behavioural sciences | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

PhD Position in Psychology at Free University of Berlin, Germany

Individual-specific patterns of behaviour (personality differences) are increasingly studied in nonhuman primates, but systematic descriptions and categorisations are still lacking for many species. We seek to develop such descriptions for several simian and great ape species using non-invasive behaviour tests and observations, and sophisticated methodological and statistical approaches.

You will be based at Freie Universität Berlin, an internationally renowned network university, where you will have the opportunity to learn highly developed methodological approaches, statistics, techniques for recording and coding behaviour, and to write a PhD thesis. Work will include active engagement in an international and multidisciplinary research team including Dr. Jana Uher, Freie Universität Berlin and Dr. Elisabetta Visalberghi, CNR laboratory in Rome, Italy. Your tasks will be to develop non-invasive behavioural tests and observation schemes, to use them to collect behavioural data in captive Capuchin monkeys from collaborating research institutions in Europe, to apply psychometric statistic analyses, prepare scientific publications, and help building up an international and interdisciplinary research network.

Requirements
Excellent Diploma, Masters, or equivalent university degree in psychology. We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated
research associate who is interested in differential and personality psychology, comparative psychology, behavioural sciences, and primate
research. Profound background in methods and statistics (esp. MTMM; FA, HLM), experience with or deep interest in behavioural measurement and primates; and excellent knowledge of English are required. Applicants are expected to read all information and research articles available at the project website. If shortlisted for interviews, they will be asked questions about these articles. Applicants are also expected to travel and stay abroad temporarily, be capable of independent analytical thinking, be self-organised, efficient, be responsible in their work, and engage actively in a multidisciplinary team. The working language is English; knowledge of or willingness to learn elementary Italian and German is required.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 13.02.2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for Master’s Programmes, Netherlands

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship offers a number of highly talented prospective students the opportunity to pursue a degree in a selected number of fields at Utrecht University:

International Bachelor’s programmes:

* Economics and Business Economics
* Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht

International Master’s programmes offered by the following Graduate Schools:

* Graduate School of Geo sciences
* Graduate School of Humanities
* Graduate School of Law, Economics and Governance
* Graduate School of Life Sciences
* Graduate School of Natural Sciences
* Graduate School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The scholarship programme is highly selective. Only candidates showing the highest achievement and promise may receive a scholarship.

Duration and number of scholarships

Selected students receive a scholarship for the duration of the degree programme, which is a maximum of two years for a Master’s degree and three years for a Bachelor’s degree. Approximately 55 scholarships are awarded each year. The scholarship will only be renewed for the second (and third) year if the student is making satisfactory progress towards the degree.
Amount of scholarship

Selected students are awarded a scholarship between 5 000 and 27 300 euro per year. Students should be aware that the grant is not necessarily a full scholarship, and that it may be necessary to find additional funding to be able to finance study and stay completely. As one of the requirements for being granted a residence permit in the Netherlands, students from abroad must prove to the IND (immigration and naturalisation office) that they have sufficient financial means. Read more about the budget the University advises.
Eligibility criteria

The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria in order to be considered for this scholarship. The applicant should:

1. Not have the Dutch or an EU/EER nationality;
2. Hold a non-Dutch secondary school diploma;
3. Have been admitted to an International Master’s programme within one of the Graduate Schools mentioned above, the Bachelor’s programme in Economics and Business Economics or to University College Utrecht;
4. Hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree (for a Master’s programme) or secondary school diploma (for a Bachelor’s programme), or an equivalent thereof;
5. Be able to comply with the conditions to obtain a Dutch visa;

Failure to meet one or more of these criteria automatically means the student is not eligible for this scholarship.
Scholarship Application Deadline: 1 March 2011
Further Scholarship Information and Application