Recruitment for the Doctoral School

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Mechanisms and functions of coordinated acoustic displays in the little crake (Zapornia parva)

Details
Code SD-NBiol-G50
Organizational unit Doctoral School of Natural Sciences
Area/discipline Biological sciences
Form of studies Full-time
Level of education Third cycle
Language(s) of instruction English, Polish
Admission limit 1
Duration 8 semesters
Recruitment committee address Wydział Biologii UAM ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, Poznań, mgr Katarzyna Łosak
Office opening hours 9.00-14.00
WWW address https://amu.edu.pl/doktoranci/szkola-doktorska/rekrutacja/rekrutacja-20242025
Required document
  • Documents entitling to study
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There is currently no active phase.
Past phases in this registration:
  • Phase 1 (15.08.2024 00:00 – 05.09.2024 23:59)

Additional recruitment to the Doctoral School of Natural Sciences  beyond the limit of places

Project description:    

In many animal species, individuals coordinate their acoustic or visual signals, either to each other or to an external rhythm source. The result is very spectacular and precise displays. The displays of different species may look similar, but they may rely on different mechanisms and have different functions in communication. For example, in insects and amphibians, coordination is based on the synchronization of regular oscillations in the nervous system and is usually the result of competition between individuals, whereas in birds, individuals coordinate note by note, which is usually the result of cooperation. 

Humans have the ability to synchronize with external rhythms, such as in music, and to make continuous corrections even where the rhythm is complex. In doing so, they do not follow individual sounds, but rather match the rhythm and follow accents in a series of sounds. In addition to humans, the ability to follow rhythm has also been observed in some insects, such as fireflies, which can synchronize their flashes by the thousands. However, the process of achieving synchronization is much simpler in insects than in humans and differs on many levels. Surprisingly, in the hundreds of millions of years that have separated humans from insects, no species has been found capable of reproducing rhythm in a similar way. Our preliminary experiments and observations with little crakes (Zapornia parva) have shown that these birds can indeed coordinate with the rhythm of their partner in very precise and rapid vocal duets.  

The main goal of the project is to investigate what specific mechanism is responsible for this synchronization. To this end, we will conduct a series of field experiments and observations, using a range of bioacoustic techniques, including interactive playback and microphone arrays.  

The research will be conducted in the Masurian Lake District for 3-4 months each year. This work requires a lot of physical and mental endurance and independence. Therefore, the candidate should demonstrate experience and motivation for field work in natural conditions. If you have questions about the project or doubts about your qualifications, please contact the project director before applying (rek@amu.edu.pl).

Principal investigator: prof. UAM dr hab. Paweł Ręk  NCN 2022/45/B/NZ8/0084

Recruitment:

Selection Committeee       

         prof. UAM dr hab. Paweł Ręk - chairman 

  • prof. dr hab. Tomasz Osiejuk
  • dr hab. Michał Budka
  • prof. dr hab. Witold Wachowiak
  • prof. dr hab. Natalia Kuczyńska-Kippen
  • dr Katarzyna Łosak - seecretary

Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

·           acceptance of documents: from 15 August to 5 September, 2024
·         admission process: from 6 to 10 September, 2024
·         announcement of the list of candidates qualified for admission: 18 September, 2024
·         submission of paper documents: from 18 to 29 September 2024. 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

Two-stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

            An applicant for admission to a doctoral school shall register in the IRK (Internetowa Rejestracja Kandydatów – Candidate Internet Registration) system and submit documents in electronic form.
          Candidates are required to:  
1)    complete the registration form and attach an electronic photograph of 20 mm x 25 mm at a resolution of at least 300 dpi;
2)    specify the scientific discipline in which the candidate will be trained at the doctoral school;
3)    consent to the processing of candidate’s data for admission purposes;
4)    enter the results of the diploma examinations;
5)    attach a CV;
6)    attach a scan of a letter of motivation, signed in their own handwriting, indicating the scientific discipline in which the candidate wishes to obtain a doctoral degree;
7)    enclose a scan of a copy of a higher education diploma confirming the attainment of a qualification at level 7 of the Polish Qualifications Framework, or, in the case of graduates from the academic year 2023/2024, who have not yet been awarded a diploma, a certificate confirming the attainment of a qualification at level 7 of the Polish Qualifications Framework. In the case of candidates who apply for admission to doctoral school on the basis of the highest academic achievement, the following is required respectively: for graduates of first-degree studies, a diploma of completion of these studies with a supplement, and for students after the 3rd year of uniform master's studies, a certificate of the average point score obtained from years 1 to 3, together with a transcript;
8)    attach a scan of a hand-signed declaration that they do not plan to enrol in another doctoral school and that they do not hold a doctoral degree;
9)    attach a scan of a hand-signed statement of documented achievements and documents confirming these achievements - the achievements to be evaluated should be indicated:
a)    up to 3 - in the case of scientific achievements;
               b)    up to 3 - in the case of other achievements; 
10)  attach a scan of a hand-signed proposal of an original research project, and in the case of admission in connection with the implementation of a research project - the author's concept of the implementation of the grant project, together with a bibliography (up to 8 pages of a standard typescript, ax. 15,000 characters with spaces);
11)  attach a scan of the hand-signed application for admission to the doctoral school downloaded from the IRK system, 
        12) pay the enrolment fee.

 1.        Candidates who have obtained the necessary education outside the territory of the Republic of Poland, shall additionally submit:

1)    a photocopy of a document which confirms their education, certified to be a true copy of the original document, i.e. a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of first cycle studies (Bachelor degree) and a diploma with a supplement confirming completion of second cycle studies (Master degree, MSc, MA) in the original language and in a certified translation into English or into Polish,

            2)    a photocopy of their passport. 

 Evaluation criteria

The following shall be taken into account during the admission procedure:        

 1)    the grade awarded for the diploma of the second cycle studies or single cycle five year master’s studies - maximum 10 points; in the case of candidates who seek admission on the basis of superior academic achievements ("Pearls of Science") - 10 points;

 2)    evaluation of the candidate's scientific activity and scientific achievements; the candidate indicates for evaluation up to three documented scientific achievements, in accordance with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 15 points;

 3)    evaluation of the candidate's other documented activity, based on a maximum of three achievements consistent with the achievement criteria adopted by the selection committee for a given discipline - maximum 5 points

 4)    the result of the interview, with the scope of the interview including:

 a)    the candidate's knowledge and competencies relevant to the planned research and appropriate to the indicated scientific discipline,

 b)    elements of research methodology appropriate for the discipline indicated.

 No more than 50 points can be awarded for the interview; the maximum duration of the interview is 30 minutes.

 5)    evaluation of the research project prepared and submitted for assessment to the selection committee (maximum 20 points), with particular emphasis on:

 a)    the ability to formulate the research objective and present the research problem;

 b)    research idea and the ability to propose a solution;

 c)    methodology appropriate to the discipline indicated;

          d)    knowledge of the state of research with a basic bibliography. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Each candidate may be awarded a maximum of 100 points in the selection procedure.A candidate will be admitted to a doctoral school if he or she is awarded a sufficient number of points awarding a place on the ranking list, within the limit of candidates for a given scientific discipline; the candidate must also obtain at least 60 points from the entire selection procedure.

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School  is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Education begins on 1st October, 2024.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

 

The scholarship is PLN 3,100 (NET) for the first two years and PLN 4,700 (NET) for the next two years.

 

 

Rules of admission to doctoral schools of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań in the academic year 2024/2025, Appendix to Resolution No. 478/2023/2024 of UAM Senate of 18th  December, 2023.