We are seeking a post-doc who will join a group project that studies reproductive decisions in two fascinating systems of insects. The research group includes Dr. Tamar Keasar, Dr. Ally Harari, two PhD students (Michal Segoli and Daphna Gottlieb) two Msc students (Naama Morag and Gal Sitkov) and a few third year undergraduate students.
The post-doc will work with me on modeling or extending previous preliminary models of the behavioral decisions of the studied insects. The insects are the haplo-diploid date-palm beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda, and polyembryonic wasps in the genus Copidosoma (parasitoids whose eggs undergo clonal divisions inside their host body to produce large broods). Information on the insects will be provided by other group members. The models will generate predictions for experiments, suggest new experiments that might be performed by the students and assist in the interpretation of experiental results. Computer programs in our lab are written in MATLAB, and due to the nature of the problems we want to address, the models that we use in this project are Stochastic Dynamic Games and Genetic Algorithms. Candidates should have a PhD in Behavioral Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology or in Mathematical Biology/Ecology. They should have experience in writing at least one of the two- Stochastic Dynamic Games and/or Genetic Algorithms, and be ready to learn in our lab the second type of model, if it will be needed. Candidates with no modeling experience at all need not apply. The position can start as soon as a suitable candidate is chosen and will remain open until the position is filled. Funding is by the Israel Science Foundation, for two years. The position will be based at the Life Science Dept., at the main campus of Ben-Gurion Univ., Beer-Sheva. There is an option to get housing at the international community of students and postdocs at the Institutes for Desert Research (Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, http://www.bgu.ac.il/BIDR/bic/preliminary_info.htm). Suitable candidates should send me by e-mail a CV with names and e-mail addresses of three referees. Amos ------------- Amos Bouskila, Department of Life Sciences and Mitrani Dept. for Desert Ecology at the Blaustein Inst for Desert Research Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel Tel: 972-8-646-1278 Fax: 972-8-646-1710 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://cmsprod.bgu.ac.il/Eng/Teva/departments/LifeScience/FacultyMembers/Amos_Bouskila.htm
