Short-term and long-term consequences of avian malaria-like infection A PhD position in behavioural ecology is available at the Faculty of Biology at Bielefeld University, in the Department of Animal Behaviour (with Dr. Nayden Chakarov, see http://uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/animalbehaviour/nchakarov/). The position runs for three years from early 2018 to 2021 and is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The PhD student will be part of the buzzard research team (together with the group of Prof. Dr. Oliver Krüger) and of a large PhD cohort, which is supported by a DFG-funded collaborative research centre NC3 (full details at www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/crc212).
The aim of the PhD project is to explore physiological causes and consequences of a very common blood parasite infection in a common buzzard population (Leucocytozoon in Buteo buteo). The student will conduct medication experiments in the field, produce transcriptomic data and analyse it in combination with fitness correlates. The long-term fitness consequences for buzzards will be monitored using lifelong wing-tags, and survival and recruitment data will be collected. So far, over 2500 individual buzzards have already been fitted with lifelong wing tags and the resulting data set will be used.
Main responsibilities
· Research tasks (90%)
◦ Conducting field work on a buzzard population, including chick-ringing and treatment from late March to early July each year
◦ RNA extraction and library preparation
◦ Transcriptomic and statistical analyses
◦ Writing scientific publications
· Organisational tasks in the research group and collaborative efforts (10%)
Applicant's profile
We seek a bright and highly motivated student with
· a university degree in a relevant discipline with specialization in either behavioural ecology, ornithology, population ecology and/or bioinformatics, and a strong eagerness to delve into the other.
· interest to develop scientific capabilities and questions
· experience with field work, preferably in birds of prey
· experience with molecular lab work
· interest in behavioural and life history, immunological and parasitological questions,
· coding experience, preferably with Unix command-line, omics-techniques, and R
· ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and
· excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
The following qualifications would additionally be of advantage:
· papers in peer-reviewed international journals,
· experience in tree-climbing with rope techniques
· experience with large-scale research projects.
Remuneration
Salary will be paid according to Remuneration level 13 (65%) of the Wage Agreement for Public Service in the Federal States (TV-L).
Bielefeld University is particularly committed to the career development of its employees. It offers attractive internal and external training and further training programmes. Employees have the opportunity to use a variety of health, counselling, and prevention programmes. Bielefeld University places great importance on a work–family balance for all its employees.
Application procedure
To apply, please provide: (i) a letter of motivation including a statement of your research interests and skills and experience relevant to the position, as well as specific ideas and plans related the project outline; (ii) a CV including publication list; (iii) names and contact details of two referees willing to write confidential letters of recommendation. All materials should be emailed as a single PDF file to: nayden.chakarov@uni-bielefeld.de. The application deadline is March 15th 2018 and interviews will take place shortly thereafter. After the decision, the position should start as soon as possible. For further information on the project and the department, please contact Nayden Chakarov nayden.chakarov@uni-bielefeld.de with any informal inquiries.
Bielefeld is a city of 325,000 inhabitants with all expected amenities and easy access to the Teutoburger Wald for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. It offers a high standard of living and is well connected to most major European cities. Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements in the provision of equal opportunity and has been recognized as a family friendly university. The University welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in Information Technology and Trades and Craft. Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state equal opportunity statutes. Applications from suitably qualified handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
