United Kingdom - University of Sheffield Postdoctoral Research Associate in Animal and Plant Sciences
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Ref. No. R05516
This is an ideal opportunity to join an established and productive research project in a large high profile 5* research department with a strong commitment to research-led teaching (QAA score: 24/24) Applicants must have experience of behavioural/ecological fieldwork, preferably on birds. Experience in the use of multivariate statistical analysis would be advantageous. A clean driving licence and a bird-ringing licence are also desirable. Applicants must also have a PhD, or equivalent experience, in a relevant discipline. The post is for one year with extension subject to funding and is tenable from 1 October 2007 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Report to: Professor B J Hatchwell
Main Activities and Responsibilities:
- Assist in maintaining a colour-ringed study population of long-tailed tits.
- Monitor breeding activities, requiring intensive fieldwork from March to June (e.g. locating all long-tailed tits in the study site).
- Measure the natural variation in begging signals of nestlings and the provisioning rates of parents
- Conduct non-invasive field experiments (e.g. playback of nestling calls) to manipulate the provisioning rate of parents.
- Collect and analyse date for comparative studies of parental care strategies in cooperative and non-cooperative bird species.
- Manage the long-term data set, analyse data, prepare papers and disseminate results.
- Undertake other duties as requested by the PI.
August 27th, 2007