
2.  The applicant must have marks in her / his master of >14.0 points.
Specific requirements by the supervisors:Hard working, good knowledge of R and good
statistical skills. Ability to work hard and independently. Good knowledge of English spoken and
written. Enthusiasm for studying social evolution.
Expertises qui seront acquises au cours de laformation (maximum 600 caractères, espaces
et sauts de lignes compris)
1.  Managing large databases
2.  Statistical skills
3.  Deep knowledge of the evolution of sociality and of mammalian social systems
4.  Management skills: project and time management.
5.  Scientific productivity: writing of scientific publications, scientific presentations.
6.  Improvement of English skills.
7.  Personal skills: being part of an international research team in Strasbourg, the USA and
Switzerland (and maybe South Africa).
8.  Possibly field experience for several months in South Africa
Mot clé (maximum 50 caractères, espaces compris) qui s'affichera dans une liste déroulante
pour la consultation des sujets sur le site de l'Ecole Doctorale
Social evolution, R programming, mammalian social systems
Publications majeures de l'équipe relatives au sujet au cours des 3 dernières années. Si
nouveau sujet, sans publications, merci d'indiquer 3 publications récentes du DT :
Schradin, C. 2013. Intraspecific variation in social organization by genetic variation,
developmental plasticity, social flexibility orentirely extrinsic factors. Philosophical
Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 368.
Schradin, C., Lindholm, A.K., Johannesen, J., Schoepf, I., Yuen, C.H., König, B. & Pillay, N.
2012. Social flexibility and social evolution in mammals: a case study of the African
striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio).Molecular Ecology. 21: 541-553.
Contrats doctoraus proposal C. Schradin   Intra-specific variation in social organisation
3
Valomy, M., L. D. Hayes, and C. Schradin. 2015. Social organization in Eulipotyphla: evidence
for a social shrew. Biology Letters 11.
Contrats de l'équipe (maximum 150 caractères, espaces et sauts de lignes compris)
Travel grants will be applied for. Otherwise the project is not cost intensive. If the PhD student
decides to participate in field work in South Africa, then the costs for this would be covered by
the CNRS (travel) and the Succulent Karoo Research Station (research expenses).
Commentaires éventuels pour l'Ecole Doctorale(maximum 600 caractères, espaces et sauts de
lignes compris) :
The PhD student will be supervised by Dr. C. Schradin (DR2, HDR), international expert in
socio-ecology who runs the striped mouse project, and Prof. Dr. L. Hayes from the University of
Chattanooga, USA. Schradin and Hayes are building together the database on mammalian social
organization. For the statistical analysis, the student will be supervised by Dr. Cleo Bertelsmeier
from the University of Lausanne, who currently applies at the CNRS concours to join the DEPE
in Strasbourg. Dr. Bertelsmeier is an expert in phylogenetically controlled analyses of large
databases.
http://www.iphc.cnrs.fr/-Carsten-Schradin-.html
http://www.utc.edu/biology-geology-environmental-science/profiles/faculty/mwt229.php
https://www.unil.ch/dee/en/home/menuinst/people/post-docs--associates/dr-cleobertelsmeier.html