2 POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS: VISUAL TARGET DETECTION IN HAWAIIAN DAMSELFLIES and WING VEIN EVOLUTION IN FLYING INSECTS UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. I am seeking two highly motivated postdocs to work on:
Visual target detection behavior, morphology, and visual performance in damselflies: The Hawaiian damselfly genus Megalagrion is an endemic adaptive radiation with extensive color variation and extreme ecological diversification in terms of breeding habitat (light environment) . Vision is important for foraging (identifying insect prey), identifying sexual partners (females are often cryptic), as well as avoiding predators. Thus, learning the fundamental mechanisms by which these animals with simple visual systems accomplish very difficult visual tasks may have broad
implications for their ecology and evolution, in addition to possible practical applications.
Wing Vein Evolution in Flying Insects: The material properties of insect wings are widely believe to be conferred by the structure and organization of wing veins. We will conduct a broad-based comparative study to quantify wing vein diversity, model how the morphological features of the veins contribute to the material properties of the wing, and how this in turn affects the aerodynamic performance of the wing in flight. Data collected will include confocal microscopy, SEM, and estimates of fluid flow via light microscopy. Morphological data will be used to inform computational
models using genetic algorithms to "evolve" wing vein patterns subject to "fitness" imposed by aerodynamics. Models will be validated by field tests of wing damage and flight performance.
Candidates should have the following: Drive and motivation to solve difficult scientific problems. Good communication/ interpersonal skills, good experimental skills and experience in either animal behavior, visual or neurophysiology, or kinematic analysis using high-speed video for postdoc 1 and candidates for postdoc 2 should have good experimental skills and experience with microscopy, kinematic analysis using high-speed video, or morphometrics with experience with image analysis. Demonstrated ability to do field and lab work. Self-starter and creative problem-solver. Both postdocs must have some familiarity with scientific computer
programming and excellent quantitative skills.
Desirable qualifications: Candidates experienced in the R programming language and with solid data analysis skills are preferred. Candidates interested in extending the project to address major questions in behavior, sensory physiology, or evolutionary ecology are particularly welcome. Fabrication skills. Experience with insects a plus.
Candidates interested in extending the project to address major questions in behavior, sensory physiology, or evolutionary ecology are particularly welcome.
The Butler lab is in the Department of Zoology at the University of Hawaii, studies the evolution of morphology from functional, structural, and adaptive (evolutionary) perspectives. Other projects in the lab include: the evolution of sexual dimorphism in lizards and damselflies, locomotor biomechanics and the physical effects of pregnancy in lizards, opsin evolution in damselflies, and direct modeling approaches to phylogenetic comparative methods.
We have a dynamic network of colleagues and resources available via: the Bishop Museum, Pacific Biomedical Research Center, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology,
Kewalo Marine Laborator y, Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, as well as the Bekesy Laboratory of Neurobiology.
Appointment is initially for one year, renewable for second year based on satisfactory performance. Competitive stipend. Start date flexible. Positions subject to availability of funds.
E-mail inquiries are welcome to mbutler@hawaii. edu Applications (preferably by e-mail) should include cover letter, CV, names and contact info for 3 references, pdf's of two most significant publications or manuscripts.
Review of applications begins February 1, 2008 and will continue until filled.
Marguerite A. Butler
Department of Zoology
University of Hawaii
2538 McCarthy Mall, Edmondson 259
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: 808-956-4713
Lab: 808-956-5867
FAX: 808-956-9812
Dept: 808-956-8617
http://ww w.hawaii.edu/ zoology/faculty/ butler.html
http://www2. hawaii.edu/ ~mbutler
http://www.hawaii. edu/zoolog y/
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