THREE-YEAR POSTDOCTORAL POSITION at the Max Planck Institute of Animal
Behaviour: Understanding the eco-evolutionary dynamics of seasonal
migration in a partially migratory songbird

The Department of Migration at the Max Planck Institute of Animal
Behavior is looking for a highly motivated Postdoc. The department
offers a postdoctoral position for 3 years on the ecology and evolution
of partial migration. This project is part of an ongoing research program
understanding the decision rules of a migratory live in songbirds within
the Partecke lab.

The project:

The study species is the Common blackbird (Turdus merula) which is
either stationary year-round, partial, or full migratory. The clear-cut
behavioral dichotomy of migrant versus resident phenotypes enables us to
investigate both proximate and ultimate causes of migration within the
same species. Using newest IoT biologging technology, we monitor, in a
collaborative effort, blackbirds from various populations across entire
Europe with an unprecedented high spatial and temporal resolution. In
addition, we also study migration strategies of birds originating from
full resident, partial or fully migratory populations that are bred under
common garden conditions in our breeding facilities but then released
into the wild. In addition to where individuals roam, onboard processed
acceleration data allow us to estimate the energetic cost of living
during the annual cycle and to determine when and where individuals die.

The aim of this project is to elucidate the decision rules that animal use
to move across landscapes. What factors determine whether, when and where
to migrate? Do these rules differ between populations. To what extent are
these rules hard-wired, within individuals and populations, and/or plastic
responses to environmental conditions. Do migrants experience different
energetic costs compared to full residents during the annual cycle?

Besides analysing data and writing manuscripts, the successful candidate
will do field work as well.

Job requirements:

Applicants must have a PhD degree at the start of this position. A
background in animal behavior and/or ecology, experience with
handling large data sets, and the analysis of animal movement data are
required. Because the successful candidate will have large amounts of
tracking data available strong statistical analytical and computational
skills are critical. Practical experience with field work is advantageous,
but not necessary. The successful candidate is also expected to have
good collaborative skills and proven abilities to publish and present
at a high international level.

The candidate can start as soon as possible and preferably before
summer 2025.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should submit a CV, names and contact information
for 3 references, and a cover letter. The cover letter should include (1)
a summary of the applicant's research so far and (2) their experience
with the analyses of movement and spatial data, and (3) 1-3 research
questions and approaches that the applicant would like to pursue within
in the blackbird project. Please send your application under this link
https://bewerbermanagement.net/en/jobposting/a5817bfa94130cc46bd015bcfb4a4634122b7bd50/apply.
For questions about the position please contact Dr. Jesko Partecke
(partecke@ab.mpg.de).

Applications will be gladly accepted before January 07, 2025.

Other links:

https://www.ab.mpg.de

https://www.ab.mpg.de/342916/partecke

"Partecke, Jesko" <partecke@ab.mpg.de>

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