Post-Doc | Integrated population modeling, Switzerland

[Michael Schaub]

Post-doctoral position:
Integrated population modelling of birds

The Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach (Switzerland) is seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher to develop and apply integrated population models on bird data sets. Integrated population models analyse different demographic data sets (e.g. population counts, capture-recapture data, data on productivity) simultaneously with the advantages of increased parameter precision and of the ability to estimate demographic processes for which no data have been sampled. This powerful technique is relatively novel (Besbeas et al., Biometrics 2002), but is increasingly used and applied (Schaub & Abadi, J. Ornithol., 2011). In the current project, the candidate will develop integrated population models for lapwings in order to investigate demographic reasons of the large scale decline of this species. The available data sets are heterogenous and thus perfectly suited for a creative candidate that will play with the flexibility of the integrated population models.

The ideal candidate has solid experience in population modelling, in Bayesian statistical modelling and is a proficient programmer in the R and BUGS languages. Further, a demonstrated ability and willingness to produce high-quality publications will be an important selection criterion.

The work will be conducted in collaboration with Michael Schaub (michael.schaub@vogelwarte.ch) who is available for further information. The working place is Sempach (Switzerland).

The position is full time and initially for one year, but may be extended to a second year. The ideal starting date is 1 August 2015, but earlier or later starts are also possible. Information on the Institute can be found at http://www.vogelwarte.ch/en/home.html

Applications (preferably by e-mail) should be submitted to Michael Schaub (michael.schaub@vogelwarte.ch), Swiss Ornithological Institute, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland, before 30 April 2015 and include a letter of motivation detailing research interests and experiences, a current CV and contact information of three academic referees. Interviews will tentatively take place in May 2015.