Background:
Flight was a major innovation in bird evolution that allows them to move gracefully through many different environments. Birds are capable of many diverse flight behaviors that are typically associated with specific environments and unique physical demands. The ability to execute these behaviors often corresponds to wing shape because the aerodynamic forces required to fly depend directly on the physical properties of the wing. Urbanization has undoubtedly changed the landscape in ways that provide novel flight challenges for birds, but it is not clear how wing shapes have adapted to accommodate them. This project seeks to investigate how wing shapes and the ways in which birds move their wings during flight differs between rural and urban birds in Norway.
We are seeking:
A driven MSc student with an interest in exploring how bird evolution responds to the ways in which humans have modified the environment. You will contribute to a new study, measuring wing shapes and characterizing kinematics in sparrows at urban and rural field sites across Oslo.
What you will learn:
You will learn how to study biological form and function. You will gain expertise in using image analysis and computer vision techniques. There will also be opportunity for fieldwork. These skills, in addition to the transferrable skills you gain in research and project management, will enhance future applications to PhD positions or jobs in the public or private sectors.
What we offer:
Our research group is friendly and small. We focus on close mentorship and skills development. We conduct weekly lab meetings, during which we discuss ongoing research within the group or relevant academic literature.