Call for Expressions of Interest

Call for Expressions of Interest
Joint Application for a Margarete von Wrangell Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Konstanz Jun-Prof. Dr. Raphaela Heesen (Department of Biology, University of Konstanz) invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers interested in jointly applying for a Margarete von Wrangell Postdoctoral Fellowship: https://mwk.baden-wuerttemberg.de/de/hochschulen-studium/hochschulpolitik/chancengleichheit/individuelle-foerderprogramme
The fellowship would support a three-year postdoctoral position (100% full-time, TV-L E13) for women max. 2 years post PhD (PhD grade magna cum laude or higher) at the University of Konstanz, with connections to the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB). The position is expected to start as soon as possible following a positive fellowship decision (anticipated August 2026).
The successful candidate will develop an independent research profile while collaborating with Prof. Heesen on a broader research program investigating the mechanisms and origins of joint action in humans and other primates.
Within this research program, applicants are invited to develop their own research ideas related to one or more of the following themes: communicative feedback and temporal synchrony in social interaction and group-specific/socio-cultural influences on interaction dynamics. Research in the group combines behavioural observation, experimental approaches and multimodal analysis of joint action, including comparative work with human children and nonhuman primates (mainly chimpanzees and bonobos). The candidate will work with existing video data from Heesen’s lab and collect new data, notably on human children.
Applicants should hold a PhD in psychology, biology, anthropology, linguistics, cognitive science, or a related discipline, and have a strong interest in research on social interaction, communication, or cooperative behaviour.
Interested candidates should send an expression of interest including their CV, cover letter, a 1-page research statement outlining how their own work fits with ideas for a project within the broader mentioned research program and contact details of two referees. Expressions of interest should be sent by 1 April 2026 to Jun.- Prof. Dr. Raphaela Heesen, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz by email:
raphaela.heesen@uni-konstanz.de
Selected candidates will then develop a joint application for the Margarete von Wrangell Fellowship together with R. Heesen. The final fellowship application deadline is expected at the end of May 2026