PhD Positions (2) in Computational Behavioural Ecology
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Employer: University of Amsterdam |
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Job location: Amsterdam Netherlands |
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Apply before: 10 Oct 2021 |
Summary
This is an interdisciplinary project drawing upon tools and concepts from ecology, neuroscience, biomechanics, computational science and machine learning. Within the broad scope of the project, each PhD student will have the opportunity to tailor their thesis to their specific research interests and expertise.
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The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is recruiting two PhD students in the field of computational behavioral ecology. These students will work on a NWO Vidi-funded project aimed at identifying the behavioural rules used by predators and prey during encounters and resolving their ecological consequences.
Predators in aquatic systems are on average five times bigger and faster than their prey, yet they only capture prey in a small fraction of their attacks. The goal of this project is to mechanistically understand how prey are able to overcome this biomechanical disadvantage to evade their predators. To do this, we will deploy underwater observatories designed specifically to continuously film predator-prey interactions among coral reef fish in the Caribbean. Using a machine learning pipeline to process these videos, we will reconstruct both the visual sensory inputs and behaviour outputs of predators and prey during interactions and use this dataset to test theory-driven hypotheses about the rules that underlie these behaviours. By identifying these 'rules of life' and using mathematical models to explore their consequences, our aim is to resolve the paradox of how prey evade their bigger, faster, stronger predators. More broadly, this work will generate fundamentally new insights about the key behavioural rules that underlie ecological interactions.
What are you going to do
This is an interdisciplinary project drawing upon tools and concepts from ecology, neuroscience, biomechanics, computational science and machine learning. Within the broad scope of the project, each PhD student will have the opportunity to tailor their thesis to their specific research interests and expertise. Thus, what you do will depend on your interests and experience, but will at least include some combination of:
developing machine learning pipelines to reconstruct fine-scale behaviour from videos of predator-prey interactions;
analyzing fine-scale behavioural data to identify behavioural rules of attack and evasion;
developing and analyzing mathematical models of predator-prey interactions and their ecological consequences;
conducting field work in the Caribbean to film predator-prey interactions among coral reef fish.
Wat do we require
A recent MSc degree in ecology, neuroscience, physics, or a related field.
Enthusiasm for research at the interface of organismal biology and ecology.
A strong quantitative skill set in data analysis and mathematical modelling, and ability to learn new concepts and (computational) methods as needed.
Affinity with scientific programming (e.g. Python, R, Matlab).
Ability to work in an inclusive, respectful work environment, and to lead and contribute to collaborative projects.
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