[If you are attending the ESA meeting in Pittsburg--Aug 1-6--please, see note at the bottom]
A Postdoctoral Position in Population dynamics and Life History Evolution in Metapopulations is available in the laboratory of Dr. Leticia Avilés at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. The successful candidate will carry out research contributing towards a project entitled: Evolution to the edge of chaos: Life history evolution and multilevel selection in metapopulations. This project addresses questions related to the evolution of traits that affect the dynamics of local populations in a metapopulation through modeling (primarily agent-based evolutionary simulations), comparative studies utilizing existing data on population dynamics and the life history traits of various species (from global databases and the literature), and empirical field studies of social spiders in Ecuador and Brazil. Social spiders provide an ideal model of highly subdivided metapopulations with varying degrees of local instability, as well as variation in relevant life history traits such as clutch size and sex ratio. Within this general framework the candidate will be able to develop subprojects that build on his/her strengths, interests, and expertise. The primary skills sought are ability to analyze population dynamics data and to code computer simulations, although ability to develop analytical models would be a plus. A willingness and interest in overseeing field research on social spiders in the neotropics would also be a plus. Funding is available for up to three years, but is contingent on satisfactory progress in year one. The start date for this position is flexible, but preferably no later than January 2011. More information on the Avilés Lab can be found at: http://domingo.zoology.ubc.ca/AvilesLab/labfront.html The post-doctoral fellow will become a member of the Biodiversity Research Centre at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada (www.biodiversity.ubc.ca). The Centre is currently made up of over 40 members of the U.B.C. Science Faculty with interests in ecology, evolution, systematics, biodiversity, and conservation. Interested individuals should send (via email, to [email protected]) a CV, a brief description of research and professional goals, and the names and contact information for 3 references. Review of applications will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. ATTENTION, ESA MEETINGS ATTENDEEDS: Candidates attending the ESA meeting in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (Aug 1-6, 2010) are encouraged to contact LA prior to the meeting as an interview can be arranged during the conference. --------------------------------------------- Leticia Avilés Professor -- Zoology University of British Columbia #2370-6270 University Blvd. Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 CANADA phone: 604 822 3795 fax: 604 822 2416 URL: http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/person/laviles LAB PAGES: http://domingo.zoology.ubc.ca/AvilesLab/labfront.htm
