Songbird Neuroethology Laboratory

Department of Psychology, BioCognition Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta

Research Opportunities in the Songbird Neuroethology Laboratory (SNL)

The SNL is always seeking highly motivated undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows who are interested in comparative cognition and behaviour, animal communication, auditory perception, and neuroethology, to conduct research projects (i.e., summer research students, PSYCO 496, honours, M.Sc. theses, and Ph.D. theses). Graduate students may apply either to the Department of Psychology's graduate program or the Centre for Neuroscience's graduate program.

If interested, please contact Chris Sturdy directly via e-mail, phone, or in person.

Funding Opportunities

There are several sources of funding for which students and post docs may apply; what follows is a summary of some of the main sources of funding, along with links to the appropriate pages of funding agencies' web sites.

Undergraduate students may apply for an NSERC undergraduate student research award (USRA). This award, along with a supplement from their research supervisor, provides students with approximately $1,400 per month for four months, from May through August.

Graduate students may apply for NSERC post-graduate scholarships (PGS-M and PGS-D); these awards fund graduate students for two years at approximately $19,000 and $21,000 per year, respectively. Graduate students who apply for a PGS A or B will also be considered for a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS). These awards provide increased funding at both the master's and doctoral levels.

Graduate students may also apply for a CIHR Doctoral Research Award, worth $22,000 per year for up to three years ($21,000 stipend, $1,000 research allowance).

Graduate students may also apply for several University-administered awards of various valuations and for various durations.

Postdoctoral fellows may apply for an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) valued at $40,000 per year for two years, or a CIHR fellowship valued at up to $55,000 per year for up to 5 years.

Postdoctoral fellows may also apply for either a Notely or Killam postdoctoral fellowship, through the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Alberta. These awards are worth $40,000 per year in salary for two years and come with a one-time award of $4,000 to be used for research and conference expenses.