Centre for Ecological Sciences
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore
Announcement of Vacancy for the Position of
Postdoctoral Fellow in Nutritional Ecology
at the Macrophysiology lab
Number of vacancies: One
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Last date to apply: 15 February 2025
Start Date: 1 April 2025
Project details: Nutritional ecology of species have been shaped by evolution and is based on
the relationship between organisms and their environment. Within an individual’s lifetime,
macronutrient intake plays a critical role in how organisms develop and maintain their bodies,
and will shift in response to changes in physiological needs. In this project, we will study how
early life nutrition influences the development of morphology, behaviour, and physiology of
animals. In particular, we are interested in understanding if variation in protein and
carbohydrate ratios alter how well animals respond to future challenges. Using lizards as a
model system, we will combine field measurements with controlled experiments to link
nutrition, stress, and fear.
Position and responsibilities: We invite applications for the position of Postdoctoral Fellow for
this Nutritional Ecology project. We will offer a one-year contract to the successful applicant. A
successful applicant should be highly self-motivated, independent and enterprising, and will fulfil
the following responsibilities of the position:
1. Conduct field-work to track and capture lizards (Psammophilus dorsalis) from the wild
2. Conduct experiments at the outdoor field station in Kuduregere (North Bangalore)
3. Conduct molecular analyses (genetics, barcoding, protein and carbohydrate assays)
4. Mentor students and interns working on the project
5. Data management, analysis and writing up of results for reports and manuscripts
Chief responsibilities: Run one of the experiments in the project, supervise junior researchers,
and assist in data analysis and report and manuscript writing.
Candidates must possess the following basic qualifications/skills:
• A Ph.D. degree in the ecological or allied sciences.
• Field experience and knowledge of capture and handling of animals (lizards, preferable).
• Experience with some wet-lab techniques (e.g. genetics, barcoding, protein assays).
• Quantitative skills, especially statistics, in R or other programming languages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English as demonstrated by firstauthor scientific publications.
• Valid 4-wheel driver’s licence.
Students without a PhD but with at least 4 years experience in ecological research, will also be
considered.
Location: The position will be based at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, Bengaluru, but
will also involve travel to nearby field sites.
Remuneration: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and work experience within
the range of Rs.47,000/- to Rs. 54,000/- per month + 30% HRA (in accordance with GOI PDF
scales).
Funding: DBT-Wellcome Trust India Alliance project “Linking Nutrition to the Ecology of Fear”
How to apply:
* Submit a cover letter (not exceeding one page) clearly conveying why you consider yourself to
be a suitable candidate for this position. Please highlight your field and lab skills.
* Submit a complete CV, with the names of two referees along with their contact details.
Please email your application to Prof. Maria Thaker mthaker@iisc.ac.in with
the subject ‘PDF Nutrition 2025’
Applications without this subject line or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Short listed candidates will be invited for a online or in-person interview by the end of February
2025, with the position starting on 1st April 2025.
About CES
The Centre for Ecological Sciences, founded in 1983 with the support of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests offers exciting opportunities for research in a variety of areas in
ecology. Over the past 25 years, and more, we have instilled a tradition of rigorous enquiry in
diverse areas of ecology, evolution and behavior.
About Macrophysiology Lab
The Macrophysiology lab takes an integrative and comparative approach to understand
phenotypic form and function. In particular, we are interested in how sexual selection and
predation risk shapes trait variation, and the ways in which species can adapt to environmental
change (e.g. urbanization and global warming). We use a combination of manipulative field
studies, controlled laboratory assays, and multi-species comparative approaches. Although we
are not restricted to any particular taxonomic group, most of our experimental studies on
behaviour, colour, nutrition, and endocrine mechanisms use herpetofauna and the landscapelevel studies of animal movement decisions involve mammals.
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