DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY Postdoctoral Research Assistant Evolutionary Social Ecology Grade 7: Salary in the range £28,983-35,646 per annum.
A postdoctoral position is available, for three years, from 1 October 2010, to study social structure and dispersal in birds from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. The post is funded as part of an ERC Advanced Investigator grant of 2.5M over five years to Prof Ben Sheldon. The post will be based in the Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. The post- holder will study the causes and consequences of variation in social structure. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of dispersal, and how this affects and is affected by the social structure of the population. A key part of the project will be to design and carry out experiments to test how the social environment affects dispersal in both adults and young, involving cross-fostering experiments as well as manipulations at feeding sites during the winter. This is an exceptional opportunity to participate in the development of a major research project, for which extensive pilot data are already available, and funding is guaranteed at a very high level. The successful candidate will have, or be about to obtain, a PhD in behavioural ecology, ecology, evolutionary biology or a related subject and fieldwork experience, preferably with birds. Candidates should have proven skills in the use of multivariate statistics (skills in spatial analysis, mark-recapture or network analysis an advantage) and in writing and publishing papers in leading journals in the field. In addition, experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team is desirable. The post is based in a dynamic and expanding research-active institute, of c. 45 people, fully integrated within the Department of Zoology. Further details about the institute available at: http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/egi/ Informal inquiries (with CV) to Prof Ben Sheldon ([email protected]); start date 1 October 2010. Further particulars and application forms can be downloaded from http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/jobs or are available from the Personnel Office, Department of Zoology, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS (tel: 01865 271190); email: [email protected] . Applications, together with CV and contact details of three referees, an electronic copy of three publications and a cover letter explaining how the candidate meets the selection criteria, as outlined in the further particulars, should be sent to the above address quoting reference number AT10016. The closing date for applications is 14th June 2010. Interviews will take place in early July.
