Neurobiology of Swarm-Forming Locusts

Vacancy Reference Number
https://imprs-qbee.mpg.de/69117/neurobiology-of-swarm-forming-locusts-doctoral-position
Closing Date
24 Nov 2024
Salary
Salary according to the pay-scale for University employees (TVL)
Address
Konstanz/Radolfzell
Duration
3 Years

The Couzin-Fuchs group is seeking a motivated PhD candidate to join our research on the neural basis of social plasticity and swarm formation in locusts.

Locusts are notorious plague insects that in plague years threaten the food security of millions. The unpredictability of locust outbreaks is largely rooted in their adaptive nature: Locusts have evolved to thrive in both isolated and gregarious conditions and can rapidly change their behavior accordingly. The rapid transitions between solitarious and gregarious phenotypes offers an exciting model for studying social plasticity and the emergence of collective behavior. We recently found that this transition is accompanied by significant changes in olfactory processing, aiding the detection of sparse food sources in crowded environments. We are now continuing to study how and why this occurs, delving into the cellular mechanisms mediating these changes and their behavioral implications.

Join our interdisciplinary team at the neurobiology department and the Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB). As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to implement new technologies developed in our lab and CASCB and be part of a highly international, interdisciplinary and collaborative team. The University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Society are equal opportunity employers that are committed to provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

Interested candidates should apply via the IMPRS application system: https://imprs-qbee.cloud.opencampus.net/

Contact Details

For further information regarding the position, please contact Einat Couzin-Fuchs (einat.couzin@uni-konstanz.de)