Doctoral student and Postdoc position in Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology

The Faculty of Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, is seeking to fill the following full-time vacancies in the Ethology Group of the Department of Biology:
1 PhD and 1 Post-doctoral position in Songbird Behavioural Ecology

Job description:

Although birdsong is a classic example of a sexually selected trait, individual song traits have often been studied in isolation and/or during a limited period during life. In our project we will adopt an integrative approach to study the causes and consequences of song behaviour in a colour-ringed great tit population in which males are followed during their entire life. Song recordings, observational data, laboratory and field experiments will be used to examine the causes and (fitness) consequences of individual variation in all aspects of song (while simultaneously also considering other sexual traits). Dependent on the candidate’s interests, particular attention can/will be paid on:

  • the links between song traits, personality and cognitive skills
  • the role of song in intersexual communication
  • song learning in relation to spatial movements and social network characteristics
  • the effects of pollution (light, noise, chemical….) on song expression
  • the physiological/immunological basis of variation in song expression

 

Profile and requirements:

  • You hold a Master degree in Biology or comparable with a strong background in behavioural and evolutionary ecology, and you are enthusiastic about field work;
  • You have strong experimental, analytical and statistical skills, good organizational and (written and spoken) communication skills, and a proven ability to collaborate with others ( but with independence and initiative) , and willingness to conduct/organize extensive ornithological field work;
  • You can submit outstanding academic results;
  • Experience with birds, birdsong, and with (one of) the topics mentioned above is an advantage;
  • A driver’s license and license to carry out experiments with vertebrates is a plus;
  • The postdoc has a strong publication record in high-quality journals, and experience with ‘communication’ research and birdsong is a plus.

 

We offer:

  • A doctoral scholarship for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a further three-year period after positive evaluation;
  • You will enroll in the Antwerp Doctoral School training program ( http://www.ua.ac.be/ads) allowing you to take part in various courses, training programs and conferences within and outside the university;
  • You will work in a team of several PhD students, postdocs and technical staff involved in behavioural and evolutionary ecological research;
  • You will be member of the Ethology group, a dynamic and internationally-oriented research group that combines proximate and ultimate (and field and lab) approaches to study various questions in evolutionary ecological research, mainly focusing on birds;
  • The postdoctoral position is for one year, with the possibility of renewal.
  • Depending on the quality and expertises of the applicants, there is an option to select 2 PhD students;
  • Both positions will start as soon as possible.

 

Interested?

  • Applicants should send their complete CV, a one-page statement of research interests and motivation for this project, detailed information on their study results during Bachelor/Master (PhD students) and contact information of two referees who can supply letters of recommendation upon our request.
  • Applications should be submitted by email to Prof Marcel Eens at marcel.eens@ua.ac.be until the closing date: 15 January 2013
  • The selected candidates should start as soon as possible (with the possibility that candidates can be contacted before the closing date).
  • For more information, contact Marcel Eens at the same email address or at (+32) 3265 2284.  see also: http://www.ua.ac.be/main.aspx?c=marcel.eens .