OPPORTUNITIES: University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus, Department of Zoology & Entomology
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Postgraduate opportunities in carnivore behavioural ecology
The Mammalian Cognition Research Group at the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa campus is looking for students to join a field project investigating the cognitive, physiological, and ecological consequences of paternal care in the bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis. The study site is in a remote area near Colesberg (Northern Cape Province, South Africa), where foxes occur in conjunction with their natural predators and prey.
The following positions are available, starting in January 2014:
MSc (2 year fulltime study). This student will focus on the cognitive, social and physiological development of pups in the light of varying contributions by male and female adults. The majority of the student’s work will entail behavioural observations, with the potential for field experiments designed to answer specific questions. This project will include novel techniques in terms of direct and remote data collection. The minimum requirement for this position is an appropriate Honours degree.
PhD (3 year fulltime study). This student will assess the physiological and endocrinological corollaries of paternal care in the bat-eared fox. The student will collect and analyse faecal hormones under the co-supervision of Dr Andre Ganswindt (University of Pretoria). Further, s/he will collect extensive behavioural and ecological data to inform the endocrinological analyses. The minimum requirement for this position is an appropriate Masters’ degree.
Postdoctoral research fellow (2-3 year fulltime study).
The research fellow will assess how pups learn anti-predator and foraging skills/preferences from their mothers and fathers. This study will include a series of cognitive field experiments, direct behavioural observations, and the publication of high-level peer-reviewed articles. The successful candidate will also act as camp manager, overseeing graduate students and background data collection. The minimum requirement for this position is an appropriate PhD degree, obtained within the past five years.
All appointments will reflect the UFS’s equity and diversity imperatives, including those for gender, racial/cultural and intellectual diversity. Bursaries are awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements and research potential.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
· Fellowships are open to South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State, Qwaqwa.
· Successful applicants will demonstrate excellent academic performance and intellectual potential.
· Candidates should have demonstrable experience with ecological fieldwork, and a background in behavioural ecology
· All applicants will be expected to produce peer-reviewed articles stemming from their research.
· Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the tenure of the award.
REQUIREMENTS
· Motivation letter, articulating the applicant’s career ambitions and scholarly motivation, as well as details of her/his major scholarly/ academic accomplishments to date.
· Full Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a list of all research publications.
· Signed letters of recommendation from two academic references (in case of the MSc application), or three academic references (for the PhD and Postdoctoral fellowship application).
Application deadline: 31 July 2013
To apply, or ask for further details, contact Dr Aliza le Roux (lero...@qwa.ufs.ac.za ).
Aliza le Roux (PhD)
Senior Lecturer: Dept of Zoology & Entomology
University of the Free State, Qwaqwa
Private Bag X13
Phuthaditjhaba
9866, RSA
Tel: +27 58 718 5327
Fax: +27 58 718 5034