Master thesis opportunity on biodiversity conservation in Finnish protected areas

 Master thesis opportunity on biodiversity conservation in Finnish protected areas
A master thesis opportunity in conservation biology is available at the University of Turku (Finland)
Protected areas are the main instrument used to protect biodiversity. However, they are subject to different threats
and their designation is often not enough to guarantee effective conservation. In particular, Finnish protected areas
suffer from silviculture, agriculture, climate change and more. Management actions can counteract these threats
and actively improve the habitat of species. Implemented management actions can differ between areas, depending
on which habitat or species they target and which threats they aim to counteract. With this project we aim to better
understand the management actions implemented in Finnish protected areas, in order to inform future
management planning.
Research questions:
• What type of management measures are implemented for biodiversity conservation in Finland?
• Have they been effective in counteracting biodiversity loss?
• Which threats to biodiversity do they counteract? Which threats are left unaddressed?
You will work with a database compiled by Metsähällitus on all management actions carried out in Finland since
1990s. The impact of these measures on biodiversity will be tested by using species-specific monitoring data.
Different types of statistical analysis, including generalized linear mixed models, will be used. You are also welcome
to develop your own study questions!
With this thesis you will dive deep into the different conservation issues in Finland, and you will also acquire
technical and analytical skills such as working with large datasets and spatial analysis.
The project should start the latest in March 2026 and not last more than 6 months.
For more information contact:
Giorgio Zavattoni, giorgio.zavattoni@utu.fi, University of Turku
Leonie Jonas, leonie.jonas@utu.fi, University of Turku

Offre de stage de 2 mois

 

Offre de stage M2

 Offre de stage Master 2 :

Mesurer le dérangement anthropique chez les limicoles : influence de la composition spécifique des groupes.
Encadrement :
 Glenn Le Floch, doctorant, UMR ISYEB, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
 Michel Baguette, Professeur MNHN, UMR ISYEB
 Vincent Bels, Professeur émérite MNHN
Organisme d’accueil : UMR ISYEB (MNHN, CNRS, EPHE, SU, Université des Antilles)
Lieu : Station marine de Dinard, Dinard (35800)
Durée : 5 à 6 mois
Période : Janvier à Juin
Contexte
Le stage s’inscrit dans un projet de doctorat portant sur l’écologie comportementale et évolutive des associations interspécifiques d’oiseaux limicoles (Aves, Charadriiformes) en migration et hivernage. Dont l’objectif est de qualifier et quantifier les regroupements inter-espèces de limicoles, et de comprendre les facteurs influençant ces rassemblements, qu’ils soient écologiques, éthologique, morpho-anatomiques ou acoustiques.
Les côtes bretonnes constituent des haltes migratoires ou des sites d’hivernage essentiels pour de nombreuses espèces de limicoles. Ces oiseaux doivent reconstituer des réserves d’énergie importantes après le voyage migratoire, ce qui rend crucial le temps consacré à l’alimentation et la qualité des ressources disponibles. Or, ces zones littorales sont soumises à des pressions humaines fortes : pêche à pied, réserve de chasse, promenades, chiens, conchyliculture, activités touristiques et loisirs etc. Ces activités pouvant générer des perturbations « aléatoires » car difficilement prévisible par l’individu. Elles peuvent donc affecter directement le comportement des limicoles, notamment leur capacité à se nourrir efficacement avec un accroissement du temps alloué à la vigilance ainsi que leur choix de rester ou non sur site.
Les perturbations humaines peuvent modifier l’expression de certains comportements des oiseaux.
La distance de fuite peut varier fortement selon l’espèce, le type perturbation, son intensité et sa fréquence. Elles peuvent également engendrer des coûts énergétiques accrus : déplacements répétés, perte de temps alloué à la recherche alimentaire, augmentation du temps de vigilance… Ce qui constitue un impact potentiellement critique sur un budget énergétique restreint. 

Les limicoles forment parfois des groupes mono- ou interspécifiques. Ces regroupement inter-espèces peuvent offrir des avantages : meilleure détection des menaces (effect « many-eyes »), meilleurs apprentissages d’indices de danger, moindre investissement individuel dans la vigilance permettant de consacrer plus de temps en nourrissage. Il y a aussi des coûts potentiels : augmentation de la compétition interspécifiques ou intraspécifique pour les ressources alimentaires, surtout quand les proies sont limitées. Quand la disponibilité alimentaire est faible, es oiseaux peuvent modifier leur usage de l’espace (réduire le chevauchement de domaine vital) ou ajuster la réponse comportementale sociale pour minimiser la compétition. 
Un autre aspect est que les contextes de forte perturbation humaine, les bénéfices des groupes mixtes peuvent être particulièrement importants : par exemple pour détecter plus tôt les perturbations (ex : promeneurs, chiens), anticiper la fuite, ou choisir les moments ou zones de nourrissage plus sûres.

 Objectifs du stage :
Le stage vise à :
1. Caractériser la composition spécifique et la richesse des associations de limicoles sur différents sites du littoral breton présentant des niveaux contrastés de fréquentation humaine (zones ostréicoles, sites touristiques, réserves, zones peu accessibles, etc.).
2. Tester les effets des perturbations anthropiques (pêche à pied, présence de promeneurs, chiens, activités ostréicoles, etc.) sur les comportements de vigilance et de fuite, ainsi que sur les distances de fuite spécifiques selon le contexte « social » (groupes mono- vs interspécifiques).
3. Évaluer l’impact des activités humaines sur l’utilisation de l’espace intertidal par les limicoles, notamment à travers l’analyse des changements de répartition spatiale, du budget temps (alimentation vs vigilance), et des latences de retour à l’alimentation après perturbation.
Missions :
- Elaboration du/des protocoles de recherche
- Acquisition de données sur le terrain (en direct et/ou capture vidéo)
- Encodage comportemental (vidéo – ex. BORIS)
- Analyse statistique des données
- Interprétation et rédaction d’un rapport
Valorisation :
- Participation à la rédaction d’un article scientifique en vue d’une publication.
Profil
- Étudiant·e en Master 2 d’écologie, éthologie, biologie de la conservation ou disciplines proches.
- Solides compétences en identification ornithologique, en particulier des limicoles côtiers.
- Goût marqué pour le travail de terrain, parfois dans des conditions météorologiques variables.
- Esprit d’équipe, autonomie et rigueur dans la collecte et le traitement des données.
- Capacités d’analyse et de synthèse dans l’interprétation des observations comportementales.
- Connaissances de base en statistiques et en analyses sous R
- Une expérience préalable en codage comportemental à partir de vidéos (logiciels tels que
BORIS ou équivalents) appréciée.
Contacts :
Glenn Le Floch – glenn.lefloch@mnhn.fr
Michel Baguette – michel.baguette@mnhn.fr
Vincent Bels – vincent.bels@mnhn.fr
Bibliographie indicative :
Cestari. (2015). Coexistence between Nearctic-Neotropical migratory shorebirds and humans on urban beaches of the Southern Hemisphere: a current conservation challenge in developing countries. Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0399-3
Linssen, H., van de Pol, M., Allen, A.M. et al. Disturbance increases high tide travel distance of a roosting shorebird but only marginally affects daily energy expenditure. Avian Res 10, 31 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0171-8

PhD

 

PhD positions: “Improving human–wildlife coexistence”

 

PhD positions: “Improving human–wildlife coexistence”

University of St Andrews, UK

closing date: 06 January 2026

 

https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/improving-human-wildlife-coexistence/?p192106

 

Are you interested in movement ecology, animal tracking, human–wildlife interactions, conservation science, and/or environmental planning? There is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a major new project on sustainable human–wildlife coexistence in terrestrial environments, developed in close partnership with the National Geographic Society.

 

For further details and information on how to apply, please see the advert on FindAPhD (see link above).

 

Informal enquiries can be sent, with CV, to the project lead and supervisor, Professor Christian Rutz (christian.rutz@st-andrews.ac.uk).

TWO fully-funded PhD OPPORTUNITIES at the University of Bristol

 

Both are related to social monitoring and manipulation in group-living species. They will involve a combination of long-term data analysis, field experiments and potentially theoretical modelling, depending on the interests of the successful candidates. Long-term data and fieldwork opportunities both come from South African mongooses and South American macaques.

The projects are based at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.

Lead supervisor: Professor Andy Radford

Co-supervisors: Professor Lauren Brent (Exeter) and Dr Patrick Kennedy (Bristol)

Start date: September 2026

Application deadlines: Early January 2026 (see specifics for each project in links below)

Project 1: Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social animals

University of Bristol funding, open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage. The scholarships aim to address the under-representation of black people in postgraduate research and support our work to improve representation across all levels of study and academia.

Full project details and how to apply here

Project 2: Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges

NERC DLTP funding, open to students worldwide. This is part of the NERC GW4+ DLTP scheme.

Full project details and how to apply here

If you have any questions, please contact andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk

PhD Opportunity - Tools to record and understand wild animal behaviour

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Landscape Award

PROJECT TITLE: The call of the wild: solutions to record and understand wild animal behaviour.
Lead Supervisor: Professor Alex Thornton
Co-Supervisors:
Dr Kim Hockings: K.Hockings@exeter.ac.uk
The supervisory team will also include co-supervisors from computer science/engineering (tbc).
Webpage: https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/21964-alex-thornton
Project details: The behaviour of animals determines their responses to environmental change
and ultimately shapes whether populations persist or decline. Tools to record and analyse the
behaviour of individual animals under natural conditions are therefore vital not only for
fundamental research to understand why animals behave in the ways they do, but also for
applied work to address urgent challenges in animal conservation and welfare. However,
existing technologies have mostly been developed for use in controlled laboratory settings and
are often unsuitable for field conditions. For instance, cameras used to monitor the behaviour
of nesting birds typically require mains power or are too bulky to fit unobtrusively in nests
without disturbing the occupants. Thermal imaging is also emerging as a vital tool for non-
invasive monitoring of stress, but thermal cameras are typically expensive, bulky and power-
hungry. Similarly, animal-borne microphones can provide vital insights into patterns of vocal
communication and responses to anthropogenic disturbance, but are typically too heavy and
bulky for most species, and have very limited battery life. Moreover, not only do we lack suitable
hardware for data collection in the wild, but our ability to process and understand the resulting
data suffers from major constraints. Here, advances in AI will be crucial, for instance by
allowing us to recognise individuals on the basis of visual and vocal characteristics and
automate the large-scale quantification of behavioural and physiological responses.
The aim of this PhD is to combine the two primary supervisors’ expertise in behavioural field
biology with engineering and data science approaches to develop and test tools for behavioural
research and ecological monitoring. The Cornish Jackdaw Project – a long-term study
population of wild jackdaws run by Alex Thornton – provides the ideal setting to test and validate
methods before then applying them to field sites in even more remote locations such as Kim
Hockings’ study sites in West Africa. The project will provide the student with unique
experience, training and transferable skills in ecological research, engineering and data
science. Given the urgent need for robust, affordable tools to evaluate behavioural responses to
environmental change in animal populations around the world, we envision that there will be
ample scope to commercialise the outputs of the project.
Project specific entry requirements: Minimum 2.1 (or equivalent) degree in Zoology/Biology,
Engineering or Computer Science/Data Science.
Potential PhD programme of study: PhD in Biological Sciences

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Landscape Award
Department: Ecology and Conservation
Location: Penryn
Please direct project specific enquiries to: Alex Thornton: alex.thornton@exeter.ac.uk
Please ensure you read the entry requirements for the potential programme you are applying for.
To Apply for this project please click on the following link - APPLY HERE

PhD

 

The Comparative BioCognition Group at the Osnabrueck University in Germany has a vacant position as 

"Group Research Associate (m/f/d)

(Salary level E 13 TV-L, 63,3 %)

to be filled as soon as possible for a period of 3 years.

The position allows for further scientific qualification (Ph.D/habilitation).

Description of Responsibilities:

The position involves participation in the research and teaching activities of the Comparative BioCognition group at Osnabrueck University in the domain of nonhuman animals’ social cognition, communication and trust. The core of the work will be on grooming behaviour and social matrices of chimpanzees. The selected candidate will analyse video footage of grooming interactions of East and Central African chimpanzees recorded in the wil and develop his/her own research questions within the scope of the broader focus on the the presence and expression of trust. The selected candidate will also have the opportunity to conduct independent research on human infants and their caretakers at the Interaction Island lab, examining trust and linking these findings to the data from chimpanzees. This position will be under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Simone Pika and co-supervised by Prof. Dr. Nicole Gotzner and Dr. Kayla Kolff.

The position involves teaching Cognitive Science courses at B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels (2,5 semester hours).

Required Qualifications:

• an academic degree in Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, Cognitive Science or related fields and a strong background in animal behaviour or cognition
• salient expertise in conducting statistical analyses using programmes like R, LMM’s and GLMM’s or Bayesian Statistics
• good written and spoken English skills

Desired skills:

The ideal candidate has

• experience in behavioral analyses, analysis of social factors and demonstrates eagerness for developing his/her skills in the other
• experience in analysing video footage with programmes like ELAN, Boris or related
• the willingness and ability to conduct study designs with infants and care takers
• strong social skills, affinity to collaborative work and the ability to work in an intercultural environment
• good skills understanding spoken French

Osnabrück University is a family-friendly University and is committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives. Osnabrück University seeks to guarantee equality of opportunity for women and men and strives to correct any gender imbalance in its schools and departments.

If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status.

Applications with the usual documentation (proof of diploma, CV and cover letter) should be submitted by e-mail in a single PDF file to Prof. Dr. Simone Pika (spika@uos.de) with a cc to  office@ikw.uni-osnabrueck.de no later than December 10, 2025. Further information can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Simone Pika (spika@uos.de).

Stage en éthologie du primate au Centre de Primatologie de l’université de Strasbourg

Thème : Influence de la tolérance sociale et des facteurs socio-démographiques sur la néophobie chez les macaques rhésus (Macaca mulatta).
Durée : Stage de 8 semaines entre le 02/02/2026 et le 26/06/2026
Lieu : Centre de Primatologie de l’Université de Strasbourg-Silabe, Fort Foch, 67207 Niederhausbergen
 

Description : L’étudiant·e assistera un doctorant en menant des expériences de co-alimentation et des tests de nouveaux objets et nouvelles nourritures chez un groupe de macaques rhésus (Macaca mulata). L’étudiant·e participera à l’analyse des vidéos issues des expériences en suivant un protocole déjà établi d’observations éthologiques.

Qualifications : Niveau équivalent à bac + 3 minimum en biologie / sciences du
comportement. Être observateur·rice, rigoureux·se, bien organisé·e et patient·e. Convention de stage obligatoire.
Indemnité mensuelle : Aucune
Contact : Envoyer un CV, une lettre de motivation et une ou deux références, par e-mail à Charlotte Canteloup (charlotte.canteloup@cnrs.fr) et à Théo Lemeux (lemeux@unistra.fr) avant le 11/12/2025.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Animal Cognition at Ghent University

 

We’re hiring a Postdoctoral Researcher in Animal Cognition at Ghent University (EcoBird).

EcoBird and the global ManyBirds network are launching a major new project on innovation and problem-solving in birds, and we’re looking for a postdoc to help coordinate this international open-science study.

Start date: as early as January 2026

Funding: UGent’s international mobility scheme (eligibility required)

Deadline: November 28 

This position is ideal for candidates with strong foundations in animal cognition and a passion for big-team open science. 

You’ll also contribute to our new EcoBird project on cognition, innovation, and invasiveness in birds, with colleagues from INBO (Research Institute for Nature and Forest - Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek), making it a fantastic opportunity for researchers interested in linking cognitive mechanisms with ecological and conservation challenges.

More broadly, the role offers a rare chance to combine project coordination, data integration, and hands-on behavioural research—and to play a key role in the next ManyBirds project.

Full job description & how to apply:

https://www.ugent.be/en/work/scientific/postdoctoral-fellow-3

PhD project

 

PhD studentship "MOVE" Mechanisms and Origins of Vertebrate collective movEment

Swansea University, Natural History Museum, & Max Planck Institute for Human Development 

Deadline: Monday 12 January 2026

Project: CR2026_02 – Crocus DLA

Supervisors: Andrew King, Ines Fürtbauer, Will Allen, Natalie Cooper, Marina Papadopoulou 

To apply: Projects for 2026 Entry – Crocus DLA 

2 PdH projects

 Two UKRI-funded PhD projects in the Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (CRAB), University of Exeter:

(1) WEAPONRY AND AGGRESSION IN WILD FIDDLER CRABS
supervised by Tim Fawcett, Safi Darden & Martin How
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5758

(2) THE EMOTIONAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOUR
supervised by Tim Fawcett, Andy Higginson & Danny Williamson
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recruitmentsites/documents/studentshipprojects/The_emotional_basis_of_behaviour_-_Fawcett_-_Psychology-1.pdf

2 positions Master's Student Internship in Equine Research

 

• Duration: 6 months between Jan.2026 and Sept. 2026
• Location: Animal group, Dptmt of Biosystems and Technology - SLU (Alnarp, SWEDEN)
• Supervisor: Main supervisor: Océane Liehrmann;  co-supervisor: Maria Vilain Rørvang
• Application deadline: 20.11.2025

 

Project Overview: This internship offers an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the advancement of equine welfare assessment through the application of state-of-the-art infrared thermal imaging technology. Working under the guidance of researchers experts in their field, participants will investigate the intricate relationship between facial temperature variations and equine emotional states and pain perception. Through analysis of video data collected during experiments conducted on horses in 2023, interns will acquire invaluable skills in behavioral coding, data extraction from thermal imaging videos, and statistical analysis methods.

 

Profile Seeking: I am seeking for enthusiastic students completing an MSc degree in behavioral ecology, ethology, or physiology. Proficiency in English is required, as the team is international. Basic knowledge of statistical analyses and R programming would be appreciated but not mandatory.

 

Place and Conditions of the Internship: The internship will be hosted at the Research Campus of Alnarp, Sweden within the Animal group of the department of Biosystem and technology. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide direct financial assistance. Non Swedish applicants must secure travel grants, research grants, or join with exchange program such as Erasmus to cover living expenses in Sweden. 

IMPORTANT: The data are already collected, so there is no fieldwork associated with this project, but you may have the possibility to join the fieldwork on some other projects if you want to. The advantage is that you have the garantee to already have high quality data for your project and the time to analyse them. 

The Team and Supervision Support: Under the supervision of Dr. Océane Liehrmann (https://oceane-liehrmann.webador.fr/), you will join the Animal Group within the Department of Biosystems and Technology, a dynamic and collaborative research environment. The group conducts cutting-edge research on farm animal welfare, housing quality, and behavioural and welfare monitoring through advanced technologies and animal movement analysis.

This setting offers a rich opportunity to expand your research network and connect with experts in your field of interest. You will be actively involved in the group’s activities, including weekly meetings, collaborative discussions, and ongoing research projects.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Code horse behavior using specialized software from experiments involving various emotional stimuli.
• Extract and analyze heart rate variations and thermal imaging data.
• Assist in statistical analyses to identify correlations between behavioral responses, heart rate, and facial temperature variation.

 

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in a Master's program in a relevant field (animal sciences, veterinary degree, physiology…).
• If you are in a gap year, you must ensure to be associated with a university which will provide internship contract.
• Funding source from Travel or research grant or possibility to benefit from exchange programs such as Erasmus. 
• Good knowledge of horse behaviour is a plus but not mandatory.

Benefits:

• Hands-on experience in research using infrared thermal imaging
• Training in behavioral coding software.
• Insight into equine behavior and welfare research.
• Mentorship from experienced researchers.
• Potential for authorship on academic publications.

Application Process: To apply, please email at oceane.liehrmann(at)slu.se with the object " IRT internship 2026" : a cover letter outlining your interest in the project, relevant experience, and how your skills align with the requirements outlined above. Additionally, include a current CV highlighting your academic background and any research experience.

Deadline: 20.11.2025

a paid student assistant position

The Primate Social Evolution Group at the German Primate Center (DPZ) is searching for a motivated research assistant to conduct behavioral observations of wild Assamese macaques at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand.
The Assamese Macaque Project at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand has been running since 2005 (https://www.dpz.eu/en/social-evolution-in-primates/field-station). The park is situated within a large network of protected forests harboring a diverse community of large mammals including several species of nonhuman primates. We currently observe three large multi-male multi-female groups of Assamese macaques which together contain about 200 individuals. We combine detailed behavioral observations with frequent non-invasive sample collection for physiological and genetic analyses, and phenological monitoring to investigate the causes and underlying mechanisms of social relationships.
What we offer:
a paid student assistant position
• for a duration of 9 - 12 months (salary: €600/month).
• We cover all work-related travel costs, medical insurance, necessary medical examinations and vaccinations. Housing at the field site is free. Note that we will reimburse the travel costs only after the completion of at least 9 months of data collection.
• A fantastic opportunity to study the social lives of wild Assamese macaques.
• An opportunity to gain new skills and gain proficiency in diverse research and scientific methods relevant for research in behavior and ecology.
• The unique opportunity to gain field experience in a Southeast Asia national park and train with experienced primate behavioral biologists.
This position is open to candidates with an interest in behavioral ecology and primate behavior. We are particularly looking forward to hear from applicants who:
• Are strongly motivated, reliable, and committed.
• Show good initiative, with a willingness to learn and attention to detail.
• Are happy to live and work under harsh conditions.
• Are prepared to live in a remote setting in a small team.
• Are able to work long days in the heat or in the rain.
• Have field experience/experience with observing animals.
• Have good intercultural communication skills.
• Have team spirit.
• Are fluent in English.
• Have a clean driver's license.
The successful candidate will be trained by and work closely with the long-term team of local field assistants and PhD students to contribute to the research program of the Assamese Macaque Project.
They will use the established protocol for focal animal observations and sample collection and processing on individually recognizable animals.

The main tasks of successful volunteers include:
• Recording demographic and census data from the three study groups.
• Collecting behavioral focal animal observations and GPS data.
• Processing of behavioral data to be added to the project data base.
• Collecting fecal and urine samples for genetic and hormonal analysis.
• Processing non-invasive biological samples in our field lab.
• Contributing to running of the long-term research project and maintenance of the field station.
See our website for more information https://www.dpz.eu/en/social-evolution-in-primates
If you are interested in the position, please send a motivation letter, a CV, and the names of two referees to bewerbung@dpz.eu under the key word “Thailand” as one pdf file. The deadline for application is 18th December 2025 and work in Thailand is expected to start May-June 2026