Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) Post-Doc Position in Population Ecology - Evolutionary Ecology

Applications:

Please send your application including complete curriculum vitae and names of three referees to Prof. Marcel E. Visser at NIOO-KNAW, P.O. Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands or g.giesen@nioo.knaw.nl. The closing date for application is 9 June 2010, and the interviews will take place at the end of June.

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO–KNAW) is a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Mission of the NIOO-KNAW is to carry out fundamental and strategic research in ecology.

The Department of Animal Ecology is offering a POST-DOC POSITION IN POPULATION ECOLOGY / EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY (m/f)

Job description:

The post-doc position is part of the NWO-VICI project Adapting to a warmer world: phenology, physiology and fitness. In this project, we study selection on phenotypic plasticity in timing of reproduction in great tits in relation to global climate change. There are five integrated subprojects ranging from quantitative genetics, population dynamics and reproductive physiology to genomics. Four of these subprojects are underway and we are now looking for a post-doctoral candidate for the fifth subproject on population dynamics. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Prof Bernt-Erik Saether (NTNU, Trondheim, Norway) and Dr Stephanie Jenouvrier (CNRS, France & WHOI, USA).

Project description:

The aim of the project is to develop an eco-evolutionary population dynamic model for the great tit to predict the effects of climate change on population viability. We will use climate projections from selected Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) for a range of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios to predict the phenology of the birds (taking evolutionarily processes into account) and of their prey (taking ecological processes into account). The resulting phenological (mis)match will affect demographic rates and thereby population viability. Ultimately, we will calculate the critical rate of climate change that populations can cope with.

Requirements:

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a PhD in Population Ecology, Evolutionary Ecology or Animal Ecology and with mathematical modelling and statistical skills. A limited amount of fieldwork may be part of the project.

Appointment:

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a maximum of 2 years. The gross salary starts at € 2.861,- per month, scale 10.4, Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-Nederlandse Universiteiten), excluding 8% holiday pay and a year-end bonus. We offer an extensive package of fringe benefits.

Information:

Additional information about this position is available upon request from Prof. Marcel E. Visser (m.visser@nioo.knaw.nl or +31-26-4791253), head of department Animal Ecology. More information about the NIOO can be found on our website (www.nioo.knaw.nl).