application deadline: 5. 2. 2012
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Doctoral student position at University of Oldenburg: the effects of electromagnetic noise on the magnetic compass mechanism in migratory birds


We are currently offering a doctoral student position. The employed student (E13/2) should perform behavioural experiments with migratory birds under specific stationery and oscillating magnetic fields. The project is performed in close cooperation with the chemistry department at Oxford University (Prof. Hore and Prof. Timmel).

You should be (1) interested in the area of bird navigation mechanisms and magnetic sensing mechanisms in general; (2) have enough physical understanding to independently understand and design the magnetic field conditions; (3) aware that a good Ph.D. project requires hard work and personal dedication; (4) speaking reasonably gut English. The ideal candidate has a strong background in behavioural biology and is willing to acquire additional skills in physics/quantum mechanics. A masters level education in natural sciences is mandatory.

Our group is located at the University of Oldenburg, Germany and is part of several collaborative centres of excellence both nationally and internationally. These collaborations will give you access to a very wide range of superb modern equipment, techniques and expertise. Our working group is also member of the DFG Forschergruppe “Dynamic and stability of retinal processing” and of the international graduate school “Neurosensory sciences”. Therefore, you will become part of a larger team working closely together on related questions. For more information about our group, see http://www.member.uni-oldenburg.de/henrik.mouritsen/

If this sounds interesting to you and if you are 1) in the top 20% of students in your cohort, 2) if you are seriously interested in the position, and 3) will be able to show up for a personal interview in Oldenburg, please send an application including your CV, names and addresses of at least two references knowing you well, and university and high school certificates as soon as possible to Margrit Kanje, IBU, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, D-26111 Oldenburg or to email address: margrit.kanje@uni-oldenburg.de The application deadline is 5th of February. Our ideal starting date would be 1st March or 1st April.