Postdoc Position in Bat Echolocation

The Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark invites applications for a two-and-a-half-year postdoc position within the field of bat echolocation. The application deadline is 30 November 2024, with a flexible start date in early 2025.

Bats are versatile and agile fliers that forage successfully in complete darkness using echolocation. It is clear that the efficiency with which bats navigate the night sky depends on the bats’ ability to control the echo information they receive from their surroundings. The project investigates how bats shape their acoustic scene through active control of the emitted echolocation calls and through active control of received echoes. The project will focus on work utilizing large-scale multi-microphone arrays and high-speed stereo video systems. The project involves a large degree of methods development and focuses on relating high-resolution echolocation beam shape reconstruction to high-speed 3D reconstruction of bat morphology.

The chosen candidate will join an innovative expanding bat echolocation lab, and be a part of the Sound Communication and Behaviour group at SDU where she/he will benefit from a vibrant social and scientific environment with excellence within bioacoustic research, over a wide range of subjects, from sound production mechanisms to hearing development and anthropogenic noise. 

Qualifications of the applicant

• Recent PhD degree – in biology or engineering, preferably with a background in acoustics, bioacoustics or sensory biology.
• Full proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Prior experience within bat echolocation, acoustic analysis, image analysis, stereo video 3D reconstruction, signal processing and general software programming (MATLAB or other) is advantageous and should be highlighted in the application.

Additional information about the Department of Biology and Odense/SDU:
SDU is the third largest university in Denmark with campuses across the country. As part of the Faculty of Science, the Department of Biology is located in Odense, the university’s largest campus. Odense is the country’s third largest city and is centrally located with easy commutes to Copenhagen and Aarhus (approximately one and a half hour).

The Department of Biology (approximately 200 employees) conducts a wide range of research within the broad and diverse field of biology. Our research is organized in five research groups focusing on more specific, but still diverse, disciplines and biological focus areas.

Please see the full call, including how to apply, on www.sdu.dk.