Volunteer Opportunity We are looking for volunteers on a project examining the evolution of dispersal and sociality. The themes of this work are centered on the evolution of sociality (cooperation), condition-dependent dispersal, and meta-population dynamics. This project seeks to experimentally manipulate parameters of dispersal behavior and social aggregations to understand trade-offs and key determinants of the evolution of these behaviors. The project is lab based, using Tetrahymena thermophila, a unicellular ciliated protist, as a model organism. Our recent work has shown genetic variation in dispersal and cooperative behavior among clonal lines and has investigated some elements of condition-dependent dispersal (information use, dispersal phenotypes). Future work will examine evolutionary processes affecting dispersal and the stability of social strategies to build on previous findings. Volunteers are expected to participate in maintenance of cultures, experimental manipulations, and the best candidates will also be capable of helping to plan experiments and process data.
This project is run in Dr. Jean Clobert's lab and students will work with both Dr. Clobert and Dr. Alexis Chaine. The lab is situated in the foothills of the French Pyrenees Mountains at a CNRS field station (Moulis / Saint Girons). Students will be provided with housing but will be expected to cover their other expenses. Work is ongoing and volunteers can begin at a negotiated date. Duration of work is flexible, and while volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of 4 weeks, priority will be given to those who can commit to longer periods. For more information, please contact Alexis Chaine at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
