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The Mammalian Cognition Research Group at the University of the Free State (UFS)’s Qwaqwa campus is looking for two postdoctoral researchers for two years of fulltime study starting in February 2015, or soon after. The research fellow will be part of a study investigating the cognitive, physiological, and ecological consequences of paternal care in the bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis. This species – part of the guild of insectivores in the Kalahari – exhibits an unusually extensive period of paternal care, typically ascribed to their myrmecophageous diet. Depending on the research fellow’s area of expertise, there are several research directions that he/ she can pursue. The research project encompasses social and individual learning in pups, development of young, specialization in foraging niches, the physiology of parenthood, and human-wildlife interactions. The successful candidate will also oversee graduate students and background data collection at the field site in the Northern Cape Province.
Specific aspects of this project that may be developed further are:
1. The influence of maternal versus paternal care on the cognitive and physiological development of young.
2. The link between behavioural syndromes, cognition, and foraging niche specialization.
3. Ecological relationships between bat-eared foxes and their predators as well as potential competitors such as aardwolf and aardvark.
4. The mitigation of road-kill, with a particular focus on bat-eared foxes, but including other species across Southern Africa.
The appointment will reflect the UFS’s equity and diversity imperatives, including those for gender, racial/cultural and intellectual diversity. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential. The successful applicant will be required to publish at least 3 articles per year in DHET / IBSS / ISI – accredited journals.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
• Fellowships are open to South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State, Qwaqwa.
• The minimum requirement is a PhD obtained in the last 5 years.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate exceptional academic performance and intellectual potential.
• Candidates must demonstrate experience with ecological fieldwork, and ideally have a background in behavioural ecology and/or cognitive ecology.
• Candidates must have a good publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate potential to contribute to the creation of knowledge in their future academic career.
• 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. The motivation letter must include details of the research direction the applicant wishes to pursue.
• Full Curriculum Vitae (CV) including a list of all research publications.
• Signed letters of recommendation from three academic references, including Doctoral promoter (on a letterhead, including full contact details of the reference)
Should you be successful in your application, you will also be expected to provide the following:
• Short proposal written in collaboration with your supervisor, Dr Aliza le Roux, detailing the proposed postdoctoral research.
• Full transcripts of academic records.
• Copy of Doctoral degree certificate. (SAQA equivalence will need to be obtained in the case of non-South African applicants)
• Copy of ID document (copy of passport in the case of non-South African applicants)
Application deadline:
31 November 2014 To apply, or ask for further details, contact Dr Aliza le Roux. Aliza le Roux (PhD) Senior Lecturer & Subject Head: 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 Email: lero...@qwa.ufs.ac.za/ leroux...@gmail.com