Cognitive Neuroethology - Australie -

Two Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarships (MQRES) for
PhD research in Cognitive Neuroethology are available in the laboratory
of Dr Andrew Barron at Macquarie University's Centre for the Integrative
Study of Animal Behaviour (CISAB,
http://galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au/~cisab/) (Sydney, Australia).



Possible research topics include:



*1.* Analysis of the neural mechanisms underlying the honeybee's
symbolic dance language. Dance behaviour is the only clear example of
symbolic communication in invertebrates and has become a classic study
in animal behaviour, but the neural mechanisms generating this symbolic
language system are completely unknown.



*2.* Neural mechanisms of reward processing and reward-seeking
motivation in honeybees. Forager bees spend their lives seeking and
collecting floral rewards to deliver to their nest mates. The aim of
the project is to identify the neuromolecular basis of this
reward-seeking drive, and to compare the mechanistic bases of reward
seeking for individual versus colony benefit.



*3.* A comparative analysis of the mechanisms of queen control in social
bees. In 'primitive' insect societies queens maintain control by
attacking workers, but paradoxically largest societies are also most
harmonious. In 'advanced' insect societies there has been a transition
in the mechanism of queen control from assault to pheromonal signals.
The project will explore how this transition has occurred and how
advanced societies evolved a state of social harmony.



For further information and discussion regarding these projects,
prospective applicants should contact Dr Andrew Barron
(andy@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au <mailto:andy@galliform.bhs.mq.edu.au>).



MQRES scholarships include a stipend currently AU$19,616 p.a. tax exempt
(2007), allowances for relocation and thesis costs, international
tuition fees and overseas health cover for a maximum of 3.5 years
tenure. Additional support is available for research expenses and
travel (visiting overseas laboratories and attending conferences).
Casual teaching opportunities may also be available within the Department.



Applicants should have completed qualifications equivalent to a
four-year Australian Bachelor degree with First Class Honours (such as a
Masters degree with substantial thesis component). Experience in some of
the following areas would be ideal: molecular biology, animal behaviour,
neurobiology, behavioural ecology, neuroethology.



Further information on equivalence and other conditions for the
scholarship are available from the Higher Degree Research Office,
telephone: +61-2-9850 7663, e-mail: hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au
<mailto:hdrschol@vc.mq.edu.au>, or download from our website:
www.research.mq.edu.au/students/scholarships/pages/CISAB_CognitiveNeuroethology
<http://www.research.mq.edu.au/students/scholarships/pages/CISAB_CognitiveNeuroethology>
.



Applications should be forwarded to:



The Scholarships Officer

Higher Degree Research Office

Cottage C4C

Macquarie University NSW 2109

AUSTRALIA

Andrew Barron <andrew.barron@mq.edu.au>