PhD scholarship in cognitive neuroethology/visual neurobiology
Expressions of interest, open to Australian and overseas students, are invited for a funded PhD in visual neuroethology. A Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES) for a PhD in cognitive neuroethology is available in the laboratory of Assoc. Prof. Chris Evans and Dr. Ximena Nelson at Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB, http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/) (Sydney, Australia). This project will be conducted in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. David O'Carroll (University of Adelaide, Australia) and Prof. Robert Jackson (University of Canterbury, New Zealand).
The project (see http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/Spider_project/) involves an analysis of the neural mechanisms underlying visual decision-making in jumping spiders. We seek to use a broad range of methods, including intracellular electrophysiology and behavioural experiments using 3D animation, to understand how these small predators are able to make complex decisions based solely on visual cues.
MQRES scholarships are available to students of any nationality with a record of high academic / research performance and include a stipend of AU$20,007 p.a. tax exempt (2008), allowances for relocation and thesis costs, international tuition fees and overseas health cover for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure. Because Australian PhDs do not include coursework this is sufficient time within which to complete the degree. Support is also available for research expenses and travel (visiting overseas laboratories and attending conferences). Casual teaching opportunities may be available within the Department.
Applicants should have completed qualifications equivalent to a four-year Australian Bachelors degree with First Class Honours (such as a Masters degree with substantial thesis component). Experience in some of the following areas would be ideal: animal behaviour, neurobiology, behavioural ecology, neuroethology, psychophysics. Evidence of research capability through publications or presentations at scientific meetings would be an advantage.
For further information and discussion regarding this project, and as an expression of interest, prospective applicants should contact Dr. Ximena Nelson (ximena.nelson@canterbury.ac.nz) before 31 May 2008. In your email, please include electronic copies of your CV, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate academic transcripts (including grades).
Further information on equivalence and other conditions for the scholarship are available from the Higher Degree Research Office, telephone: +61-2-9850 7663, e-mail: hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au.
Final applications should be forwarded to:
The Scholarships Officer
Higher Degree Research Office
Cottage C4C
Macquarie University NSW 2109
AUSTRALIA
PhD opportunity in honey bee neuroethology
Expressions of interest are invited for a PhD in cognitive neuroethology at Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB, http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/). The project would be supervised by Dr Andrew Barron and is open to Australian and overseas students.
Possible research topics include:
1. Analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social behaviour and communication in honey bees.
2. Development of an invertebrate model system for studying drug abuse and addiction.
3. Exploration of the capacity of the honey bee for reflection, planning and cognitive thought.
Experience in Animal Behaviour, Molecular Biology and Neurobiology would be valuable. Demonstrated experience in the conduct of laboratory and field experiments, a working understanding of hypothesis testing and statistics, and evidence of research capability through publications or presentations at scientific meetings, would be an advantage.
Several scholarship options are available for PhD research at Macquarie University, including the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for students from Australia or New Zealand, and Macquarie University's MQRES scholarship for students of any nationality with a record of high academic / research performance. These scholarships include a stipend (AU$20,007 p.a. tax exempt as of 2008) for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure, as well as allowances for relocation and thesis costs. For international students the scholarship would also cover international tuition fees and overseas health cover. Australian PhDs do not include coursework, and 3.5 years is sufficient tenure within which to complete. Students on scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may choose to do so to gain experience and to supplement their income.
For further information about this project and scholarships, and as an expression of interest, please contact Dr Andrew Barron (Andrew.Barron@mq.edu.au) before30 September 2008. In your email, please include electronic copies of your CV, as well as academic transcripts (including grades) and a statement of your research interests
PhD OPPORTUNITY IN INSECT BEHAVIOUR AND ECOLOGY
Expressions of interest are invited for a PhD in Insect Behaviour and Ecology at Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB, http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/). The project would be jointly supervised by Dr Phil Taylor and Dr Chris Weldon and is open to Australian and overseas students. Ideally, the student would be available to commence the project before August 2008.
The overall theme of the project is to explore aspects of field competence of sterile Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni; Tephritidae) (Q-flies) released to manage pest populations through the sterile insect technique (SIT). There is ample scope to tailor this project to accommodate specific research interests of the student, although it is preferred that the project include some laboratory or field cage studies to compare behaviour of wild, mass-reared and sterile Q-flies relevant to survival and mating activity in the field. There is an opportunity to probe existing wild and sterile fly trapping data from quarantine zones throughout Australia to assess whether the local distribution of sterile flies matches that of wild flies in the field, and to evaluate the relation between standard quality control measures with estimates of field quality (indicated by field recaptures). Additionally, it would be possible to carry out trial releases targeting sites favoured for mating by Q-flies to determine whether such an approach has potential to improve efficiency and effectiveness of SIT programs. This project will provide excellent training opportunities for candidates interested in a career within the university system, in government agencies, or in industry.
Experience in Behavioural Ecology and Entomology, as well as any of the following areas would be valuable: Ecology, Animal Behaviour, or Integrated Pest Management. Demonstrated experience in the conduct of laboratory and field experiments, a working understanding of hypothesis testing and statistics, and evidence of research capability through publications or presentations at scientific meetings, would be an advantage.
Several scholarship options are available for PhD research at Macquarie University, including the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for students from Australia or New Zealand, and Macquarie University's MQRES scholarship for students of any nationality with a record of high academic / research performance. These scholarships include a stipend (currently AU$20,007 p.a. tax exempt) for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure, as well as allowances for relocation and thesis costs, and for international students would also cover international tuition fees and overseas health cover. Australian PhDs do not include coursework, and 3.5 years (3 field seasons) is ample tenure within which to complete this project. Students on scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may do so to supplement their income if desired. An additional AU$6,000 p.a. is provided by CISAB toward direct research expenses, and several generous internal schemes are available to fund travel to visit overseas laboratories, for field work, and to attend conferences.
For further information about this project and scholarships, and as an expression of interest, please contact either Dr Phil Taylor (phil@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au) or Dr Chris Weldon (cweldon@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au) before 31 March 2008. In your email, please include electronic copies of your CV, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate academic transcripts (including grades).
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PhD opportunity - Biological motion analysis
Expressions of interest are invited for a PhD in the analysis of biological motion. The student will be enrolled in the postgraduate program of the Macquarie University Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB) and jointly supervised by Dr Chris Evans (Director, CISAB) and Dr. Pascal Vallotton from the Biotech Imaging group at the Centre for Mathematical and Information Sciences, CSIRO. The opportunity is open to Australian and overseas students.
This is an exciting cross-disciplinary initiative that combines image analysis, animal behaviour, and software engineering. The quantitative analysis of motion patterns is a rich source of information. Applications include animal communication, especially signal structure, and cellular processes such as cytokinesis, protein transport, and cell migration. Recent work in Evans' lab has introduced techniques from other disciplines (visual perception and machine vision) to capture the structure of animal courtship and threat displays in a form that is readily comprehended and statistically tractable. Vollotton's research group has wide experience in image processing, object tracking and recognition algorithms. We seek to build upon these separate developments by pooling our resources to create a general-purpose program applicable to a wide range of research questions.
The successful applicant will have a strong mathematical background with good programming skills in C/C++ and Matlab. A genuine interest in biological questions is essential. We also expect commitment to good software engineering practices to create a powerful and flexible research tool that will have lasting value.
Enquiries should be directed to Chris Evans:
chris@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au
+61 2 9850 9230
CISAB: http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/
CSIRO: http://www.cmis.csiro.au/iap/
Applications close August 1, 2007
Scholarships available
* MQRES scholarships are available year round for Australian and International students. These include an APA-equivalent stipend (see below), allowances for relocation and thesis costs, international tuition fees and overseas health cover for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure. Applicants should have completed equivalent research qualifications to a four-year Australian Bachelor degree with First Class Honours, such as a Bachelor degree plus a Masters degree with a substantial research component.
* 2008 Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scheme for Australian and New Zealand students closes 31 October 2007. APA scholarships include a stipend (currently AU$19,616 p.a. tax exempt) and allowances for relocation and thesis costs, for a maximum 3.0 years of initial tenure (and a possible 6 month extension).
* 2008 Endeavour International Postgraduate Scholarship (E-IPRS) for international students. E-IPRS scholarships include tuition and overseas health cover costs, for a maximum of 3.0 years initial tenure (and a possible 6 month extension). The University provides an APA equivalent stipend to students on E-IPRS. Closes 31 August 2007.
Students on these scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may do so to supplement their income if desired. AU$6,000 p.a. is provided by CISAB to all PhD students to cover direct research expenses of their project, and several generous internal schemes are available to fund travel to visit overseas laboratories and to attend conferences.
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PhD opportunity in insect nutritional strategy
An opportunity for PhD research on the topic of Insect Nutritional Strategy is available in the laboratory of Dr Phil Taylor at Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB, http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/).
The overall theme will be to investigate nutritional requirements and strategies of larval Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni; Tephritidae). Specifically, the experimental approach would involve manipulating key components of chemically defined diets to explore the consequences for nutrient acquisition and use by larvae and the subsequent size, nutritional status and performance of pupae and emerging adults (e.g., size, maturation rate, longevity, flight performance, sexual success, fecundity, energetic competence). Strategies used to compensate physiologically and behaviourally for sub-optimal diets will be of particular interest (e.g., modified diet preferences depending on recent feeding history). Performance on different natural hosts, or relationships between larval host quality and oviposition preferences of females could also be considered. This is a rich study system that will allow the student to address questions of basic scientific interest as well as to contribute to an important environmentally benign insect pest management goal by optimising diet for mass-reared flies used in sterile insect releases. Experience in some of the following areas would be valuable: Entomology, Nutritional Ecology, Animal Behaviour, and Behavioural Ecology.
Several scholarship options are available for PhD research at Macquarie University, including the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for students from Australia or New Zealand and Macquarie University's MQRES scholarship for students of any nationality with a record of high academic / research performance. These scholarships include a stipend (currently AU$19,616 p.a. tax exempt) for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure, as well as allowances for relocation and thesis costs, and for international students would also cover international tuition fees and overseas health cover. Students on these scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may do so to supplement their income if desired. An additional AU$6,000 p.a. is provided by CISAB to all PhD students to cover direct research expenses, and several generous internal schemes are available to fund travel to visit overseas laboratories, for field work, and to attend conferences.
For further information about this project and scholarships, and as an expression of interest, please contact Dr Phil Taylor by e-mail (phil@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au) before 30 May 2007.
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PhD scholarship on virtual ecology of flowers driven by honeybees.
A PhD scholarship is available on a project investigating virtual ecology in artificial flowers under selection by honeybees in semi-natural conditions. The program would entail experimental research on free-flying honeybees in Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/). The general research theme is to have free-flying honeybees choosing to forage among a set of experimentally designed flowers. Flowers that are chosen most by bees get to 'reproduce' the most, thus creating various trajectories of virtual evolution. Within this theme, many variations are possible, including different dimensions (e.g., size, colour) in which virtual evolution might take place, and different cost/benefit schemes. These behavioral experiments will address how information processing characteristics might drive the course of evolution, in a synthesis of comparative cognition and behavioral ecology. The student has ample room for individual choice of specific topics and design of experiments.
Applicants should have completed equivalent research qualifications to a four-year Australian Bachelor degree with First Class Honours, such as a Bachelor degree plus a Masters degree with a substantial research component. Applicants should have a background in some of the following areas: biology, psychology, animal behavior, behavioral ecology, neuroethology.
This Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES) includes a stipend (currently AU$19,616 p.a. tax exempt), allowances for relocation and thesis costs, and International tuition fees and overseas health cover for a maximum 3.5 years tenure. An additional AU$6,000 p.a. will be provided to cover direct research expenses, and several generous internal schemes exist to request expenses for travel to visit overseas laboratories and attend conferences.
The project is based in the laboratory of Ken Cheng (http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~ken/), to whom enquiries about the project should be directed (ken@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au).
Information on equivalence and other conditions for the scholarship are available from the Higher Degree Research Office (ph: +61 2 9850 7663, e-mail: hdrschol#@vc.mq.edu.au) or from their website http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students/scholarships.
Applications should be forwarded to:
The Scholarships Officer
Higher Degree Research Office
Cottage C4C
Macquarie University NSW 2109
AUSTRALIA
Applications close 15 April 2007.
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MQRES
Visual processing in a unique modular system
Closing date: June 30, 2007
Two PhD research scholarships in the area of neurethology are available in the Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB) at Macquarie University. Applicants will participate in a new project funded by the Australian Research Council on the extraordinary visual sense of jumping spiders. This project will be conducted in collaboration with Dr Ximena Nelson and Assoc. Prof. Chris Evans at CISAB, Assoc. Prof. David O'Carroll (University of Adelaide) and Prof. Robert Jackson (University of Canterbury).
MQRES scholarships are available to domestic and international students. Applicants should have completed equivalent research qualifications to an Australian undergraduate degree with first class honours in a relevant discipline. Candidates with experience working with invertebrates or neuroethology are particularly encouraged to apply. The award stipend is currently $A19,616 per annum, tax exempt (2007). Tenure is 3.5 years full-time, subject to satisfactory progress. Tuition fees will be funded for the scholarship tenure. Additional support for project costs and conference travel will be available.
Further details on the projects are available at http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/Spider_project/ or contact Dr Ximena Nelson, email: ximena@galliform.mq.edu.au or telephone +61 2 9850 9232.
Application forms and award conditions are available from the Higher Degree Research Office, email: hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au or telephone +61 2 9850 7987.
Applications should be forwarded to:
The Scholarship Officer
Higher Degree Research Office
Cottage C4C
Macquarie
University
NSW 2109
Australia
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