PHD STUDENTSHIP

at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Website:
https://sites.google.com/site/kaspardelhey/

Location:
Melbourne, Australia

Duration:
3 years; Starting date: Mid 2012

Job Type:
Student

Job Description:
Ph.D. Studentship available at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Project title: “Are human-induced changes in visual environment affecting bird signaling and camouflage?” Supervised by Dr. Kaspar Delhey, as part of a DECRA project (DE120102323) awarded by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The project will assess the effect of habitat degradation due to human disturbances of the visual environment on signalling and camouflage of Australian woodland birds. This project will combine work from museum collections with field-work in the box-ironbark woodlands of Victoria, south-east Australia. The candidate will measure coloration of bird specimens and their natural backgrounds using a combination of UV/VIS digital photography and spectrometry, and analyse these data in the context of current psychophysical models of avian colour vision. Strong quantitative skills are highly desirable and familiarity with the methods of colour measurement and the R statistical environment would be very advantageous.

To Apply:
To Apply: Send enquiries and applications (consisting of expressions of interest and a CV detailing relevant experience, publication list, academic grades and names and contact details of two-three referees) to Kaspar Delhey (E-mail: kaspar.delhey@monash.edu , web: https://sites.google.com/site/kaspardelhey/). Applications will be reviewed from March 2012 until the position is filled.