PhD opportunity: “Cognition and Communication of behaviorally complex jumping spiders”
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Jumping spiders are unlike other spiders. Rather than building webs, they are active predators that rely on extraordinary visual capabilities to guide their decisions when navigating, hunting, avoiding enemies, and interacting with conspecifics. Jumping spiders exhibit highly complex behavior and surprisingly sophisticated decision-making. The host laboratory has established an active research program that aims to understand the fundamental principles of cognition in these remarkable spiders, drawing especially on the tools of both comparative psychology and behavioral biology. There would be ample scope to develop the project to suit the specific interests of a successful candidate. The project would be based in the laboratory of A/Prof Phil Taylor (http://bio.mq.edu.au/behavbiol/), which is very well appointed with facilities for research of this type. Macquarie University is home to many active Animal Behaviour researchers, such that the successful candidate would join a large and diverse research community.
For financial support, suitable candidates would apply for a Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES) of AU$24,653 pa (tax exempt, increased annually to index cost of living). Students on scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may do so to supplement their income if desired. Up to AU$20,000 is available from the host department to cover direct research expenses and attendance of domestic conferences. Two additional funding opportunities of up to AU$5,000 each are available to support travel to international conferences.
Applicants should have completed research qualifications equivalent to a Research Masters and should first contact A/Prof Phil Taylor (Phil....@mq.edu.au) with an expression of interest, including a CV and academic record.
Closing date for expressions of interest: 20 August 2013.