We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an exciting Leverhulme Trust-funded project entitled "Into the minds of magpies: cognition, development, and comparative perspectives",
based at the University of Cambridge with Prof
Nicola Clayton FRS. This is a fixed-term post with funds available for 3
years. The work will be carried out at the University of Cambridge
Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour, located in Madingley village.
Whilst the mental abilities of corvids (the crow family) appear to rival
those of the great apes, research with perhaps the UK's most
ostentatious and culturally significant corvid species, the magpie (Pica
pica), has remained scarce. Despite that magpies are
often considered to be cunning and display seemingly 'intelligent'
behaviours, the extent of their cognitive abilities remains unknown.
This project will address this research gap by systematically assessing
the mental capabilities and cognitive development
of magpies.
Although freedom and flexibility will be given to the PDRA to tailor the
experiments to their own interests and skills, this project has three
general overarching and overlapping objectives: 1) To investigate the
cognitive capabilities of magpies as a species,
using well-established experimental paradigms employed across
comparative psychology; 2) To assess how their cognition varies from
hatching to adulthood, providing insights into the development of
cognition in magpies and corvids in general; and 3) To position
magpies within the corvid cognition research body and the broader
framework of comparative cognition, shedding light on how various
ecological and social pressures may shape cognition.
The PDRA will be primarily responsible for collecting and hand-rearing
wild Eurasian magpies, and for designing and planning the experimental
procedures, building the experimental apparatus, conducting the
experiments, analysing the data, and producing the
manuscripts for publication (as first author), as well as disseminating
the results of the project at various conferences. Assistance will be
given throughout by members of the Cambridge Comparative Cognition
Research group (as well as external collaborators)
and so will also provide the PDRA with opportunities for mentorship and
leadership.
The applicant must hold a PhD in psychology, animal behaviour, or
another related field and must show experience with having worked with
animals, ideally birds (and preferentially corvids). The applicant must
have significant experience in animal cognition/experimental
psychology research (including a relevant publication track record) and
must demonstrate their ability to independently conduct and lead the
research in order to successfully meet the project objectives. See the
Further Particulars document for more details.
Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to
apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role
in the University.
Click the link below to register an account with the University of
Cambridge recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Informal queries regarding this post may be sent to Prof Nicola Clayton FRS (nsc22@cam.ac.uk).
If you have queries about the application process please contact Megan Norkett (hr-team@psychol.cam.ac.uk).
Please quote reference PJ46816 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.