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PhD Programme in Biology (27.08.2021)
Mechanisms determining predatory behavior: insights from an experimental evolution on bank vole

Pursuant to § 7 sections 1 and 3 of Resolution No. 5/I/2020 of the Senate of the Jagiellonian University of 29 January 2020 on: the rules of recruitment for the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences at the Jagiellonian University in the academic year 2020/2021, the Director of the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences announces a competition for 1 doctoral student with a scholarship financed from the research project funds as part of the PhD programme in Biology.

Within the OPUS 20 project entitled "Mechanisms determining predatory behavior: insights from an experimental evolution on bank vole", a commission set up at the School will conduct recruitment for the  PhD programme in Biology in the academic year 2020/21.

The project manager, dr Edyta Sadowska offers an opportunity to complete the doctorates in the following area: "Mechanisms determining predatory behavior: insights from an experimental evolution on bank vole".

After the interviews and the evaluation of the candidates, the Chairman of the committee presents a report to the Director containing a list of candidates recommended for admission to the school as part of the research project.

Schedule of the competition:

  1. Opening of the competition: 10 September 2021r.
  2. Application submission deadline: 19 September 2021r.
  3. Entrance exams: 22-24 September 2021 r. 
  4. Announcement of results: 27 September 2021 r.
  5. Enrolment: 29-30 September 2021 r.

Detailed terms and procedures of admission

Project description

One of the main challenges in biology is to understand the evolution of complex adaptations that allow realization of the astonishing variety of "lifestyles." Predator-prey interactions are important components in ecological communities, where under the pressure of natural selection, predators have evolved a variety of behavioral, morphological and/or physiological adaptations for detecting, catching, killing, and digesting prey. The examples include the wolf with its cooperate hunting skills, the cheetah - the world’s fastest land animal, the golden eagle with excellent eyesight that allows to spot even a small prey from the great height, or the grasshopper mouse Onychomys, hunting on cotton rats that are three times their weight. The predatory behavior is important not only from the ecological and evolutionary, but also from biomedical perspective. It is surprising that our knowledge concerning biological mechanism determining the predatory aggression is very limited, especially in comparison with that concerning conspecific-directed aggressive behavior.
The main question to be addressed in the project:
  1. Characterization of details of the predatory behavior to learn whether the selection increased only the propensity to attack, or also the hunting skills.
  2. Is selection for predatory behavior caused changes in conspecific-directed aggression?
  3. Assessing the contribution of “nature – nurture” effects on the behavioral differences between the predatory and control lines.
  4. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying the differences due to selection for predatory behavior, we will investigate hormones, neurotransmitters and brain activity activated by recent experience with crickets.
We will use our unique experimental evolution model system: lines of a rodent, the bank vole, selected for predatory behavior. The biochemical and neurological methods will be used to uncover the mechanisms underlying the differences due to selection for predatory behaviour. We will apply a cross-fostering experiment in which newborn voles will be exchanged between mothers from the selected and control lines. This will allow to test whether rearing by a predatory mother increases predatory propensity of an individual independently of its genetic background. Samples of tissues will be preserved for follow-up project focused on for investigation of the molecular background (gene expression level).
For further information please contact Edyta Sadowska (edyta.sadowska@uj.edu.pl)
 

Candidate profile

  • MSc in life science (biology, zoology, neurology, evolution, or related). 
  • Good communication skills, good level of spoken and written English. 
  • Previous experience in statistical analysis of biological data.
An additional advantage will be:
  • Research experience with animals (preferably rodents) and behavioral or neuro-physiological laboratory. 
  • Achievements such as publications or conference presentations are considered advantageous. 
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