Dear MARMAM-ers,
We'd like to announce a fully funded PhD opportunity at Plymouth University, UK (in collaboration with SMRU, St Andrews) to start 1st October 2014: How do grey seal pups learn how to forage? Using telemetry data to understand development of foraging behaviour in relation to oceanography and potential disturbance Human exploitation of the marine environment is increasing, yet our impacts on apex predators, particularly their vulnerable juvenile stages, are poorly understood. The UK has 38% of the world’s grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) which are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and therefore require maintenance of ‘Favourable Conservation Status’ (FCS). However, little is known about the development of foraging behaviour and preferences in pups, which learn to forage without parental guidance. This PhD will investigate the ontogeny of foraging behaviour from the pups’ departure from the breeding beach and investigate how foraging habitat preferences develop with age, sex and experience. This is a multidisciplinary project integrating oceanographic models with seal tag data to understand foraging habitat. An essential output from the study is the prediction of areas that are critical habitat for survival where anthropogenic activities should be conducted with particular care, since they may have population level consequences for grey seals. This PhD candidate will analyse extensive archived datasets from tagged grey seal pups in UK waters using cutting-edge modelling approaches to identify and characterise foraging behaviour and feeding grounds. The candidate will join an interdisciplinary team from biology and oceanography and will contribute to the growing Marine Vertebrate Research Group in the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC) http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/mberc/Pages/default.aspx within the School of Marine Science and Engineering. Applicants should have at least a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject, such as zoology, marine biology, biology or oceanography, and preferably a relevant MSc or MRes qualification in some aspect of quantitative biology. The candidate should be highly self-motivated with good problem solving skills. Experience of spatial modelling, and/or biological or physical oceanography, and familiarity with computer packages such as R or Matlab would be an advantage. Candidates should be highly numerate with a keen interest in vertebrate foraging ecology and excellent written and oral communication skills. The studentship is supported for 3.5 years and includes full Home/EU tuition fees plus a stipend of £13,863 per annum. The position is open to UK citizens and EU citizens with appropriate qualifications who have been resident or studied in the UK for three years. If you wish to discuss this project informally, please contact Dr. Clare Embling ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). For an application form and full details on how to apply, please visitwww.plymouth.ac.uk/postgraduate<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/postgraduate>. Applicants should send a completed application form along with a covering letter detailing their suitability for the studentship, C.V., and 2 references to Francesca Niedzielski, Graduate School, 305 Link Building, Plymouth University, Drakes Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA or e-mail [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Supervisory team: Dr Clare B Embling, Dr Kimberley Bennett, Dr Phil Hosegood (Plymouth University) and Dr Debbie Russell (SMRU, University of St Andrews) The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 8th August 2014. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in the last week of August 2014. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received an offer of a place by mid-September should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. --------------------------------------------------- Dr Clare B Embling Lecturer in Marine Ecology Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University Room B425 Portland Square Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA. email: [email protected] twitter: @ClareEmbling http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/cbembling http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=Gcin3_gAAAAJ&hl=en Member of the Marine Vertebrate Research Group http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/mberc/Research/marine-vertebrates/Pages/default.aspx twitter: @MarineVerts -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass> This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. 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