Funded PhD: How do humans recognise kin?

Lisa DeBruine is now taking applications for a funded PhD student on her ERC project, How do humans recognise kin?

The PhD student, with guidance from the PI and two postdoctoral RAs, will be responsible for designing studies to test the effects of potential kinship cues on prosocial and sexual behavior, recruiting and testing participants, creating custom face stimuli, preparing saliva samples for MHC analysis, taking 3D face images, and processing 3D face images.

The candidate should possess a 1st or 2.1 Honours degree in Psychology, Biology, Computer Science or equivalent. Having MSc or research experience in a related area is an advantage.

The form states that applications are due by 15 January 2016, but I will be accepting applications until a suitable candidate can be found.

“Origins of Genus Homo” live webcast

Join the live webcast! “Origins of Genus Homo” is the topic of a free public symposium hosted by the UCSD/Salk Center for Academic Research & Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) on Friday, Feb 5th (1:00 – 5:30 pm PT), co-chaired by Steven Churchill (Duke Univ) and Philip Rightmire (Harvard Univ).

Despite discoveries of remarkable new fossils in recent years, the evolutionary events surrounding the origins of genus Homo are incompletely understood. This CARTA symposium explores evidence bearing on the emergence of our genus, focusing on possible antecedents to Homo, changes in diet and body form as Australopithecus evolved toward Homo, ancient species within the genus, and evolutionary processes likely operating 2.5 – 1.5 million years ago.

Access the live webcast here on Feb 5:
https://carta.anthropogeny.org/events/origins-genus-homo

Postdoc in Evolutionary Social Psychology Lab

A postdoctoral position is available with the Evolutionary Social Psychology Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. This is a 2-year position and will involve working closely and collaboratively with Dr. Joshua Ackerman and his graduate and undergraduate students. The lab’s research involves applying evolutionary theory to topics in threat management, life history effects, intergroup cognition, romantic relationships, and decision making. Our primary focus is on the range of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors that occur in response to current and historical infectious disease threats. We also plan to incorporate physiological measurement linking immune system functioning to psychological outcomes. Research includes laboratory and field work using both experimental and correlational designs.

The start date is negotiable; however, a start date prior to September 2016 is requested. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. If feasible, brief interviews may be scheduled at the SPSP 2016 Conference in San Diego. For additional details, and to apply, go to: http://umjobs.org/job_detail/119700/research_fellow.

PhD-student position in evolutionary biology/psychology

The StatUA Statistics Center at the University of Antwerp are currently seeking a motivated candidate to work in the field of evolutionary psychology, focusing on the biological relevance of asymmetry and masculinity in human sexual selection. More details can be found at https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/jobs/vacancies/ap/2015bapfwetex311/

Graduate Student Fellowships in Cognitive Science at Indiana University Bloomington

The Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University Bloomington has multiple five-year graduate student fellowships available to study the evolution of human cognition.  Research areas include cognitive aspects of human technological and behavioral evolution, evolution of expertise, evolution of the human brain, language evolution, and how evolved minds create and navigate cultural spaces.  Training opportunities include experimental archaeology and fieldwork, brain imaging and fMRI, computational modeling and simulation, and other aspects of cognitive science.  An interdisciplinary seminar with frequent visiting experts and international workshops and outreach are also part of this initiative.  Applications are due by January 8, 2016.

To apply, go to http://cogs.indiana.edu/graduate/cogevadmissions.php.  For more information please contact any of the following: Peter Todd [pmtodd@indiana.edu] (Director of Cognitive Science Program, evolutionary cognitive psychology, search in complex spaces), Kathy Schick [kaschick@indiana.edu] and Nicholas Toth [toth@indiana.edu] (palaeolithic archaeology, paleoanthropology), Tom Schoenemann [toms@indiana.edu] (brain & language evolution, brain imaging, endocasts), Colin Allen [colallen@indiana.edu] (evolution of expertise). Or you Can mail us from your Gmail Account

URL: http://www.agmaillogin.com/

Call for unpublished data: artificial surveillance cues for a meta-analysis

The kinds of surveillance cues I am referring to are generally images of watching eyes — drawings or photographs — and have also been referred to as eyespots.  Stimuli that have been used in the past include Horus eyes, Kabuki eyes, Kismet the robot, three black dots in the configuration of an upside-down triangle (suggesting two eyes and a mouth), and photos of watching eyes.

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Chapter Proposals for “Cognition and Communication in Extraterrestrial Intelligence”

Chapter proposals are invited for an edited book titled “Cognition and Communication in Extraterrestrial Intelligence.” Contributions are invited from a range of disciplines including but not limited to biology, linguistics, psychology, ethology, artificial intelligence, computer science, cognitive semiotics, philosophy, and communications. Chapters should focus on the possible nature of cognition and/or communication of intelligence – either biological or artificial – that may exist elsewhere in the galaxy.

Interested authors should send a 400-word abstract, 200-word biography, and sample of a previously published chapter or article to Douglas Vakoch at dvakoch@setiinternational.org by January 15, 2016.

For additional details, see http://bit.ly/1Nw9sVv.

Postdoc: Evolution & Economics of Gender, UNSW Australia

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on an Australian Research Council Discovery Project titled “On the origins and persistence of gender: combining evolutionary and economic approaches to study sex differences and cultural variations“.

The project is a collaboration between Scientia Professor Rob Brooks (Evolution, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences UNSW), Associate Professor Pauline Grosjean (Economics, UNSW Business School) and Professor Paul Seabright (Institute of Advanced Studies, Toulouse). Both Brooks and Grosjean are members of UNSW’s Evolution & Ecology Research Centre (E&ERC).
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Assistant Professor of Psychology, Oakland University (Quantitative Psychology)

The Department of Psychology at Oakland University invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in QUANTITATIVE PSYCHOLOGY at the Assistant Professor level beginning Fall, 2016. Area of specialization is open, but preference will be given to candidates whose primary research interests complement those of existing faculty. A market competitive salary plus excellent fringe benefits are provided.

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