Max Planck Research Coordinator Position
in the Department of Collective Animal Behaviour, Konstanz, Germany
The Department of Collective Behaviour at the Max Planck Institute for
Ornithology is a highly international, collaborative and
interdisciplinary department investigating the behaviour and evolution
of collective animal behaviour in the lab and field. We presently
have around 50 scientists from over 20 countries who work on the
principles that underlie the mechanism and evolution of collective
behaviour across a wide range of systems, including insects, fish, birds
and mammals.
We seek a Research Coordinator to
work closely with the Director, Iain Couzin, and his team, to help
further the scientific achievements of the department, and to oversee
research in the institute’s laboratory
facilities located predominantly in Konstanz, but also in nearby
Radolfzell. Our working language is English, but this particular
position also requires knowledge of German.
Your tasks:
- Guidance of students, doctoral students and postdocs.
- Support in planning and conducting behavioural experiments with fish, insects, birds, and possibly other species.
- Managing the technical assistants and animal keepers.
- Coordination and organisation of animal holding in cooperation with the local animal research facility.
- Support and control of the application and documentation process for animal experiments.
- Ensuring the proper functioning and maintenance of the laboratory equipment.
- Training of new personnel in the use of laboratory equipment and the analysis of technical data.
- Responsible for occupational safety and administrative tasks in the laboratories.
- Implementing and monitoring animal welfare and experimental protocols.
Your profile
- University degree and doctorate in biology (or related scientific field)
- Experience with behavioural experiments on animals
- Interest in collective animal behaviour
- Excellent English and German in word and writing
- Organisational and management skills
- Enthusiastic and positive outlook
Desirable experiences
- Leadership and intercultural experience
- Interest in the application of technology in science
- Application and documentation of animal experiments
- Felasa B or any equivalent course for care and use of laboratory animals
- Knowledge of occupational health and safety
- Implementation of quality assurance measures in laboratories.
Our offer
This appointment is for two years initially, with the possibility of a
permanent appointment based on satisfactory performance. Salary is
competitive and commensurate with experience (up to TVöD E14), and
benefits are made according to the collective agreement
of the civil service.
The candidate will work in a dynamic research environment, and will be
based in the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Department of
Collective Behaviour located on the campus of the University of
Konstanz, one of the nine “elite universities” in Germany.
Konstanz is an historic city in southern Germany on the shores of Lake
Constance, approximately 50 minutes from Zurich Airport, and at the
gateway to the Alps. The University has almost 12,000 students and is
situated on a hill overlooking Lake Constance,
the Island of Mainau and Mainau Forest. The campus is a short cycle or
bus ride from the city centre. Konstanz has a large and well-preserved
old town (Altstadt), and a vibrant day and nightlife, including many
museums, galleries, and parks. The Max Planck
Institutes and the University of Konstanz focus on excellence in
research and the successful applicant will benefit from outstanding
infrastructure, opportunities for training and a highly collaborative
and international research environment.
The Max Planck Society are the University of Konstanz are committed to
increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in their
workforce and therefore we encourage applications from such qualified
individuals. Furthermore, we seek to increase the number
of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore
explicitly encourages women to apply. We offer extensive support to help
researchers balance professional and home life, including assistance
with childcare and support of the elderly, and
flexibility in how employees arrange working hours. For details, see http://www.mpg.de/equal_opportunities.
Further information on this position
For further information, please check our website at http://collectivebehaviour.com or contact Dr. Mäggi Hieber Ruiz
mhieber@orn.mpg.de.
Do not forward your application to this email address, the application
need to be submitted through the online application system (see link
below).
Interested in joining our team?
Then we will be delighted to receive your complete application under the following link:
Consideration of applications will begin on 15.09.2018, and will remain open until filled.