Post-doc position in avian social evolution at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz.
The Griesser lab invites application for a postdoctoral position as part of a project at the interdisciplinary Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior. The project investigates the consequences of the interplay between individual and group social phenotype in a wild bird species. Not only individuals but also groups vary in their social phenotype. Although the latter component is rarely considered, it is potentially quite important: successful groups should be better at coordinating their behaviours, e.g., during foraging or predator encounters, and thus influence the fitness of group members.
This project will investigate these links in a wild population of Siberian jays (Perisoreus infaustus) in Swedish Lapland, monitored since 1989. This bird species lives in stable, enduring groups composed of a breeding pair and up to 4 non-breeders, and we follow individuals in up to 90 groups throughout their life to collect life-history and behavioural data. The project will combine field experiments with existing long-term data to investigate the interplay between individual and group social phenotype, and its consequences. A short description of our past research can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaH6wjAYAiE
You will join the Griesser lab and the interdisciplinary team at the Excellence Cluster for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz. The position should begin 1st July 2022 and will be fully funded for 22 months (salary scale 13/3 TV-L).
Your qualifications:
- PhD in behavioural ecology, ecology, evolutionary biology, or similar;
- Field experience of behavioural observations and experimental work;
- Bird handling experience (including mist netting);
- Highly motivated and sociable personality;
- Project management skills;
- Ability to work both independently and in a team;
- Driver’s license (manual transmission);
- Basic knowledge of X-country or downhill skiing is an advantage.
The University of Konstanz is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability. It seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourage women to apply (see equal opportunity).
If you have questions, contact michael.griesser@uni-konstanz.de
