Field Research Assistant

Hiring Organization:
Meredith Schulte

Date Posted:
2008-10-25

Position Description:
Location: Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Study Duration: June 2007-August 2009 (this field season January 2009-August 2009)
Position Description: Volunteer research assistants needed to help collect behavioral data on white-faced capuchin monkeys, Cebus capucinus. The focus of this project is understanding how high levels of tourism impact human-primate and primate-primate interactions, particularly intragroup aggression over human resources. More information on the project, area and research is available; if interested contact meredithhcs@aol.com.


Preferred Time Commitment: A minimum time commitment of 3 months is preferred, although some assistants with shorter available times may be considered.

Qualifications/Experience:
Preferred:
Research experience
Outdoor/wilderness experience
Some Spanish

Contact Information:
Meredith Schulte
USA

Telephone Number:
509-333-8368

Website:
http://www.washington.edu/depts/ipem

E-mail Address:
mschulte@wsu.edu

PhD positions

Hiring Organization:
Leipzig School of Human Origins

Date Posted:
2008-10-24

Position Description:
The Leipzig School of Human Origins, an International Max Planck Research School by the University of Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, offers a unique interdisciplinary graduate program to study the evolutionary history of humans and great apes.

Graduate students are accepted into one of the following areas, but are encouraged to take part in courses and seminars from all three disciplines:

***Comparative and Molecular Primatology*** (Director: Professor Christophe Boesch) - focusing on the evolution of social and cultural systems in the great apes, as well as other relevant mammals.

***Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, Ancient DNA, Molecular Anthropology and Genome Bioinformatics*** (Director: Professor Svante Pääbo) - focusing on the evolutionary and functional genomics of humans and the great apes, as well as the retrieval of DNA from palaeontological remains.

***Human Paleontology, Prehistoric Archaeology and Archaeological Science*** (Director: Professor Jean-Jacques Hublin) - focusing on computational approaches to the management and analysis of gene expression data.

Qualifications/Experience:
We invite applications from all countries. Applicants must hold a Masters degree or equivalent in biology, biochemistry, anthropology, or related fields. If you hold an excellent BSc (1st class honours) please contact us about possible accession.

It is not necessary to hold the degree at the point of application. However, you must have been awarded your degree prior to the start of the program in September.

Candidates have to be fluent in written and spoken English. German is not required but international students will be offered opportunities to take German courses.

Salary/funding:
PhD students are supported by fellowships which are provided either by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology or the University of Leipzig; or have been obtained by the student.

Term of Appointment:
Fall 2009

Application Deadline:
January 31, 2009

Comments:
The language of the school is English. Visit www.leipzig.de for information on living in Leipzig, Germany, in the center of Europe.

Contact Information:
Sandra Jacob
Deutscher Platz 6
Leipzig 04103
Germany

Telephone Number:
++493413550122

Fax Number:
++493413550119

Website:
http://www.leipzig-school.eva.mpg.de

E-mail Address:
leipzig-school@eva.mpg.de

PhD Fellowship Available in Tropical Ecology

Hiring Organization:
Rice University

Date Posted:
2008-10-25

Position Description:
I am looking to accept a bright and motivated PhD student into my laboratory at Rice University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology starting Fall 2009. I am looking for prospective students with interest related to one or more of the following 3 areas: 1) Effects of altered functional diversity (invasion/extinction) and habitat structure on multi-trophic species interactions and ecosystem processes, 2)Impacts of climate change on species interactions and wildlife demography, 3) Evolutionary and behavioral ecology of mammals and birds. Preference will go to applicants with strong academic records and quantitative skills and previous research experience.

Please see our departmental website, for more information on the graduate program, the department and my own and the other faculty's research interests. The department has strengths in a variety of research areas ranging from the ecology and evolution of interspecific interactions, conservation ecology, invasive species, and forest community dynamics to genomics, speciation, and the evolution of intra-specific cooperation and sociality. Formal application materials for graduate school can be submitted using the above website.

Interested students should email me a letter of interest and attach a copy of their CV.

Dr. Amy Dunham, PhD
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Rice University
Houston, TX, 77005
Email:
http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~aed4/amydunham

Qualifications/Experience:
Qualifications include a BA in Biology, Zoology, Anthropology or related field. Prior research experience preferred.

Salary/funding:
Includes 4 year stipend and tuition waiver.

Application Deadline:
February 1, 2009

Contact Information:
Dr. Amy Dunham
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University
Houston, TX 77005
USA

Website:
http://http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~aed4/amydunham/

E-mail Address:
aed4@rice.edu

Field Assistant: Between-Group Competition in Argentine Capuchins, Iguazu, Argentina

Hiring Organization:
Clara Scarry, Ph.D. candidate, Stony Brook University

Date Posted:
2008-10-27

Position Description:
Field assistants are needed for a research project on the functions and consequences of between-group competition in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)at Iguazu National Park, Argentina. The project aims to determine patterns of individual participation in intergroup aggression, the relative importance of mate defense and resource defense, and the factors influencing the outcome of aggressive encounters.

Work in the field includes behavioral observations (ranging, group scans and focal observations), playback experiments, and basic botanical/phenological monitoring, and trail maintenance. Assistants are also responsible for data entry.

Qualifications/Experience:
Fieldwork is both physically and emotionally demanding. Applicants should be comfortable working outdoors in hot/rainy conditions with mosquitoes and snakes and be in good physical condition. BA/BS in Anthropology, Biology or other related field is strongly preferred and an interest in primate behavior a must. Although knowledge of Spanish in not required, proficiency in conversational Spanish is preferred as some project members do not speak English. Experience living in foreign countries is also beneficial. Finally, applicants must be willing to live in close social conditions with limited contact with family and friends.

Salary/funding:
No salary is provided.

Support provided for internship/volunteer positions (travel, meals, lodging):
No salary provided, but transportation within Argentina and basic living costs on-site will be covered. Funding to offset the costs of transportation to Argentina will be provided for applicants successfully completing six months on-site.

Term of Appointment:
6-8 months beginning January 2009

Application Deadline:
Until the position is filled

Comments:
Applicants should include an application letter, CV, and the names and contacts of two references. Applications are accepted via e-mail only.

Contact Information:
Clara Scarry
Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364
USA

Telephone Number:
6316321525

Fax Number:
6316329165

E-mail Address:
cscarry@ic.sunysb.edu

PhD Opportunity - Animal Communication

Expressions of interest are invited for a PhD on the acoustic and visual signals of fowl. This is an ideal system for addressing questions of mechanism and function. The student will be enrolled in the postgraduate program of the Macquarie University Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB) and supervised by Dr Chris Evans. Scholarship support is available for both Australian and overseas students.

Possible topics include:

Communication and cognition.
Multimodal signalling.
Reliability and deception.

Resources

CISAB is exceptionally well equipped for controlled experiments as well as studies of spontaneous social behaviour. Facilities include a large sound chamber with a complete '€˜virtual environment'€™ allowing the simulation of a wide range of acoustic and visual events, together with workstations for sound and movement analysis and for animation and high-definition video work. A new building providing 9000 sq ft of additional research space, including a shared molecular facility, will be completed in November.
This project will also have access to 10 large aviaries, each housing a breeding population under naturalistic conditions.

Selection criteria

Experience in Animal Behaviour would be valuable. Demonstrated experience in the conduct of laboratory and field experiments, a working understanding of hypothesis testing and statistics, and evidence of research capability (e.g., publications or presentations at scientific meetings) would be an advantage. Applicants should have completed equivalent research qualifications to a four-year Australian BA / BSc with First Class Honours, such as a Bachelors degree plus a Masters degree with a substantial research component.

Financial support

MQRES scholarships include a stipend (currently $AU 20,007 p.a. tax exempt), all international tuition fees, allowances for relocation and thesis costs, and overseas health cover. Maximum tenure is 3.5 years. Note that the Macquarie PhD program does not have a coursework component, so this term of funding is adequate for completion of a significant project. Students supported by these scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may do so to supplement their income if desired. CISAB provides all students AU$6,000 p.a. to cover direct research expenses. In addition, generous internal schemes are available to fund travel to visit overseas laboratories and attend conferences.

Enquiries should be directed to Chris Evans: chris@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au
In your email, please include electronic copies of your CV, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate academic transcripts (including grades).

Additional contact details

Chris Evans +61 (0)2 9850 9230
Lab page: http://galliform.bhs.m.edu.au
CISAB: http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/
Applications close November 21, 2008

PhD Opportunity - Behavioral Neuroendocrinology

An opening for a PhD student is available in behavioral neuroendocrinology at the University of California - Davis. Our lab is focusing on how estrogens regulate aggressive behavior in California mice, and this regulation is affected by the environment. Ongoing studies are using behavioral, neural, and molecular levels of analysis. Students can enter the lab through one of four graduate training groups focusing on either psychology, physiology, animal behavior, or neuroscience. For more information see our lab web page (www:http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Trainor/) or contact Brian Trainor (bctrainor@ucdavis.edu).


Brian Trainor
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
Ph: 530-752-1672

www:http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Trainor/