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A position for a doctoral student is available as of June 2025 in the Behavioural Physiology Lab at the Institute of Biology of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. The overall focus of the research group is on understanding the ecological constraints on the acquisition of sensory information via the active electrosensory system of weakly electric fish and in the role of the electric sense in social interactions.
The research:
Weakly electric fish use their active electric sense for electrolocation as well as communication. Living in habitats ranging from hypoxic swamps to deep river channels, different species of weakly electric fish are exposed to different ranges of environmental variation, such as variation in temperature and levels of dissolved oxygen. Their social environment varies as well, from solitary living to shoaling species. The doctoral project provides the opportunity to investigate the effects of environmental and social factors on strategies of sensory information acquisition. Available approaches include assays for behavioural preferences and physiological performance as well as a setup to study interactions with a robotic weakly electric fish.
Your profile:
Applicants must hold an academic university degree (M.Sc.) or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., Biology, Neuroscience). A solid background in animal physiology and neuroethology would be considered an asset, as would be experience with behavioural experiments, animal experimentation, and data analysis (e.g., R, Python).
The job:
The appointment is for 4 years. The salary corresponds to E 13 TV-L (65%). The Behavioural Physiology Lab is well equipped and additionally offers access to a large number of state-of-the-art resources through the Institute of Biology (https://www.biologie.hu-berlin.de). Berlin is not only a highly livable city, it also has a vast and vibrant research landscape with outstanding opportunities to develop collaborations within and outside of Humboldt-Universität.
How to apply:
Please send a single pdf file including (1) a cover letter, (2) your CV, (3) a statement of research interests, and (4) contact information for 2 academic referees to ruediger.krahe@hu-berlin.de. Please mention the job identification number AN/067/25. Informal inquiries to the same email address are welcome. The deadline for applications is 31. March, 2025.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Krahe, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstr. 13, Haus 18, 10115 Berlin; Mailing address: Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany.
Please visit the website www.hu-berlin.de/stellenangebote, which gives you access to the legally binding German version of this job ad.
(Posted March 3, 2025)
PhD studentship in Brain, Brawn, and Bugs: cognitive and physical factors of insect dexterity - Newcastle University, UK
Supervisors: Dr Shoko Sugasawa & Dr Vivek Nityananda, Newcastle University, UK
Award Summary: 100% of home tuition fees paid and an annual stipend (living expenses) starting at £20,780 (25/26 rate). International candidates will be required to fund the difference between home fees and international fees.
Award Duration: A three-year PhD
Overview: Having hands to manipulate objects has enabled humans to develop pivotal innovations, including tools and shelter. Most other animals lack hands, and yet many can still skilfully manipulate objects, such as food and nest materials. Insects, for example, can build structures and handle food despite having tiny brains and simple appendages.
This interdisciplinary project will examine how insects achieve this dexterity, by studying foraging in praying mantises and bumblebees using behavioural experiments, micro-CT scanning, myogram reading, and advanced motion analysis. Working with scientists at Liverpool, Sussex, and Edinburgh, we will study how dexterous behaviour changes throughout lifetime, providing possible novel models for studying how ageing affects human dexterity.
This project will equip the student with a unique scientific niche of general scientific skills in behavioural research, as well as highly interdisciplinary computational skills, by learning to collect and analyse data from micro-CT scanning, motion tracking, and electromyography.
Application Closing Date: 30th April 2025
Start Date: 15th September 2025
Sponsor: Newcastle University – Faculty of Medical Sciences
Eligibility Criteria:
You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent, in a subject relating to animal behaviour, including behavioural ecology and neuroethology. Further qualification such as MRes is advantageous.
Motivation to learn how to work with insects (e.g. husbandry, behavioural experiments).
Willingness to develop analytical skills (e.g. analysing electrophysiological and scanned image data, statistical analysis of behavioural data).
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/?code=bi079
For further details, please contact:
Dr Shoko Sugasawa
shoko.sugasawa2@ncl.ac.uk
(Posted March 3, 2025)
Join us for a fully funded, 4-year PhD, a collaboration between Northumbria, Durham and Mainz Universities to study the evolution of the neuronal basis of defence behaviours in Drosophila!
Building on our work on defence behaviours in Drosophila (Dr Clara Ferreira), development and evolution of visual systems across Drosophila species (Prof Alistair McGregor), neuronal circuit mechanisms and computations of visual processing (Prof Marion Silies), this PhD project will:
- Characterise the behavioural repertoire of closely related species to threat
- Develop genetic tools to study the underlying neuronal circuitry
- Study circuit-level and activity level differences
If you intend to apply, please get in contact with Clara Ferreira (clara.ferreira@northumbria.ac.uk) with your CV and a brief statement of why you’re interested in the project.
Application and full PhD advert:
Deadline: March 31, 2025
(Posted 28 February 2025)
PhD opportunity in Newcastle upon Tyne/UK - flies playing on carousels
Join us for a 4-year PhD on a fun project (literally)!
Building on our recent publication about Drosophila playing on a carousel (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.025), we will explore:
1. the genetic underpinnings of play,
2. the neuronal circuits involved in play, and its adaptive benefit,
3. how environmental context impacts play behaviour.
This project will involve the application of genetic tools combined with state-of-the art behavioural analysis, together with connectomics-supported anatomical examination, co-supervised by Clara H Ferreira (Northumbria U) and Vivek Nityananda (Newcastle U).
If you intend to apply, please get in contact with Dr. Huetteroth (wolf.huetteroth@northumbria.ac.uk) with your CV and a brief statement why you’re interested in the project.
Application and full PhD advert:
Deadline: March 31, 2025
(Posted 28 February 2025)
PhD opportunity University of Groningen
Casper van der Kooi and Doekele Stavenga are recruiting a PhD candidate for a comparative study on insect eyes. The aim is to chart the visual field and acute zones for insects with different ecologies, using a previously developed goniometer setup. Application deadline is 14 March. For more information, please see the position description HERE.
(Posted February 10, 2024)