Oferta compartida por Nuria
Background
Masquerade is an antipredator defence strategy in which species resemble inedible objects, often inanimate, such as twigs, stones and bird-droppings (Skelhorn, 2015; Skelhorn, Rowland, & Ruxton, 2010; Skelhorn, Rowland, Speed, & Ruxton, 2010). Masqueraders are misclassified by their predators for the object that they resemble (Skelhorn, Rowland, Speed, et al., 2010). The function of masquerade has been tested and confirmed in the lab, but not in the field. This post: we will explore the antipredator benefits of masquerade in the field, and the information ecology that predators do (or don’t) use about masquerade. The appointed postdoc will design and conduct a series of field-based predation experiments using artificial prey, and work towards using social network information about predation that can be collected on PIT tagged populations of bird predators.
Requirements
We are looking for someone who can lead field-based predation experiments, and manage a team of field assistants. Excellent field skills will be paramount, including experience of creating artificial prey, conducting intensive and long-periods of predation experiments, and managing multiple sites and experimental blocks. Applicants should have the strong communicative skills that fieldwork requires. Experience in studying animal cognition is desirable. The candidate will also be willing to learn how to incorporate social behavioural data into their experimental design and analysis. This project will involve fieldwork in both Germany and the UK, and will be based in Germany.
Essential skills and experience
- PhD in Evolutionary ecology, Behavioural ecology, or related field
- Knowledge of animal behaviour and animal cognition
- Experience with long-term field-based behavioural studies with animals (ideally birds)
- Ability to run field-based animal behaviour experiments independently, with attention to detail being essential
- Good computing skills: handling complex and large datasets
- Proficiency in statistics and the use of R
- Conscientiousness and attention to detail
- Totally reliable
- Good communication, team-working and interpersonal skills
- Positive, flexible attitude
- Enthusiastic and hard working
- Clear evidence of research productivity
- Right to work in the UK
- Flexibility in working hours
- Experience of working to deadlines
- Full, clean drivers licence
Desirable skills and experience
- PhD Antipredator defences/predator-prey interactions
- Knowledge of prey defences and predatorprey interactions.
- Knowledge of behavioural approaches to measuring foraging behaviour in birds.
- Experience of managing field assistants
- Experience collecting and analysing social network data
- Experience of designing artificial prey
- Start date: March 2021 or sometime shortly after. Flexibility in start date may be required (and provided) in light of the current pandemic.
- Funding: Until 31/01/2023
- Location: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology,
- Field sites: Jena, Germany, and University of Cambridge Madingley Wood
- Can I work remotely? Field-based components of the research will take place in Jena and Cambridge. It is anticipated that the appointed postdoc will spend approx. 9-12 months in the field (not necessarily continuously). The candidate will be based in Jena.
- Is there money to cover the postdoc attending conferences? Yes. Roughly 1 per year of appointment.
- How to apply? Submit your CV, a cover letter outlining how you fit the selection criteria, and names of 3 people who will write you a letter of recommendation to predatorsandpreympg@gmail.com
- Closing date 12.02.2021
- The working language of the group is English.
For further information contact Hannah Rowland hrowland@ice.mpg.de
