College of Life and Environmental Sciences - Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour
Applications are invited for a three-year fixed term position, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, which starts in January 2013. The successful applicant will work with Dr. Natalie Hempel de Ibarra (University of Exeter) and Prof. Thomas S. Collett (University of Sussex) to investigate the learning flights and homing behaviour of bumblebees in semi-natural and lab environments. The study of learning flights involves analysing the interplay between action, perception and learning and the post should appeal to applicants with research interests in areas of insect learning, navigation, sensori-motor control and flight behaviour.
Our specific goal is to understand how learning flights, performed on leaving a significant location, such as the nest entrance, are modulated in different environments to support the rapid acquisition of sensory information that can guide a returning bee to this location. We will examine how changes to local visual and olfactory cues and to compass cues influence the detailed structure of learning flights and the consequent effects of these manipulations on return flights.
The post holder will play a key role, working both independently and as part of a small team, in the detailed design and setting up of behavioural experiments, video-recording and analysing bee flight patterns. The post includes advising and mentoring a post-graduate working on the project. We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative post doctoral researcher who combines an ability to conduct behavioural research with the analytical and computational skills to deal with large data sets (expertise in Matlab is an advantage), enjoys communicating research progress and outcomes orally and in research papers, and has a broad interest in the neural mechanisms of behaviour.
Appointment at Grade F will be subject to additional criteria and role responsibilities as defined in the job description.
For further information please contact Dr. Natalie Hempel de Ibarra, e-mail N.Hempel@ex.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 264610.
To view the Job Descriptions and Person Specification documents for both posts please clickhere.
Interviews are expected to take place on 5 December 2012.
The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer which is 'Positive about Disabled People'. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION:
Please send your CV, covering letter and the details of three referees, along with a completed application and equal opportunities form to Natalie Hempel de Ibarra, email: N.Hempel@exeter.ac.uk quoting the reference number P44269 in any correspondence.
To download the application and equal opportunities form please follow the below links;
http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/personnel/jobs/ app_form.rtf
http://www.admin.ex.ac.uk/personnel/jobs/EO_form.rtf
