mardi 27 mai 2025

Doctorat en Sciences naturelles (PhD)

 Doctorat en Sciences naturelles (PhD)
Rôle du dérangement de la navigation sur l’écologie
spatiale des cétacés du Saint-Laurent

Contexte
Plusieurs espèces de cétacés fréquentent l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent et le fjord du
Saguenay. La population des bélugas du Saint-Laurent est en voie de disparition
selon la Loi sur les espèces en péril du Canada. Une des trois principales menaces à
son rétablissement est le bruit sous-marin de la navigation dont les impacts incluent
le dérangement, le masquage des communications ou encore la baisse d’utilisation
de certains habitats. Plusieurs espèces de grands rorquals utilisent également
activement ce secteur, incluant le rorqual bleu, le rorqual commun, le rorqual à
bosse et le petit rorqual.
Si les impacts du bruit sous-marin ont été décrits chez plusieurs populations de
cétacés exposés à des interactions chroniques avec des activités anthropiques à
travers le monde, leur caractérisation pour les cétacés du Saint-Laurent est très
limitée.
Le projet
Dans un premier temps, l’étudiant.e décrira le rôle que jouent les activités de
navigation sur l’écologie spatiale des bélugas du Saint-Laurent et des grands rorquals
dans divers secteurs écologiquement sensibles de leur habitat estival en se basant
sur des données spatiales du trafic maritime (AIS) et de recensement des cétacés
(observations terrestres, survols aériens, données télémétriques et détections
acoustiques). Les eMets potentiels du trafic qui seront explorés incluront notamment
la redistribution des animaux, l’abandon temporaire d’habitats ou encore des
changements dans les agrégations des cétacés.
Dans un deuxième temps, l’étudiant.e explorera les mécanismes écologiques qui
sous-tendent la baisse observée d’utilisation de certains habitats sensibles par les
cétacés en présence accrue de trafic marchand. Cette partie du projet inclura la mise
en place d’un protocole spécifique menant à la collecte de données in situ.
Les résultats du projet serviront à raMiner les modèles de déplacement des cétacés
dans le simulateur 3MTSim qui modélise les interactions spatiales entre navigation
et cétacés dans l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent et le fjord du Saguenay. Les résultats
permettront également de recommander des mesures de conservation réalistes
visant à réduire l’impact du bruit sous-marin de la navigation sur les bélugas et les
grands rorquals, œuvrant ainsi au rétablissement de des populations de cétacés à
statut précaire.
L’étudiant.e travaillera dans l’environnement de travail hautement collaboratif et
inclusif du Laboratoire de simulation socio-écologique (LISSÉ) à l’UQO au côté de
plusieurs professionnels de recherche et d’étudiants. Il/Elle travaillera également en
interaction avec des partenaires externes des gouvernements fédéral (Pêches et
Océans Canada, Parcs Canada) et provincial (MELCCFP) ainsi que d’experts d’ONG
environnementales (GREMM) ayant des expertises dans les domaines connexes du
projet.
Compétences recherchées
L'étudiant.e devra avoir un excellent bagage en analyse spatiale de données
écologiques, incluant la maîtrise des statistiques spatiales et la conduite d’analyses
spatiotemporelles en R. Il/Elle devra démontrer sa capacité à proposer et mettre en
œuvre des protocoles d’acquisition de données sur les cétacés. Il/Elle doit être à
l'aise avec le travail d'équipe dans un contexte de recherche interdisciplinaire, être
capable d'eMectuer des revues de la littérature sur des sujets techniques en anglais
et de faire de la communication scientifique (orale et écrite) en anglais. Des
expériences avec des modèles à l’échelle de l’individu et avec des données
hydroacoustiques sont des atouts. La personne doit également être disponible pour
faire de la prise de données sur le terrain en été.
L'esprit d'initiative, l'écoute, la motivation intrinsèque et l'autonomie sont des
qualités clés pour mener à bien ce projet.
Détails pratiques
Lieu : Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de simulation socio-écologique (LISSÉ),
Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) à Gatineau (secteur Hull) ou à Ripon,
Québec, Canada. Déplacements réguliers sur le terrain (Estuaire du Saint-Laurent
et fjord du Saguenay).
Début du projet : dès que possible (automne 2025 au plus tôt)
Rémunération: bourse de 3 ans @ 27 000 $/an. Nombreuses opportunités de
bourses complémentaires.
Candidature : Envoyer les copies des relevés de notes de toutes les études
supérieures, lettre de motivation et CV à l’adresse courriel : clement.chion@uqo.ca
et angelique.dupuch@uqo.ca
Date limite pour postuler: 30 juin 2025 ou jusqu’à ce que le poste soit comblé

jeudi 22 mai 2025

Stage

 

Thème du stage : Etude du répertoire de communication chez les Globicéphales

Description :

Le stage consistera à participer à un travail de recherche en éthologie, portant sur les comportements de communication vocale et visuelle des globicéphales. Des données synchronisées audios et vidéos ont été collectées en avril 2025 au Gouf de Cap Breton. Le/la stagiaire participera au codage de ces vidéos sur le logiciel BORIS et à l’analyse de ces annotations. L’objectif est de décrire les différents contextes de communication observés (nombre et types d’individus, types d’approches, comportements locomoteurs, etc) afin de mettre en relation les vocalisations enregistrées et/ou les comportements filmés sous l’eau au contexte général, filmé au drone. Le stage impliquera aussi une recherche bibliographique des différents répertoires comportementaux de cétacés.

Conditions de travail : temps plein du lundi au vendredi. Absence de gratifications.

Durée du stage : 2 mois (Juillet/Août)

Profil recherché : Nous recherchons une personne observatrice, autonome et rigoureuse avec un intérêt particulier pour la recherche en éthologie. Une expérience en éthologie est demandée et/ou dans l’annotation vidéo sur BORIS. Une précédente expérience en acoustique et/ou éthologie des cétacés serait grandement appréciée.

Structure d’accueil et lieu du stage :

Centre de Recherche en Psychologie et Neurosciences

3 Place Victor Hugo

13003 Marseille,

France

 

Date limite de candidature : 04/06/2025

Merci d’envoyer CV et lettre de motivation par e-mail aux encadrantes :

Lise Habib-Dassetto, Doctorante en Sciences Cognitives (Aix-Marseille Université) : habiblise@gmail.com

Et Marie Montant, enseignante-chercheuse et HDR (Aix-Marseille Université) : marie.montant@univ-amu.fr et Fabienne Delfour, enseignante-chercheuse (Ecole vétérinaire de Toulouse) fabienne_delfour@yahoo.com (en copie).



 

mercredi 21 mai 2025

PhD on wild gorilla

 

PhD on communication in wild western gorillas

We are looking for a PhD student for a project on communication in relation to foraging and
travel in wild western gorillas. Data collection will be in Campo Ma’an National Park,
Cameroon, and Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, with the additional
help of field assistants.

The goal is to use systematic natural observations to explore how western gorillas use their
signal repertoire to coordinate group movement during foraging (see
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0597)

The project will be co-supervised as a cotutelle by Shelly Masi (National Natural History
Museum, MNHN, Paris) and Klaus Zuberbühler (University of Neuchatel). The position is
financed for 4 years by the University of Neuchatel, pending satisfactory annual progress.
Fieldwork is for an estimated 12-18 months, with some teaching obligations in Neuchatel
during the analysis and write-up period.

We are especially interested in candidates with relevant field experience and a documented
interest in animal cognition and behavioural ecology. In addition, we will look for evidence of
good standards in scientific writing, competence in data management and statistical analyses
skills. Good physical health, independence, cultural flexibility and adaptability to remote field
conditions are essential. Previous field experience is mandatory.

We can only consider candidates with a Master degree in a relevant discipline.

The application deadline is 31 May 2025;
start date is negotiable but ideally no later than 1 October 2025.

Please submit a cover letter, your CV and the contact of two academic referees as a single file
titled YOUR_NAME.pdf to shelly.masi@mnhn.fr and klaus.zuberbuehler@unine.ch

PhD position on communication

 https://evolvinglanguage.ch/wp-content/uploads/PhD-gorilla-communication-16APR.pdf

Summer internship position - Iceland

 Space use in salmonids – Field internship position
Hosting structure: Department of Aquaculture & Fish Biology, Hólar University - Iceland
Dates: Between late June and the end of August 2025 – 2 months internship
Context of the study:
Territoriality, foraging mode and social interactions are all parts of animals’ space use.
Territoriality is often described as an area with resources such as food or shelter defended by
an individual. However, individuals display great within-population variability, which drives
the establishment of a social hierarchy with dominants and subordinates. This leads to unequal
access to resources such as food, shelter, or mates and eventually influences the population
distribution. However, this social organisation is not permanent and could be affected by
parameters such as predation risk, food abundance and distribution, or modification of the
environmental conditions. Stream fish, particularly salmonids, are known to be highly variable
in their behaviour among individuals, populations, and species.
This project aims to repeatedly estimate space use patterns (territory size, foraging mode, spatial
organisation) for juvenile Arctic charr in a natural stream. Specifically, we will conduct a field
experiment to estimate how these space use patterns, and their individual repeatability, vary
between situations where food resources (drifting invertebrates) are either either clumped or
dispersed in space.
The research project involves a collaboration between Dr. Stefan O. Steingrimsson, Dr. Camille
Leblanc, Dr. David Benhaim at Holar University, Dr. James W.A. Grant at Concordia
University in Montréal, Canada, and Dr. Laura K. Weir at St. Mary´s University, in Halifax,
Canada.
Student project:
The student task will be to collect data on space use individually tagged fish in stream
enclosures via direct observation from the riverbank and to measure the food abundance and
habitat in each enclosure.
The student will collaborate closely with a M.Sc. student, Kelsey Stansberry, and 2-3 other
students/assistants.
Organizational details:
The working language is English. Accommodation is between 68.000-75.000ISK (450-500€)
per month in a shared house and is at the student’s charge. Commuting between the lab and the
accommodation place will be at the lab's charge, and meals during fieldwork are at the project
charge. The student will also have free access to the University gym, pool, hot pot and cold pot.
Hólar also provides wonderful sceneries for hiking in the mountains and the forest.
This internship is not gratified, but Iceland is eligible for Erasmus+ grants.
Requirements:
The candidates must be enrolled in a degree in the fields of ecology, behavioral ecology,
ethology, or relevant equivalent fields. A valid driving license is a requirement.
Application:
Applicants should send an application letter and CV as a single pdf to Stefan O. Steingrimsson
(stefan@holar.is). Requests for further information can be sent to the same email address.

Offre emploi Chiens Guides Paris

 

L’École de Chiens Guides de Paris recrute pour son site de Buc (116 rue Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Chemin de Villaroy aux Loges, 78530 BUC) un technicien élevage (H/F) en CDI.

 

Type de contrat :

CDI temps plein (37 heures par semaine)

Salaire : 2000 euros brut (+prime de 13e mois)

Prise de poste : dès que possible

 

Pour les détails concernant les missions et le profil recherché : Technicien(ne) élevage à Buc - Chiens guides paris

 

Vous pouvez postuler directement sur le site ou en envoyant votre candidature à elevages@chiensguidesparis.fr

PhD position on joint action

 https://stellen.uni-konstanz.de/jobposting/d39bb50f275246c0317505436d4e0a79c1d905f60

 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

 

Use this link to apply: https://indianapoliszoo.applicantpro.com/jobs/3739646

The Indianapolis Zoo is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our forward-thinking Scientific Research team. This is a rare opportunity to conduct cognitive studies with up to 21 chimpanzees and 12 orangutans in a zoo setting, using voluntary, non-invasive, enrichment-based methods that benefit both animals and our visitors.

The Indianapolis Zoo features state-of-the-art facilities for enriching cognitive studies with great apes. This includes a dedicated Learning Studio with touchscreen equipment visited daily by multiple apes at the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, and the newly built Harlan-Shriver Families Chimpanzee Cognition Center, which features multiple touchscreen stations, enabling groups of chimpanzees to simultaneously engage in computerized tasks.

As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, you'll help to design, manage, and conduct studies on great ape cognition, collaborate with a passionate team of zookeepers and veterinarians, contribute to public education, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. Your work will play a vital role in expanding scientific knowledge while advancing The Indianapolis Zoo's mission to protect nature and inspire people to care for our world.

What You'll Do:

· Conduct behavioral studies with a focus on daily touchscreen tasks that examine memory, decision-making, and social learning in great apes.

· Collect, analyze, and manage behavioral and cognitive data.

· Publish research findings and present at scientific conferences.

· Collaborate with animal care teams to ensure ethical research and enrichment alignment.

· Support educational outreach and conservation messaging.

· Assist with grant proposals and departmental projects as assigned.

What We're Looking For:

· A PhD in psychology, anthropology, biology, zoology, or a related field (must be completed by start date).

· Experience conducting behavioral or cognitive research-preferably with primates.

· Proficiency in statistical tools such as R or SPSS.

· Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills.

· Strong collaboration skills and a commitment to animal welfare.

· Familiarity with non-invasive research and ethical standards (e.g., IACUC).

· Experience in grant writing is a plus.

Working Conditions:

· Full-time, 40 hours per week.

· Must be able to work in a zoo environment and follow safety protocols including those related to biohazard exposure.

Employment Type: Full-time (40 hours/week), 1-year term with potential for extension

Why Join Us?

At the Indianapolis Zoo, you'll be part of a team dedicated to scientific excellence and real-world impact. Our research not only enhances animal welfare but also fuels public understanding and global conservation efforts.

Advance training course in animal behaviour in Mallorca, Spain

 

MEASURING ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Using ethology to define, quantify and analyse behavioural data

 

This advanced course will focus on how to use an ethological approach to quantify and understand behavioural data. Participants will learn the four questions of Ethology (the four levels of analysis to study animal behaviour: evolution, function, development and mechanisms) and use them in a practical way. For that, we will use examples of several taxa to build ethograms, learn the methods and tools to record and register behaviour on different types of studies, and finally learn the possible uses of such data. The final session will entail real-life ethological observations at the Palma Aquarium, where the participants will have the opportunity to design their ethological study, perform observations to collect data and analyse it and answer their research questions. Specially designed for undergraduate, master and PhD students with interest in animal behaviour.

Participants are expected to have at least some knowledge on general biology, physiology, ecology and evolution.

The course is hosted at the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA-CSIC/UIB) located in Esporles (Mallorca, Spain), in collaboration with FishEthoGroup Association (FEG) and the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR).

Limited to 20 participants! Registrations will be closed when seats are filled!

Dates: June 10th-12th, 2025 (3 days)

Location: Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA), Esporles, Mallorca, Spain. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFdfT78DhhYsXYMG8)

Price: 200 €* (includes two full-day lectures at IMEDEA and one day visit to Palma Aquarium). 50% off for registrations before June 1st.

Registrations open on April 20th. Register through: mail@fishethogroup.net

Information requested for registration:

-          Full name

-          Formation/background:

-          Current status/job position:

-          Company/Institution:

-          Country:

Once pre-registrations have been received, those who have been accepted will be informed in strict order of registration.


 

About the lecturers:

 

Dr. João Saraiva is a fish ethologist with a special interest in welfare. He is currently leading the Fish Ethology and Welfare Group at the Centre of Marine Sciences in Faro, Portugal and is the president and founder of the FishEthoGroup Association. With a research background on behaviour and communication in teleosts, João now focuses on the application of fundamental science to improve the welfare of fishes, both in aquaculture and in fisheries. The team lead by João has an extensive record of achievements in research, training, dissemination and consultancy. He is an invited lecturer of Ethology at the University of Algarve, and also works as a consultant for EU institutions, certification bodies and other private stakeholders.

 

Dr. María Cabrera is a biologist with a speciality in fish behaviour and neuroscience. She did a MSc in Animal Behaviour and Neuroscience at Utrecht University (The Netherlands), a PhD in Fish Social Behaviour and Neuroscience at McGill University (Canada) and worked at a Comparative Cognition laboratory at the University of Cambridge (UK). María is currently a researcher at the FishEthoGroup Association and the Center of Marine Sciences of the Algarve (CCMAR). She is interested in the underlying mechanisms of animal cognition and social behaviour and in how we can use this information to improve the life and welfare of farmed fishes. Her latest work involves the use of heart rate bio-loggers to explore the effects of environmental enrichment and stunning and slaughter methods on fish welfare.

 

Dr. Pablo Arechavala is a marine biologist specialized in fish ecology and behavior. He is a researcher at the Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) and member of FEG- FishEthoGroup Association. He studies the behaviour of wild and farmed fish under the influence of aquaculture environments with a view to promote a more sustainable and responsible aquaculture activity. He is focused on investigating and validating behavioural indicators of fish welfare, developing operational tools to monitor fish behaviour and welfare at farms, assessing the effects of environmental enrichment on farmed fish species or rising welfare management plans at commercial and global scale, among others.

lundi 19 mai 2025

PhD proposal

https://stellen.uni-konstanz.de/en/jobposting/bc1297196aa44a88dd80397e584254f84ebf1c050/apply

 

PhD proposal


 

mercredi 7 mai 2025

Post doc

 

We are currently hiring a three-year postdoctoral fellow focusing on comparative socioecology, lifespan, and aging across macaque species. This position would be based at the University of Exeter, UK primarily supervised by Dr. Lauren Brent but embedded in a broader international group of collaborators working on our recently awarded R01.


We also have available an extended job description with additional information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v90r7oo8gcJORc8G3SSMGh6hvLPl6eLKC4OguePwMxc/edit?usp=sharing

The post is anticipated to begin 1st September 2025, and applications close on 1st June.

PhD position - Linking social and communication networks in lemurs

 

The Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit at the German Primate Center (DPZ) is currently inviting applications for a fully-funded PhD project on ring-tailed lemur communication. Using cutting-edge biologging technology, this project aims to understand how social relationships shape information transfer within groups of ring-tailed lemurs.

 

This is a fully funded position offering the chance to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment, access to modern work equipment and facilities, and fieldwork opportunities. The application deadline is May 31st 2025.

 

For more information, including the candidate profile and application details, see the attached file or visit our website: https://www.dpz.eu/karriere/stellenangebote/ausschreibung/phd-position-in-behavioral-biology.

postdoc position at University of Lausanne

 2-year postdoc position involves modeling the evolution of learning strategies for behavioral development. It includes a comparative component, where the model will be used to gain insight into the development of soaring flight in multiple species. More information on the project can be found here


The application deadline is mid-June for a start in January 2026:

mardi 6 mai 2025

Research Assistant position Ozouga Chimpanzee Project (OCP), Gabon

 

Research Assistant position Ozouga Chimpanzee Project (OCP), Gabon

We are looking for a motivated Research Assistant (RA) to join our team to collect behavioural data and samples from wild central chimpanzees living in the Loango National Park, Gabon. The OCP is a long-term field site conducting research on many aspects of chimpanzee behaviour, health, and cognition (For more information see: https://en.ozouga.org/)

 Responsibilities include:

The RA will be responsible for conducting daily focal animal follows on the habituated chimpanzees of the OCP. This entails following a focal chimpanzee all day long, observing and documenting aspects of their behaviour. The RA will also collect fecal and urine samples, demographic and nutritional information and potentially other data needed for specific projects (e.g., audio or video recordings). Assistance with phenology transects and camera trap maintenance will also be required. The RAs are locally supervised by the OCP field-site manager and remotely by a team of experts.

Qualifications include:

The RA should have a Bachelor/Master in Biology, Anthropology, Zoology and/or Psychology with a strong interest in behavioral ecology/animal behavior. Field experience and knowledge of behavioral data collection will be a strong advantage.

Living conditions are extremely basic. There is no running water, very limited phone coverage and internet access, and only basic solar power for electricity. Satellite phones are available in the event of an emergency. Team members live in wooden huts and the food is local and basic. Additionally, the challenging aspects of living in remote tropical conditions, coupled with the necessity of both living and collaborating with team members, underscore the importance of stress resilience, excellent social skills, and maintaining professionalism in the work environment. Working with the chimpanzees is also physically demanding, so excellent physical and psychological conditions are necessary. The RA needs to speak French AND English, and needs to be able to work independently after the training in the forest.

Note that the OCP adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

Compensation and training:

We expect a tenure of 12 months in the Loango National Park. The research assistant receives free accommodation and a compensation of 200€ per month for living expenses etc and a contribution of 50 towards health insurance costs. After the successful tenure, we reimburse return international flights from Düsseldorf to Libreville, as well as visa costs (to a max of 1000 €).

Application:

Please apply by sending a motivation letter, a CV (including your experience with behavioural data collection), and contact information for two referees to Dr. Tobias Deschner (td@ozouga.org.org) and Prof. Simone Pika (sp@ozouga.org), and state “RA OCP 2025” in the subject line.

We will start evaluating the applications on May 15th, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. Start of the appointment will be as soon as possible.

We are looking for a motivated Research Assistant (RA) to join our team to collect behavioural data and samples from wild central chimpanzees living in the Loango National Park, Gabon. The OCP is a long-term field site conducting research on many aspects of chimpanzee behaviour, health, and cognition (For more information see: https://en.ozouga.org/)

 Responsibilities include:

The RA will be responsible for conducting daily focal animal follows on the habituated chimpanzees of the OCP. This entails following a focal chimpanzee all day long, observing and documenting aspects of their behaviour. The RA will also collect fecal and urine samples, demographic and nutritional information and potentially other data needed for specific projects (e.g., audio or video recordings). Assistance with phenology transects and camera trap maintenance will also be required. The RAs are locally supervised by the OCP field-site manager and remotely by a team of experts.

Qualifications include:

The RA should have a Bachelor/Master in Biology, Anthropology, Zoology and/or Psychology with a strong interest in behavioral ecology/animal behavior. Field experience and knowledge of behavioral data collection will be a strong advantage.

Living conditions are extremely basic. There is no running water, very limited phone coverage and internet access, and only basic solar power for electricity. Satellite phones are available in the event of an emergency. Team members live in wooden huts and the food is local and basic. Additionally, the challenging aspects of living in remote tropical conditions, coupled with the necessity of both living and collaborating with team members, underscore the importance of stress resilience, excellent social skills, and maintaining professionalism in the work environment. Working with the chimpanzees is also physically demanding, so excellent physical and psychological conditions are necessary. The RA needs to speak French AND English, and needs to be able to work independently after the training in the forest.

Note that the OCP adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.

Compensation and training:

We expect a tenure of 12 months in the Loango National Park. The research assistant receives free accommodation and a compensation of 200€ per month for living expenses etc and a contribution of 50 towards health insurance costs. After the successful tenure, we reimburse return international flights from Düsseldorf to Libreville, as well as visa costs (to a max of 1000 €).

Application:

Please apply by sending a motivation letter, a CV (including your experience with behavioural data collection), and contact information for two referees to Dr. Tobias Deschner (td@ozouga.org.org) and Prof. Simone Pika (sp@ozouga.org), and state “RA OCP 2025” in the subject line.

We will start evaluating the applications on May 15th, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. Start of the appointment will be as soon as possible.

Post doc

 

ABOUT THE POSITION

A 24-month position for a post-doctoral researcher in behavioral ecology is available at the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, in the Eco-anthropology lab (https://ecoanthropologie.fr/fr), an interdisciplinary research unit (CNRS/MNHN/Paris Cité University) based at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. The successful candidate will contribute to the research project “How socio-ecological constraints shape primates’ brain and cognition” (SocEcoPrim), funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR). This project aims at understanding the evolution of cognition and cognitive processes (inhibitory control, working memory, metacognition and value scaling) involved in decision- making, taking into account the dynamics and complexity of the physical environment (e.g., seasons, topography, food availability) and the social environment (e.g., dominance, social networks, context and history of previous social interactions).

The successful candidate will play a central role in data collection, analysis, and publication of research findings. The position includes two fieldwork seasons of six months each, in Indonesia and Japan, working with 2 macaque species. The remainder of the position will be based at UMR 7206 in Paris, where the postdoc will lead data analysis and writing papers, in collaboration with project partners.

Research Project Description

This project aims at understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying behavioral adjustments to social and ecological challenges encountered by two species of macaques (Macaca nigra and Macaca fuscata) in their natural habitat, i.e. in Indonesia and Japan. We will study foraging and social decisions through a panel of natural behaviors (e.g. habitat movement patterns, intra-group social interventions, intergroup encounters) that are expected to involve the specific cognitive capacities of interest - inhibitory control, working memory, metacognition and value scaling.

This project is part of a cooperation with Sébastien Bouret (UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moëlle Epinière, Paris), Jérome Sallet (U 1208, Lyon) and Sébastien Ballesta (University of Strasbourg). By combining the expertise of these four laboratories - primate behavioral ecology (Garcia),

comparative cognition (Bouret), cognitive neuroscience and neuroanatomy (Ballesta and Sallet) - this interdisciplinary project aims at studying primate social and foraging decisions and link them to a set of neuro-cognitive operations.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct field research on two species of primates, mainly behavioral observations

  • Code and analyze behaviors using specialised software (ex. Boris, R)

  • Lead and contribute to the writing and submission of scientific publications

  • Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team

  • Work in collaboration with master students and research assistants

  • Contribute to science communication and dissemination efforts

    The postdoctoral researcher will work closely with an interdisciplinary team, including: Cécile GARCIA (PI, Research Director, UMR 7206, Paris)
    Julie DUBOSCQ (Researcher, UMR 7206, Paris)
    Bruno SIMMEN (Researcher, UMR 7206, Paris)

    Sébastien BOURET (Research Director, UMR 7225, Paris)

    PROFILE - QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

    The candidate should hold a PhD in Primatology, Behavioral Ecology, Cognitive Sciences, or a related field.

    Essential skills:

  • Strong experience in behavioral observations, preferably with primates or other social animals

  • Strong field experience (follows of wild animals in natural habitats, intense physical work, relatively isolated living conditions and hot, humid tropical/equatorial environments)

  • Ability to work independently in remote field settings, under challenging conditions (physically and mentally)

  • Skills in spatial ecology

  • Proficiency in statistical analyses (R)

  • Fluency in English (spoken and written); knowledge in French is not required, but would be an advantage

    Desirable skills:

  • Field experience with primates

  • Experience with research on cognition

  • Good track record of scientific publications

  • Interest in comparative cognition

  • Interest in interdisciplinary work

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Eco-anthropology Lab, and more specifically the Team « Interactions Primates and Environment » in which the postdoctoral researcher will be involved, are committed to fostering a diverse and supportive research environment.

Given the specific challenges of conducting research in the field, we are dedicated to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all researchers. We will help to deal with logistical, cultural, and personal considerations. We will actively ensure that all team members feel secure and valued throughout the project.

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of ethnic, cultural or social origin, gender, religion, disability, age or sexual identity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Beginning of the contract: October 2025
Contract: 24-month public-sector CDD (salary according to profile and MNHN grid) Location: Musée de l’Homme (Paris)

  • Travels to fieldsites will be covered by the project

  • Reimbursement of 75% of public transport costs or sustainable mobility package (bicycle) for

    travel in Ile de France region

  • Participation in a scientific conference in France or in Europe (registration, transport and accomodation)

    APPLICATION PROCESS

    Applicants should submit the following documents:

    • CV including a list of publications and communications

    • Cover letter detailing research interests, experience, and fit for the position

    • Contact information for 2 references

      Deadline : 21/05/2025

      For all inquiries regarding this position, do not hesitate to contact Cécile Garcia (cecile.garcia@mnhn.fr)