I seek 2 motivated
Ph.D. students to join the project: ”Ecophysiology of learning: The effects of
short- and long-term changes in ambient temperature on learning performance in
a model songbird”, funded by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS
grant.
Project: Given
current increase in climate unpredictability and short-term variability, it is
particularly important to understand the consequences of environmental
variation for cognitive performance. On the one hand, highly variable
environmental conditions could induce physiological costs that may set limits
to cognitive functions. On the other hand, environmental fluctuations could
promote cognitive mechanisms responsible for more versatile behaviors. Those
two options could be reconciled if physiological costs are reduced by pre-natal
programming and/or developmental plasticity. Yet so far, the research in the
field of environmental dependency of learning performance and potential for its
modulation at early life stages is scarce. The main aim of the current project
is to study the effect of temperature fluctuations in different time scales on
learning efficiency in a model songbird, the zebra finch. Specifically, we will
verify the following hypotheses: (i) Highly
variable ambient temperature during development affects efficiency of the
learning processes. (ii) Maternal effects modify the consequences of variable
ambient temperature experienced during development on the efficiency of
learning processes. (iii) Mismatch between environmental variability
experienced during development and during adulthood affects learning processes
at adulthood.
Description of work: The research team will consist of PI (Joanna Rutkowska: http://iron2.eko.uj.edu.pl/rutkowska/index_e.htm),
technical assistant and two PhD students. The study will be carried out at the
Institute of Environmental Sciences of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków,
on a captive population of zebra finches established in 2000. It will involve
breeding the birds, cross-fostering eggs, performing basic morphological
measurements, and physiological tests such as analyses of blood parameters and
hormone levels. Both PhD students will be trained to perform the practical part
of the project, guided in skills needed for a successful scientific career, and
encouraged to develop his/her own ideas.
Position 1)
The PhD student will record and analyse singing performance of fathers/tutors
and all of their male offspring. To assess learning accuracy, the student will
then assess repertoire size and extract repetitions of each syllable. Dr.
Carlos A. Botero (https://biology.wustl.edu/people/carlos-botero) is a collaborator on
this project and he will provide training of song analyses.
Position 2)
The PhD student will carry out tests on learning performance in relation to
food acquisition in juveniles and adults: (i) problem-solving tasks providing
an integrative measure of perception, reasoning and decision making; and in
adults only: (ii) learning associations, (iii) spatial learning and (iv) social
learning.
References:
Botero, C.A.
et al. 2015. Evolutionary tipping points
in the capacity to adapt to environmental change. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences 112:184-189.
Maille, A. and Schradin, C. 2017. Ecophysiology of cognition: How do environmentally induced changes in physiology affect cognitive performance? Biological Reviews 92:1101-1112.
Monaghan, P. 2008. Early growth conditions, phenotypic development and environmental change. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: 363:1635-1645.
Maille, A. and Schradin, C. 2017. Ecophysiology of cognition: How do environmentally induced changes in physiology affect cognitive performance? Biological Reviews 92:1101-1112.
Monaghan, P. 2008. Early growth conditions, phenotypic development and environmental change. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: 363:1635-1645.
Requirements:
MSc in Biology or Animal Psychology and fluency in English. Experience in analyses
of sonograms or any behavioural procedures planned in the current project, and
previous research experience will be an additional asset.
Financing: The
project is financed by the National Science Centre, which ensures a PhD student
with a monthly tax-free research stipend of 4500 PLN for three years and a possibility
of a short foreign internship. This stipend may be combined with the standard
Ph.D. program scholarship if the student is accepted to the doctoral school in
one of the following programs:
English-language:
Ph.D. Program in Biology: https://wb.uj.edu.pl/studia/phd-biology,
https://wb.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/studia/phd-biology/recruitment
Polish language:
https://wb.uj.edu.pl/studia/studia-3-stopnia-biologia/rekrutacja
Application:
The candidates are asked to e-mail Dr. Joanna Rutkowska (joanna.rutkowska_@_uj.edu.pl) attaching
PDF files with 1) a cover letter explaining their background and interest in
the project; 2) a CV. Contact details of two academics who can provide a
confidential reference, should be in the body of the email. The review of
applications is ongoing; please apply by 11th June 2019 to ensure full
consideration in the June recruitment to the Doctoral School. The selected candidate
or candidates will be assisted with a formal application to the Doctoral School.
If the positions are not filled, there will be a possibility of an Autumn
recruitment.
Starting date:
1st October
2019: for candidates who successfully recruit
to the Doctoral School
1st January
2020: for candidates who do not wish to join the Doctoral School.
