Field research in Chile: behavioral ecology of sociality

[sue_bertram]

Field research in Chile: behavioral ecology of sociality
We seek a postdoctoral fellow to participate in our ongoing research project on how ecology, mediated through stress physiology, influences group living and communal rearing in the South American rodent Octodon degus. The postdoctoral fellow will (i) design and/or conduct independent projects in the context of our research program, (ii) assist with the organization of field teams consisting of S. American and U.S. junior scientists, (iii) use a long-term database to test questions about degu sociality as needed, and (iv) conduct laboratory analyses as needed. The postdoctoral fellow is also expected to generate publications in peer reviewed journals and present data at international meetings.

Project duration
2-3 years

Location
Santiago, Chile and other sites in Chile

Requirements
The ideal candidate will have an expertise in behavioral ecology and stress physiology, with an emphasis on mammalian systems. We seek individuals with compatible interests in social theory, experience with lab techniques required to understand mechanisms underlying sociality, the ability to work and analyze large datasets, and the desire to develop field experiments to test theory. The candidate must have a history of publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals and the potential to secure external funding as indicated by previous research grants. The ideal candidate will have good leadership skills, a willingness to work with students and other junior scientists, and the ability to work long days (10-12 hrs) in the field. A PhD must be earned by Aug-Sept 2015. Although not a requirement, we prefer individuals with proficiency in Spanish and the ability to drive a standard (stick-shift) vehicle.

Funding
The prospective postdoctoral fellow will need to seek funding the FONDECYT postdoctoral program. This program is funded by the main Chilean Research Funding Agency and provides support to researchers of any nationality (USD based on 1 USD = 627 pesos; values can fluctuate down to 1 USD = $500 pesos):

·       Research stipend ($18.900.000 pesos/year or ~$30,000 USD/year)
·       Travel and research expenses to meetings and/or field work ($4.500.000 pesos/year or ~$7200 USD/year)
·       Health insurance ($415.800 pesos/year or ~$660 USD/year)
·       Moving costs (1 year only, for international candidates: $3.000.000 pesos or ~$4780 USD)

The period during which applications (in English) can be submitted to FONDECYT is 15 April - 20 May 2015. However, grant proposals need to be submitted to P. Universidad Católica de Chile by early May for an internal review.

Contacts
Dr. Luis Ebensperger, P. Universidad Católica de Chile (lebens...@bio.puc.cl)
Dr. Loren Hayes, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (loren...@utc.edu)

Information
Interested individuals should submit (i) documentation of PhD earned or evidence that PhD will be earned by August-September 2015, (ii) a CV highlighting research and educational activities (including collaborations with undergraduate and graduate students), (iii) a 1 page summary of ideas (in the context of our ongoing work), and (iv) contact information of three academic professionals (including a PhD advisor). This information should be combined into a single PDF file with the title ‘Lastname_Firstname_FONDECYTpostdoc’.