Open PhD/Postdoc position
Neurobiology of Swarm-Forming Locusts
The Couzin-Fuchs group (https://www.couzin-fuchs-lab.com/) is seeking a motivated PhD/Postdoc candidate to join our research on unraveling the neural basis of social plasticity in swarm-forming locusts.
Locusts are notorious plague insects that in plague years threaten the food security of millions. The unpredictability of locust outbreaks is largely rooted in their adaptive nature: Locusts have evolved to thrive in both isolated and gregarious conditions and can rapidly change their behavior accordingly. The rapid transitions between solitarious and gregarious phenotypes offers an exciting model for studying social plasticity and the emergence of collective behavior. We recently found that this transition is accompanied by significant changes in olfactory processing, aiding the detection of sparse food sources in crowded environments. We are now delving into the cellular mechanisms mediating these changes and their behavioral implications.
We are seeking for a candidate with strong interest in neurobiology to join this project. Prior experience with functional imaging, patch clamp, and virtual reality technology is a plus but not required. In this role, you will employ cutting-edge techniques, including 2-photon functional imaging, electrophysiology, VR and quantitative behavior, to advance our understanding of locust neurobiology.
Join our interdisciplinary team at the neurobiology department and the Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB). As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to implement new technologies developed in our lab and CASCB and be part of a highly international, interdisciplinary and collaborative team. 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, gender identity, national origin, or disability
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.
