Open PhD position
Sensory integration and decision making in insect groups
Join us at the department of neurobiology and the German Research Foundation (DFG) Excellence Cluster “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” at the University of Konstanz
Group-living animals have the potential to benefit from pooling their own acquired information with information from others. By monitoring the behaviour of conspecifics individuals may be able to make faster, more accurate assessments of their environment. In this DFG funded project, we will investigate the neural circuits underlying sensory integration and decision-making in dynamic social contexts by combining behavioral studies, functional imaging, and electrophysiology in group-living animals, such as cockroaches and/or locusts.
You will join our interdisciplinary team at the neurobiology department, working together on the overarching goal to understand the neural basis of collective animal behaviour. The successful candidate will have the chance to implement new technologies developed at our centre for animal tracking, immersive virtual reality, functional imaging techniques in widefield and 2 photon microscopy, and minimally-invasive electrophysiology.
The University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Society are equal opportunity employers that are committed to provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability. They seek to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.
Requirements:
-
MSc in neuroscience or a related field.
-
Proficiency in at least one programming language (Matlab, Python), or willingness to learn one.
-
Good communication and writing skills are essential.
-
Familiarity with multiphoton calcium imaging, electrophysiology and instrumentation control for behavioural neuroscience is beneficial.
Application: Interested candidates should apply directly via email to einat.couzin@uni-konstanz.de Please include a CV, a research statement (<1 page with your academic background, research experience, interests and goals) and details of two potential referees.
