The biophysics of aerial electroreception in arthropods

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the groups of Professor Daniel Robert at the School of Biological Sciences and Dr. Isaac Chenchiah at the School of Mathematics. The post is funded for three years and is supported by a grant from the UK BBSRC. The project is entitled “The biophysics of aerial electroreception in arthropods” and seeks to elucidate the biophysical sensory mechanisms subtending electroreception in air. As one of the two postdoctoral positions supported, the main responsibilities of this post will be to provide high-quality scientific expertise to help resolve current issues in the field of aerial electroreception. Assets will be the demonstrated experience in sensory biology, neuroethology and neurophysiology, and develop own ideas on innovative investigations. Experience in neuroimaging or microCT will be of advantage. Applications are thus invited from potential candidates with background in sensory biology or neuroscience with aptitude in neurophysiology. The successful candidate will be expected to work within a multidisciplinary team, with other associated PDRAs and members of the sensory biophysics and bionanoscience research group, and collaborators in Mathematics.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in biology, or have completed their PhD studies and have already submitted their thesis. This position will be attractive to a highly motivated individual with a keen interest in science at the biology-physics interface.

References to literature:

Clarke D, Whitney H, Sutton G, Robert D (2013) Detection and learning of floral electric fields by

bumblebees. Science 340:66-69

Sutton G, Clarke D, Morley E, Robert D (2016) Mechanosensory hairs in bumble bees (Bombus

terrestris) detect weak electric fields. PNAS 113:7261-7265

Morley EL, Robert D (2018) Electric fields elicit ballooning in spiders. Current Biology. 28:2324-2330

doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.057

More information can be found at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/people/daniel-robert/overview.html. For further details of application procedure or informal enquiry, please contact Prof D. Robert at <D.Robert@Bristol.ac.uk>.

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.

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