HU-RIZONT FELLOWSHIP IN BREEDING ECOLOGY & MIGRATION OF SHOREBIRDS POSITION OVERVIEW. We are seeking a motivated and talented field biologist to join our team. The HU-RIZONT Fellow will play a crucial role in implementing field investigations of breeding and non-breeding shorebirds. We seek applicants with strong background in evolutionary biology, animal behaviour or ecology, and willingness to learn microbial ecology. The position is part of a collaborative project "The role of migratory birds in spreading antimicrobial resistance" funded by the Hungarian Research agency (HUN-REN) for 3 years. ABOUT US: The position is based at University of Debrecen (Hungary) where our team has approximately dozen PhD students, postdocs and collaborating academics. The Fellow will be mentored by an international team of scientists from Oxford, Sheffield and Trondheim. We aim high profile publications (see below). Beyond significance in ecology, animal behaviour and evolution, our research has direct implications for biodiversity conservation by preserving species and by working with local communities to protect shorebird habitats. We work globally using an international network of scientists and conservationists, see www.szekelylab.com FURTHER DETAILS. The main task of Fellow is to carry out field investigations of both breeding and non-breeding shorebirds, use efficient microbiological sampling protocols in the field, carry out data analyses and publish papers. In addition, s/he will need to coordinate field investigations in several field sites in Europe and Africa, assist research of MSc and PhD students and possibly contribute at modest level to postgraduate teaching (all in English). We seek applicants with strong research background in one (or more) of the following fields: behavioural ecology, population ecology, field biology, wildlife conservation, disease ecology and microbiology. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in animal ecology, behavioural ecology, population demography or a related field, and a strong background in quantitative analyses. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Knowledge of programming languages such as R is required, and experience with biostatistics or demography is desirable. Proficiency in English is essential as is strong research track record matching the career stage of the applicant. Extensive field experience, bird ringing and trapping, and full driving licence are essential. DURATION: The position is available for 3 years starting immediately. The initial contract will be for one year with the possibility of extension for further two years, depending on the candidate's performance. SALARY: The gross salary is up to 1,000,000 HuF per month (approx 2,500 EURO). Living in Hungary is substantially cheaper than in Western Europe, and the salary we offer is equivalent of professorial salary in Hungary. Social and health insurance contributions are independent of salary and paid by the employer. ENVIRONMENT: The position is based in Debrecen: a vibrant and liveable city in eastern Hungary with large international student community. Debrecen has good public services, and rental housing and food are affordable. The Fellowship is based at the Department of Evolutionary Zoology. Our research team works closely with Hortobagy National Park - a UNESCO Heritage Site just outside Debrecen. HOW TO APPLY: Please send i) a cover letter explaining your research interests and suitability for the position, ii) your CV with a list of scientific publications, and iii) contact information of two referees to Ms Rita Nagy nagy.rita@science.unideb.hu Please use the subject line "HU-RIZONT Fellowship application." Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Application deadline: 28 February 2025. Selected recent publications by our team: Prof T Szekely (Debrecen/Bath), Prof Sam Sheppard (Oxford), Prof Robert Freckleton (Sheffield), Prof Brett Sandercock (Trondheim). For our complete track record, please see GoogleScholar and ResearchGate. Alfaro, M.,, B.K. Sandercock .... 2020. Habitat selection and space use of Upland Sandpipers at the nonbreeding grounds. Avian Conservation and Ecology 14:18. Amano, T., T. Szekely, ....2018. Successful conservation of global waterbird populations depends on effective governance. Nature 553: 199-202. Bulla, M. et al. 2017. Flexible parental care: Uniparental incubation in biparentally incubating shorebirds. Scientific Reports 7:12851. Kubelka, V...R. Freckleton, T. Szekely. 2018. Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680-683. Kubelka, V, B. K. Sandercock, T. Szekely, R. P. Freckleton 2021. Animal migration to northern latitudes: environmental changes and increasing threats. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 37: 30-41. McDonald, G. C., ...T. Szekely....2023. Remating opportunities and low costs underlie maternal desertion. Evolution 77: 97-109. Mills, S. C., ...R. P. Freckleton ... 2023. High sensitivity of tropical forest birds to deforestation at lower altitudes. Ecology, 104: e3867. Mourkas, E., ....T. Sz�kely .... & S. K. Sheppard. 2024. Proximity to humans is associated with anti-microbial resistant enteric pathogens in wild bird microbiomes. Current Biology 34: 3955-3965. Sandercock, B.K. 2020. Mark-recapture models for estimation of demographic parameters. In: Murray, D.L., and B.K. Sandercock (editors), Population Ecology in Practice (pp. 157-190). Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken NJ, USA. Sandercock, B.K. 2020. Population fitness has a concave relationship with migration distance in Sanderlings. Journal of Animal Ecology 89:674-677. Szekely, T. 2019. Why study plovers? The significance of non-model organisms in avian ecology, behaviour and evolution. Journal of Ornithology 160: 923-933. Szekely, T..... 2023. The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding systems. Ibis 166: 357-385. Varah, A.... R. P. Freckleton 2020. The costs of human-induced evolution in an agricultural system. Nature Sustainability, 3, 63-71. T.Szekely@bath.ac.uk Tamas Szekely (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)