The France Post-doctoral position 2008-2009

Physiologically structured population models for viability analysis
One Post-doctoral position 2008-2009
available at the Ecology-Evolution Laboratory (CNRS, UMR 7625) at the
Ecole Normale Sup?rieure (CERES-ERTI) in Paris.

Applications are invited for a one-year postdoctoral position funded by
R2DS (http://www.r2ds.centre-cired.fr/) to investigate the dynamics of
small populations with plastic life histories using physiologically
structured populations models.

Population persistence is notably conditioned by the degree of
individual variation in reproductive success, which depends on variation
in any part of the life cycle. Yet, the majority of studies that
examined population extinction have tended to ignore life history
variation and plasticity. Here, we wish to use life history models to
inform the dynamics of small populations and ask how plasticity in life
history traits influences extinction dynamics. Many aspects of life
history can interact with population dynamics and the project
concentrates on three of them, namely growth, maturation and survival.

The post-doc will explore this issue by developing models that account
for variation in life history traits using the theory of physiologically
structured populations (PSP). This theory takes into account that
physiological development (e.g. growth, maturation) depends on the
current state of the environment (e.g., temperature, food and predator
densities). In turn, the influence of the population on the environment
closes a feedback loop between environment, population and life history.
The theory of PSP models is thus particularly well-suited to study the
interaction between population dynamics and plastic life history. Small
populations are subject to stochastic fluctuation in abundance. The
project aims to study the feedback of this variability on life history
and the consequences for extinction dynamics. The models will be
parameterized with estimates from field and experimental studies
undertaken with the common lizard, a species with strong thermal and
food plasticity in life history traits.

The post-doc will be based at the Ecology-Evolution Laboratory (CNRS,
UMR 7625) at the Ecole Normale Sup?rieure (CERES-ERTI) in Paris, where
the applicant will work with David Claessen and Jean-Fran?ois Le
Galliard. This post-doc project is part of a research network on the
dynamics of small populations funded by ANR from 2008 to 2012 and will
therefore interact with a larger group of researchers. The post can
start on September 1st or October 1st 2008 and will run for one year
with a possible one year extension by applying to extended funding from
the R2DS network in spring 2009. Gross salary will be 2500 per month.
The starting date can be postponed in exceptional circumstances.

References:
Claessen, D. (2005). Alternative life-history pathways and the
elasticity of stochastic matrix models. American Naturalist 165: E27-E35.
Le Galliard, J.-F., Fitze, P. S., Ferrire, R. and J. Clobert. 2005. Sex
ratio bias, male aggression, and population collapse in lizards.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102(50):18231-18236.
Claessen, D; Van Oss, C; de Roos, AM; Persson, L. 2002. The impact of
size-dependent predation on population dynamics and individual life
history. Ecology 83 (6): 1660-1675.

Candidate profile
There are no nationality restrictions and the successful candidate will:
(1) Possess a doctoral degree in ecology and/or mathematics, dating no
more than 2 years before 1 October 2008, though the last condition may
be negotiated in exceptional circumstances.
(2) Not have worked in the hosting lab, nor have prepared his thesis
within the hosting lab, except for a return after a period of absence of
at least one year.
(3) Have strong competence in modeling, with an interest in population
dynamics, viability analyses and conservation biology and knowledge of C
programming or closely related languages.
(4) Have personal qualities needed for group work and inter-disciplinary
study.

Contact
Application: Chantal Cuisinier, tel.: +33 1 44 27 36 89, email:
Chantal.Cuisinier@snv.jussieu.fr, postal address is CNRS UMR 7625,
University Paris 6, 7 Quai St Bernard, 75005 Paris
Research project: David Claessen, tel.: +33 1 44 32 27 21, email:
david.claessen@ens.fr

How to apply
1 Applicants have until April 30 2008 to send a completed application
form available at http://jf.legalliard.free.fr/ to the Application
contact point.
2 The lab director and a local jury will select one candidate from the
application forms and contact the candidates from May 31 2008.
3 The regional office of the CNRS will be responsible for drawing up
the contract.