The University of Lincoln is offering a PhD studentship to work on a project on genetic relatedness and social complexity in the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), under the supervision of Drs Bonaventura Majolo (http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/bmajolo) and Malgorzata Pilot. This project aims to investigate the link between inter- and intra-group social behaviour and the modulating effect of kin relationships between individuals in a wild population of macaques in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco.
This is a part of a longitudinal project on the socio-ecology of the Barbary macaque run by Dr Majolo that started in January 2008 (http://barbarymacaque.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk). Several groups of macaques are habituated for research purposes at the field site. The University of Lincoln is fully equipped for field work and DNA analysis. This project requires the student to spend approximately 13 months in Morocco and the rest of the time in Lincoln for lab work, data analysis and writing up of the PhD thesis.
The work at the field site is physically and mentally demanding. The field site is between 1,400 and 1,900m above sea level and weather conditions can vary dramatically across the year, with temperature ranging between 35ºC to -5ºC and snow in the winter months. The successful applicant will live in the town of Azrou in an apartment block with basic amenities including internet access.
Applicants should:
– Have a background in animal behaviour, primatology, population genetics, anthropology or related fields;
– Have a strong interest in social behaviour research and motivation to pursue a research career;
– Have some knowledge and experience of behavioural data collection methods and fieldwork;
– Have at least a basic knowledge of population genetics.
The ability to speak French and/or Arabic is desirable but not essential to this post.
The fully-funded studentship (3.5 years) is open to UK and EU citizens. All Candidates must satisfy the University’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for studentships of an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) or an appropriate Masters degree or equivalent. A minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 7 (or equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language. The expected start date is September 2014.
To apply, please send a covering letter outlining your research interests and proposed approach (up to 1 page A4) with an accompanying CV to studentshipscss@lincoln.ac.uk by 5:00pm (UK time) on 18 April 2014.
Candidates will be notified w/c 5thMay of the outcome of the process and if invited to interview, these are anticipated to take place w/c 26thMay.
For further details see: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studyatlincoln/postgraduateprogrammes/postgraduate research/studentships/