Post-doctoral fellowship - Effects on noise from shipping traffic on St. Lawrence beluga

Dose-response of St. Lawrence beluga to noise from marine traffic, and effects on communication and foraging efficiency

A post-doctoral candidate is sought to undertake a two- to three-year project to exploit digital-tag behavioural and acoustic data to examine the impacts of noise on St. Lawrence beluga behaviour, communication and foraging efficiency. The possibility of developing an interim PCoD model is also envisioned.

Applicants should possess an internationally-recognised doctoral degree from an accredited institution. The candidate should be self-motivated, and able to work within a team framework. He/she should have an interest in applied ecology and comparative physiology, and a strong background in acoustics, behaviour, statistics and computer science.

We seek a candidate to begin work in September 2019 (or earlier) and to continue until March 2022. The successful candidate will be employed as a Research Scientist level 01 (RES01) within the Canadian Government. Salary starts at around $57,000 CAD/year. A portion (up to a cap) of moving expenses can be covered. This offer is made under the Post-doctoral Program of the Canadian Government, which is managed via Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN). https://www.rncan.gc.ca/carrieres/17881

The position will be based at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada. The project will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Véronique Lesage, and will involve significant collaboration with Drs. Yvan Simard (DFO Research Scientist, and Chair in Acoustics at University of Quebec in Rimouski) and Florian Aulanier (DFO Research Scientist). Knowledge of French is an asset, but is not essential for the position. However, a demonstrated ability to write and communicate efficiently in English is absolutely essential for this position.

Candidates interested in the position should email veronique.lesage@dfo-mpo.gc.ca and submit a resume including a list of publications and contact information for three references.

Postdoctoral position - Modeling migrations in ant colonies

The SwarmLab at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is seeking a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in the modeling and analysis of collective behaviors and complex systems. The successful candidate will join a DARPA-funded research project aimed at testing and validating modeling methods for detecting the onset of migrations and predicting their final destinations using ant colonies as a model system.

The position is starting as early as August 1st, 2019, and is expected to be filled no later than October 1, 2019. The position is initially for 2 years, with the possibility of being extended for 1 additional year following an evaluation of the project’s progress by the funding agency.

Potential candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Simon Garnier (garnier@njit.edu) to discuss the details of the project and learn more about the position. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The application period will be open until filled.

PROFILE
We are seeking candidates with the following profile:

• A strong interest in conducting collaborative research on the topic described above. Previous research experience on this topic is not required.
• Experience with and/or strong desire for working in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Knowledge and experience in the modeling and analysis of collective behaviors and/or complex systems.
• Knowledge and experience in using modern statistical tools (e.g. GLMMs), and/or machine learning techniques (e.g. ANNs, classifiers), and/or agent-based modeling methods, and/or mathematical modeling approaches.
• Knowledge and experience in programming (typical languages used in the lab are R, C++, Python, Julia, Matlab, Mathematica).
• Knowledge and experience in working with ant colonies or other social species are not required, but an interest in participating in the experimental portion of the project is preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The successful candidate will be expected to fulfill the following essential functions:

• Lead with the PI the analysis and modeling portion of the project, in collaboration with other lab members who will focus on the experimental portion.
• Contribute to or lead lab publications, conference submissions, as well as grant proposals.
• Act as a mentor to diverse and ambitious students in the lab, as well as collaborate effectively with colleagues and support staff.
• Through mentorship and strategic planning with the PI, develop additional skills and experience valuable to long-term career goals.

While the functions of the successful candidate will be primarily focused on the goals of the DARPA-funded research project, there will be opportunities to develop independent projects as well as participate in other ongoing lab initiatives.

MENTORING
The successful candidate will receive direct guidance in mentoring students, the development of new scientific skillsets, and career planning. In addition, funding is available to attend development workshops and conferences. Part of the project planning will include a roadmap for generating products that correspond with the candidate’s long-term career goals.

THE LAB
The SwarmLab is an interdisciplinary research lab that studies the mechanisms underlying the coordination of large animal groups, such as ant colonies or human crowds, and their applications to complex problems such the organization of pedestrian traffic or the control of robotic swarms. We study how information is exchanged and transformed during interactions between the members of a group, and how this can lead to the emergence of successful or catastrophic group behaviors.

THE DEPARTMENT
The lab is part of the Federated Department of Biological Sciences, which spans Rutgers University–Newark and NJIT. Located in NJIT’s urban campus in Newark, the lab is part of a vibrant and active research department, with strengths in ecology, systematics, animal behavior, functional morphology, as well as cellular and neurobiology. In addition, NJIT has strong research groups in engineering, computer science, and mathematics, and is situated in the very academically-dense New York City metro area, with universities like Columbia, NYU, CUNY, Rockefeller, Princeton, and more within an hour range.

APPLICATION MATERIAL
Please send a cover letter, a CV including contact information for 3 references (the references will be contacted directly by us if necessary), and the link to your Google Scholar page. All material should be addressed to jobs@theswarmlab.com.

Offre de stage M2, étude de la cognition chez le cheval

Durée : 6 mois, de janvier à juin 2020
Mots clés : comportement, éthologie, cognition, cheval
Lieu : INRA centre Val de Loire (Nouzilly)
Thème du stage : étude de la cognition chez le cheval
Missions : Analyse bibliographique, expérimentation auprès de poneys Welsh, analyse statistique, rédaction du rapport.
Encadrante : Léa Lansade, PhD, HDR, Equipe Cognition, Ethologie, Bien-être
Compétence : motivation pour la recherche ; connaissance dans le domaine de l’éthologie et de la cognition ; capacité à manipuler des chevaux ; permis de conduire souhaité
Pour plus d’informations et pour déposer votre candidature : lea.lansade@inra.fr

MASTER 2 Internship (6 months)

Developmental and maternal effects of predation on cognition and behaviour in guppies

Supervisors:

Drs. David Mitchell, Regina Vega Trejo, Alexander Kotrschal Contact details : email : david.mitchell@zoologi.su.se

Keywords:

Animal cognition, developmental plasticity, animal personality

Summary:

Animals must deal with a constantly changing environment, though genetic adaptation through natural selection will often occur too slowly. This is particularly true of predation, where dispersal and colonisation of predators or prey may lead to rapid changes in conditions. Plastic responses allow for more rapid change in phenotypes, which can be induced across multiple temporal stages. For instance, environmental conditions experienced by parents can alter the phenotypes of their offspring, and developmental plasticity can be induced by experiences during early ontogeny. Behavioural traits are particularly labile, able to respond in real time to the current context. Here, we are interested in how contrasting information at these different temporal stages affect the expressed phenotype. We expose parents and offspring during early ontogeny to olfactory alarm cues, which simulate predation risk. We then measure brain anatomy, learning and behavioural traits to quantify how these manipulations affect the expressed phenotype and how contrasting information at different temporal stages is resolved. In your internship, you will take fish from this manipulation and collect data on behaviour, learning ability, brain morphology and/or metabolism, among other options. For particularly enthusiastic students, there is the potential to tailor the experiment to your research interests.

Relevant literature

Reddon AR, Chouinard-Thuly L, Leris I, Reader SM, 2018. Wild and laboratory exposure to cues of predation risk increases relative brain mass in male guppies. Funct Ecol 32:1847-1856. doi: doi:10.1111/1365-2435.13128. Stein LR, Bukhari SA, Bell AM, 2018. Personal and transgenerational cues are nonadditive at the phenotypic and molecular level. Nat Ecol Evol 2:1306-1311. doi: 10.1038/s41559-018-0605-4. Kotrschal A, Buechel SD, Zala SM, Corral A, Penn DJ, Kolm N, 2015. Brain size affects female but not male survival under predation threat. Ecol Lett 18:646-652. doi: 10.1111/ele.12441. Kotrschal A, Deacon AE, Magurran AE, Kolm N, 2017. Predation pressure shapes brain anatomy in the wild. Evol Ecol 31:619-633. doi: 10.1007/s10682-017-9901-8.

Techniques involved in the project:

Behavioural observations, learning trials, brain dissections

Required skills and abilities:

English, Statistics, Conscientious Most skills can be taught during the internship, though experience in behaviour or dissections is of course valued.

Lectureship in animal welfare

The University of Glasgow is advertising a (permanent) position for a Lecturer in Animal Welfare Physiology, with candidates expected to develop a research programme and deliver teaching in the field of animal physiology and welfare science. The position will be based in my Research Institute, which has strong groups working on animal ecophysiology, behavioural ecology and animal ecology and is linked to both the School of Life Sciences and the School of Veterinary Medicine.

For further details go here: 

https://www.gla.ac.uk/it/iframe/jobs/ 

and enter 026775 in the 'Reference' box. The closing date is 22 July 2019. 

3.5-year Postdoc: Hawaiian crow tool use

A postdoctoral position is available for 3.5 years (starting 1 August 2019) in Professor Christian Rutz’s research group at the University of St Andrews, to investigate the tool behaviour of captive Hawaiian crows. The post is part of a BBSRC-funded project, involving close collaboration between Professor Rutz (PI; School of Biology), Professor Josep Call (Co-I; School of Psychology and Neuroscience), Dr Ron Swaisgood, Bryce Masuda and Dr Alison Greggor (overseas project partners; San Diego Zoo Global), Dr William Hoppitt (statistical consultant), and several other team members.

It was recently discovered that the critically-endangered Hawaiian crow is a highly dexterous tool user (Rutz et al. 2016, Nature 537, 403-407). The present project will chart the species’ tool-related skills, and other behavioural competencies, by running the world’s entire captive adult population of crows (>100 birds) on a newly-developed behavioural test battery.

The post-holder will be in charge of organising and running behavioural experiments, involving annual visits to Hawaii (USA) of ~6 months. In-between field trips, they will be based in the Centre for Biological Diversity at the University of St Andrews, to analyse and write-up data, to liaise with collaborators, and to contribute to outreach activities. The post-holder will work as part of a larger team, and share some project-management and supervision responsibilities.

Candidates must hold a doctorate in a relevant subject area (e.g., Biology, Zoology, Psychology), and have proven skills in conducting behavioural experiments, processing and analysing data, and publishing papers in leading journals in the field. The post requires a high degree of self-motivation and independence, effective communication and team work, meticulous data collection and record keeping, and excellent organisational, time-management and practical problem-solving skills.

Informal enquiries (with CV) can be addressed to Professor Rutz (christian.rutz@st-andrews.ac.uk), but all applications must be submitted via the University’s vacancies site.

The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through our working on diversity awards (ECU Athena SWAN/Race Charters; Carer Positive; LGBT Charter; and Stonewall).  More details can be found at: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/.

Further particulars, and an application link, can be found here:

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BSY075/post-doctoral-research-assistant-ar2232as

Reference: AR2232AS

Closing Date: 12 July 2019

Location: St Andrews

Salary: £33,199 to £36,261

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

MASTER Internship (4-7 months)

Vocal communication and breeding ecology of grey fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa)

Supervisors:

Nadya Sotnychuk, Kristin Kovach White, Dr. Christa Beckmann Contact details: email: nadya.sotnychuk.2016@owu.edu, kakovach.217@gmail.com Phone : +61 491 336 322

Keywords:

Breeding ecology, communication, song, call, birds

Summary:

Communication is important in the lives of animals to avoid predators, find mates, and locate food. Vocal communication, or producing sounds by passing air over throat membranes, is a useful information transmission mechanism shared by humans, birds, and many more. For this project, you will investigate bird vocal communication in conjunction with breeding behaviours. Grey fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa) are monomorphic, exhibit biparental care, and breed in socially monogamous pairs. Both males and females sing often, including vocalizing near the nest.  Interestingly, they also experience high rates of nest predation (an average of 83% of clutches predated before fledging; Munro, 2007) and may build as many as 7 nests in a breeding season (Beckmann et al. 2015). The tendency to vocalize and sing near the nest, which could alert predators to its location, warrants investigation. Given the high potential cost, these communicative behaviours must be evolutionarily beneficial. You will help examine factors that might affect fantail breeding ecology to better understand such behaviours.  This is a lab-based project, using audio and video recordings collected previously.

Relevant literature

Beckmann, C., Biro, P., & K. Martin. (2015). Hierarchical analysis of avian re-nesting behavior: mean, across-individual, and intra-individual responses. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, 69, 1631-1638 Munro, K. (2007). Breeding behaviour and ecology of the grey fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa). Australian Journal of Zoology, 55(4), 257-265.

Techniques involved in the project:

Raven Pro sound software (sound annotation), BORIS behavioural coding software (video annotation), animal behaviour, statistics.

Required skills and abilities:

English proficiency, patience, perseverance, organization, attention to detail, interest in avian ecology.