PhD opportunity in honey bee neuroethology at Macquarie

Expressions of interest are invited for a PhD in cognitive neuroethology at Macquarie University’s Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB, http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/). The project would be supervised by Dr Andrew Barron and is open to Australian and overseas students.

Potential topics include:

1. Analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social behaviour and communication in honey bees.
2. Development of an invertebrate model system for studying drug abuse and addiction.
3. Exploration of the capacity of the honey bee for reflection, planning and cognitive thought.

Experience in Animal Behaviour, Molecular Biology and Neurobiology would be valuable. Demonstrated experience in the conduct of laboratory and field experiments, a working understanding of hypothesis testing and statistics, and evidence of research capability through publications or presentations at scientific meetings, would be an advantage.

Several scholarship options are available for PhD research at Macquarie University, including the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for students from Australia or New Zealand, and Macquarie University's MQRES scholarship for students of any nationality with a record of high academic / research performance. These scholarships include a stipend (AU$20,007 p.a. tax exempt as of 2008) for a maximum of 3.5 years tenure, as well as allowances for relocation and thesis costs. For international students the scholarship would also cover international tuition fees and overseas health cover. Australian PhDs do not include coursework, and 3.5 years is sufficient tenure within which to complete. Students on scholarships are not obliged to contribute to teaching, but may choose to do so to gain experience and to supplement their income.

For further information about this project and scholarships, and as an expression of interest, please contact Dr Andrew Barron (Andrew.Barron@mq.edu.au) before 30 September 2008. In your email, please include electronic copies of your CV, as well as academic transcripts (including grades) and a statement of your research interests.