POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE: The Walters Lab invites applications for a postdoctoral research associate position in behavioral ecology beginning in Fall 2016. The successful applicant will work with Principal Investigator Walters and collaborators, to combine newly-developed tracking technology with long-term demographic data and experimental studies to understand why helper acorn woodpeckers provision young that are not their own and to determine why such striking variability in provisioning behavior exists, thereby providing new insights into the ecological drivers of cooperative behavior in complex societies.
The applicant must have a PhD in behavioral ecology, population ecology, or related field and should have relevant field experience. The applicant will be based at the Hastings Reserve (Carmel Valley, California) but will also spend 2 months per year at the home institution of the PI and / or collaborators. Job Responsibilities: Oversee the field component of a long-term project examining the behavioral ecology of acorn woodpeckers at Hastings Reserve (Carmel Valley, California); Work with the PI and collaborators to combine newly-developed tracking technology with long-term demographic data and experimental studies to understand why helpers provision young that are not their own and to determine why such striking variability in provisioning behavior exists, thereby providing new insights into the ecological drivers of cooperative behavior in complex societies; Coordinate research activities, including (but not limited to): tree climbing; capturing birds to color band, sample blood, and attach nanotags; establishing and maintaining a grid of nanotag base stations; and extensive hiking; Maintain both long-term field and genetic databases; Contribute intellectually to the project’s further development and success; assist in developing questions, analyzing data, and writing up results to better fulfill the goal of understanding the proximate and ultimate factors affecting helping behavior in acorn woodpeckers; Oversee hiring, training, and mentoring of field interns integral to the project; Present results at professional meetings; Oversee a seminar series incorporating talks by visiting researchers at Hastings Reserve; Lead a weekly journal club that will incorporate REUs, field assistants, graduate students, the co-PIs, and researchers from other projects when they are on site; Conduct public outreach that includes managing film crews, providing interpretive programming to visitors of Hastings (including K-12 classes, undergraduate classes, biologists attending training workshops, extension classes, and members of the public) Applicants should submit a CV, list of publications, statement of research interests, career goals, and contact information for at least three references to ODU Research Foundation http://www.researchfoundation.odu.edu/ Click on the employment tab and follow the link for position #16010. Applicants must apply through the Research Foundation - DO NOT send application directly to the PI. Review of applications will begin 31 March 2016 and will continue until the position is filled. The position is for one year and renewable for subsequent years depending upon availability of funding. http://www.ericlwalters.org/employment.htm#California
