member of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for
Organismal Biology, is offering the fully-funded three-year PhD position
Evolution of social behaviors
Project abstract Natural selection is expected to lead to “good” genes
taking over a population, and thereby to deplete genetic variation in
natural populations. Nevertheless, even traits closely correlated to
fitness often show considerable
genotypic and phenotypic variation. Social behavior like dominance
behavior and parental care behavior can vary widely between individuals,
and incur fitness consequences. There must therefore be mechanisms
operating that result in genetic variation in social behavioral traits
being preserved. Different social environments may select for different
social traits.
A PhD position is available to examine this hypothesis and the
evolutionary consequences. We will analyze 12 years of data from a
pedigreed, wild island population of house sparrows. We use focused
experiments on captive sparrows in
Germany to test our hypotheses generated from observations on the wild
population. This project takes place in cooperation with the University
of Sheffield. The fieldwork on scenic and remote Lundy Island (UK) will
take place 4 months each summer, requiring an independent and committed
individual. Applicants should have an interest in evolutionary biology.
The successful applicant will participate in the International Max
Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology, the PhD program
of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and Radolfzell
and the University of Konstanz. All IMPRS students are supported by
stipends or contracts. The program offers a dedicated teaching program,
high quality research experience, and outstanding research facilities in
an inspiring research and living environment. The working language is
English. Each PhD student receives individual supervision and mentoring
and is guided in her/his research work by a PhD advisory committee.
Qualification Applicants should hold a MSc or equivalent degree in
biology or a related discipline at the point of enrollment. Queries
should be mailed to the IMPRS program office: IMPRS@uni-konstanz.de
Deadline for the application is January 15, 2013. Interviews are
scheduled for Mid-March. The successful candidate is expected to start
latest September 2013. The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity
employer.
Application For the online application process visit www.orn.mpg.de/IMPRS
More information at www.orn.mpg.de/IMPRS and
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