Post-doctoral contract offered in Spain

We offer a post-doctoral research contract of 12 months (renewable for
other 12 months) in behavioural ecology, starting between October and
December 2012. The position will be held at the University of Valladolid,
Department of Agroforestry (Spain) in collaboration with the University
of Oviedo (Research Unit of Biodiversity; UO-CSIC) to investigate
cooperative behaviour, sociality and communication in a captive colony
of carrion crows.

Our main lines of investigation address individual and social factors
promoting the evolution of cooperation, reciprocity and communication in
the carrion crow, a bird species characterized by an extreme plasticity
in social and reproductive behaviour, from social monogamy and weak
territoriality to kin-based social living, cooperative breeding and
strong territorial behaviour. The aims of our current projects are to
investigate sociality, cooperation and reciprocity outside the context of
reproduction, using captive crows as study subjects. Besides the current
research lines, the candidate will propose and develop his/her own ideas
and will help supervising one-two PhD students.

WHO WE LOOK FOR

The ideal candidate should possess the following characteristics:

-         PhD in biology with expertise in behavioural ecology and/or
         animal cognition

-         Good scientific skills including experimental design,
         statistical treatment of data and scientific writing

-         Research experience with captive (or habituated) animals

-         Excellent knowledge of English

-         Good aptitudes for working in a group and supervising students

-         Propensity for working with basic facilities

-         Valid driving licence for Europe

Knowledge of Spanish is recommended and use of a private car would be
desirable

WHAT WE OFFER

-         A captive colony of 11 well habituated carrion crows of both
         sexes, comprising 4 pairs of siblings and 3 unrelated
         individuals. It will be possible to increase the colony. Our
         birds are housed in a spacious, outdoors aviary divided into 4
         main compartments (12 x 6 mt each) plus 8 experimental
         compartments (3 x3 m each) visually isolated from each other.

-         Funds to cover research expenses through national and regional
         research grants

-         Top quality audio and video recording equipments

The deadline for applications is 15 APRIL 2012

Candidates should present:

-         a complete CV

-         2 recommendation letters (one from the thesis supervisor)

-         A research proposal of maximum 2 A4 sheets

The application should be prepared in an electronic format (PDF or WORD)
and sent as attached file to canestraridaniela@uniovi.es

See www.cooperativecrows.com for more details

Daniela Canestrari <canestraridaniela@uniovi.es>