Post-doc Ecologist

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) focuses on fundamental, strategic research into individual organisms, populations, ecological communities and ecosystems. More than 240 staff are employed at three centres as well as the head office. The Centre for Limnology (CL) in Nieuwersluis focuses its research on freshwater ecology. The Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (CEME) in Yerseke deals with ecosytems in brackish and salt water and the emphasis at the Centre for Terrestrial Ecology (CTE) in Heteren is put on land-based ecology. The Netherlands Institute of Ecology is a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

The Department of Animal Population Biology is looking for a:

Post-doc Ecologist (m/f)
(reference number CTE-PVD-05091)

for a project on spatial aspects of avian demographic processes. This project is a joint project of the departments Spatial Ecology (CEME), Plant Animal Interactions (CL) and Animal Population Biology (CTE) and within the project a twinned position at Plant Animal Interactions has been filled.

Function description
The Post-doc will apply and develop approaches for spatially explicit analyses of avian demographic processes. The aim of the analyses is to improve insight in dispersal and its consequences for demography, using large sets of data on ringing, resighting, reproduction, survival, feeding and other characteristics of birds. Two large datasets are already available at the institute. One of these datasets covers distribution patterns of Bewick's Swans, which move from the North to the South of the Netherlands in the course of the winter, using resightings of individually marked birds. Actual movement patterns will be compared to predictions from optimality models. Furthermore, the post-doc will analyse dispersal patterns using a large 12-year dataset on reproduction and survival of Swallows at seven sites in the Netherlands. The aim is to determine how dispersal affects the spatial structure of populations, especially how differences in dispersal are related to habitat properties. The Swallow data set offers good possibilities to study variation in dispersal among habitats and any interactions with sex and date of birth. The Swallow data have been collected by volunteers linked to the Dutch Ringing Centre, which is part of Animal Population Biology. Finally, the post-doc is encouraged to collaborate with other members of Animal Population Biology on spatial aspects of the Animal Population Biology research.

Function requirements
The candidate should possess a PhD in Ecology, a strong background in quantitative approaches and statistics. Knowledge of GIS and/or of multi-strata survival analysis is desired. The candidate should have good verbal and writing skills.

Conditions of employment
The appointment will be for 1.5 years starting on the 1st June 2005 at CTE Heteren and will be in accordance to the CAO-NU of the KNAW. The gross monthly salary will be maximum ^ 3.453, -- depending on experience.

Information and application
For additional information please contact Dr Marcel Visser (m.visser@nioo.knaw.nl
) tel. 031-264791253. Information on the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), the Centre for Terrestrial Ecology and the Department of Animal Population Biology can be found at http://www.nioo.knaw.nl . Applications, quoting the reference number and including a detailed Curriculum Vitae and the names of three scientific referees, should be sent to Prof. Dr J.A. van Veen, Centre Director, Centre for Terrestrial Ecology, NIOO-KNAW, P.O. Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands or by e-mail to h.vanveen@nioo.knaw.nl . Closing date 15th April 2005.