Funded PhD opportunities in the Harper Adams University Animal Behaviour and Welfare Research Group

  We have a number of funded animal behaviour and welfare PhDs at Harper Adams University, including behavioural development in red squirrels and animal behavioural responses to education settings. 

More information is available here: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/blog/post/3521/phds-are-loading-mibtp-funded-phd-opportunities-at-harper-adams-open-now

These are funded via the MIBTP scheme. The funding unfortunately only covers UK fees but international students are still eligible to apply. A stipend is included as part of the package, along with a small research and training budget. This is a competitive and multi stage process but we have seen great results in previous years and have had a number of students come through this system.

All applications need to go via the MIBTP website (more details in the blog) but if you have any questions then please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

PhD in Equine Health and Welfare, Texas Tech University

 Please could you circulate this to any students it might be of interest to:

PhD in Equine Health and Welfare, supervised by Dr. Lindsay Nakonechny, in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, expected start date of Fall/Autumn 2027 (see also attached advert).

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The PhD student will be expected to take a leadership role in their Animal Science research program within the One Welfare Equine Lab. The PhD student will lead research that aims to evaluate the influence of human-horse interactions (e.g., during clinical care, husbandry procedures, training) on horse health, welfare and human wellbeing. General responsibilities will include: organizing, coordinating, and conducting experiments; coordinating with horse owners, equine facilities, and industry professionals; supervising research assistants; behavioral and physiological data collection; data management and analysis; and manuscript writing.


The ideal candidate has strong interpersonal skills, formal training conducting applied animal behavior research, a strong research background with publication(s), and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.


FUNDING:

Stipend support is available, with expectations that students will seek additional scholarship funding.


TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Dr. Lindsay Nakonechny (lnakonec@ttu.edu). Applicants should also provide contact information for two references.

Best wishes,

Lindsay

Lindsay Nakonechny​, PhD, MSc
Assistant Professor, Animal Health and Welfare​
Department of Animal and Food Sciences
1308 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock TX, USA 79409
AFS 213

PhD student and postdoc position on innovation in great apes

 we are looking for qualified applicants for a fully funded 3-year PhD project and a 3-year postdoc position on innovation in great apes. This position is part of the FWF Emerging Fields project "Comparative Ecological Innovation Styles" (CEIS), an interdisciplinary research program comparing innovation across great apes, corvids, and parrots. The successful candidates will be part of the Unit Cognition and Applied Ethology at the Messerli Research Institute (https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/messerli) and work in close collaboration with the other researchers involved in the CEIS project.

You can find the complete ads here:
PhD student position: https://share.eva.mpg.de/index.php/s/mmQAKxJqwDERZkP?dir=/&editing=false&openfile=true
Postdoc position: https://share.eva.mpg.de/index.php/s/XFTNzcr7d2XWtKi?dir=/&editing=false&openfile=true

Deadline: All electronic applications received by August 17th, 2026 will be considered.
Contact: Christoph Völter (Christoph.Voelter@vetmeduni.ac.at)
Institute: Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna)

PhD position in Animal Behaviour

 

I have a PhD position open in my new Emmy Noether group at Humboldt University of Berlin. The PhD student will further advance our recently published framework on levelling behaviours (Papageorgiou et al. 2026, TREE) by conducting experiments with real and robotic fish in the lab and will also work on long-term databases. The position is highly collaborative and is fully funded for four years, upon a positive halfway evaluation of my Emmy Noether programme.

Deadline for applying: July 6, 2026.

Call: https://www.hu-berlin.de/en/university/working-at-the-hu/jobs/details/wissenschaftlicher-mitarbeiterin-m-w-d-im-bereich-tierverhalten-dr-103-26

Open-access paper on levelling: https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(26)00111-4

PhD position: Collective and Ecological Dynamics of Savanna Herbivore Communities

 INTERDISCIPLINARY PHD POSITION

WildBotics DC9: Collective and Ecological Dynamics of Savanna Herbivore Communities

We seek candidates for a PhD position based in the Department of Biology and the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz, Germany. The position is fully funded for 4 years, with a desired start date of September 1, 2026.

THE WILDBOTICS NETWORK

This PhD position is part of WildBotics, an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN). The network brings together partner organizations across Europe and Africa to train 12 interdisciplinary Doctoral Candidates (DCs) who collaborate to develop effective and reusable robotics technologies and computational tools for biodiversity monitoring and nature conservation.

WildBotics is structured around three themes:

• Theme 1: Robot system design for nature conservation
• Theme 2: Autonomy, perception and AI for complex natural environments
• Theme 3: Analysis of large, sample-based datasets for wildlife ecology and biodiversity conservation

This position falls under Theme 3, although the successful candidate will also be expected to collaborate with students in Themes 1 and 2.

The candidate will participate in network-wide meetings, training events and field trips hosted by WildBotics partner organizations.

THE PROJECT (DC9)

The PhD candidate will conduct research combining field studies of individual and collective behavior of African elephants and/or mixed-species ungulate communities in Kenya with insights derived from fecal datasets.

The project provides substantial flexibility, allowing the candidate to shape the research direction according to focal species and behavioral questions of interest.

Close partnerships with the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) and the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) provide opportunities for collaboration on topics including:

• Wildlife and livestock epidemiology
• African elephant conservation
• Community and ecosystem dynamics

The candidate will also collaborate with other WildBotics doctoral candidates (e.g. DC1 and DC3) to support development of aerial and terrestrial robotic systems for fecal sample collection in challenging field environments, including image datasets for detection of defecation events and fecal samples.

The project will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Iain Couzin in collaboration with Dr. Blair Costelloe.

WE OFFER

• Membership in the WildBotics Doctoral Network
• Integration into the interdisciplinary research community at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior at the University of Konstanz
• Access to the wider Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior community
• Optional enrollment in the International Max Planck Research School for Quantitative Behavior, Ecology & Evolution (IMPRS-QBEE)
• Salary, research funding, training support, and participation in network events

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

We seek a curious and motivated candidate with interests in:

• Animal behavioural ecology
• Collective dynamics
• Disease ecology
• Wildlife conservation
• Related disciplines

Candidates should demonstrate research potential through:

• MSc thesis work
• Publications
• Code repositories
• Conference presentations
• Outreach activities

Strong quantitative literacy, programming skills, and experience with large datasets are advantageous.

Candidates should be willing to:

• Conduct fieldwork independently in Kenya
• Travel to partner institutions for events and secondments

Additional advantageous experience:

• Ecological or behavioural fieldwork
• Computer vision
• Machine learning
• Statistical or ecological modelling
• Analysis of large behavioural datasets
• Biological sample collection or processing
• International or interdisciplinary research experience
• Valid driver's license

We do not expect candidates to meet all criteria and strongly encourage applications from candidates meeting only part of these qualifications.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must satisfy MSCA-DN Early-Stage Researcher rules:

• No PhD degree
• Less than 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience after the qualifying degree

Candidates must also satisfy the MSCA mobility rule:

• Applicants cannot have spent more than 12 months during the previous 36 months residing or carrying out their primary activity in Germany.

The working language is English.

Required:
• Strong spoken and written English skills

Not required:
• German language proficiency

HOW TO APPLY

Send application materials to:

Katja Anderson
katja.anderson@uni-konstanz.de

Deadline: June 21, 2026

Subject line:
"WildBotics DC09 application"

Required documents:

1. Letter of motivation (max 3 pages)
2. CV or résumé
3. Academic transcripts/certificates
4. Scientific writing sample
5. Names and contact information of 2–3 references
6. Statement confirming compliance with the MSCA mobility rule

CONTACT

Prof. Dr. Iain Couzin
icouzin@ab.mpg.de

Dr. Blair Costelloe
blaircostelloe@gmail.com

Phd

Department of Evolutionary Biology
and Environmental Studies
UZH: PhD in Evolutionary Ecology
Inbreeding in a Wild Mammal System
Wild populations are increasingly exposed to demographic decline and fragmentation, making
inbreeding and its consequences a central problem in evolutionary biology and conservation. We
address this using one of the most comprehensive datasets available for any vertebrate population: a
longterm field study in Switzerland of more than 20,000 wild mice that vary naturally in degree of
inbreeding. We aim to quantify inbreeding effects on behaviour, reproductive output, survival and
morphology and relate these to genetic loci. The PhD project is embedded in a collaborative
framework with network scientists and evolutionary biologists at the University of Zurich and
at Columbia University.
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our research group at the University of Zurich
to examine the phenotypic and genetic consequences of inbreeding in a wild mammalian population.
Your responsibilities
• analyse large-scale phenotypic datasets (behaviour, life history, morphology)
• perform animal experiments on inbreeding
• develop and apply statistical models
• collaborate across disciplines (behavioural ecology, network science, genomics)
• contribute to high-quality publications
Your profile
• fascinated by fundamental questions in evolutionary biology
• MSc (or equivalent) in evolutionary biology, ecology, animal behaviour, or a related field
• training in quanOtaOve geneOcs and behavioural ecology
• evidence of analyOcal ability and scienOfic independence
• strong quanOtaOve skills, R programming, experience with large datasets
• project management, teamwork, scienOfic communicaOon and organisaOonal skills
What we offer
The University of Zurich provides an international, English-speaking research environment with
excellent infrastructure and strong interdisciplinary links. You will be embedded in an acOve and
collaboraOve research group with access to a unique long-term dataset and outstanding scienOfic
support. You will benefit from close collaboraOon with leading groups in network science and
genomics. We are commiSed to fostering an inclusive and respecTul working environment.
The position is funded for four years with a competitive salary. Zurich offers a very high quality of life
and a vibrant scientific community.
Start of employment
1 August 2026, or by agreement.
Please submit your application as a single PDF to Anna Lindholm (anna.lindholm@ieu.uzh.ch) by the
end of May 2026 including a letter of motivation, CV, academic transcripts, contact details of two
referees, and a copy of your MSc thesis, or if not completed, a short summary of it.

PhD studentship

 We are currently advertising a fully funded PhD position (3 years, fully funded by the Leverhulme Trust) at Nottingham Trent University within the department of Psychology. In this PhD, the student will generate new data to measure the facial behaviour of two species of semi-free ranging macaques (Tonkean and rhesus) and subsequently quantify their expressivity.

The project will assess the link between an individual’s facial expressivity (measured through ethological techniques) and the accuracy of their social knowledge (measured through cognitive testing). Using a secondary MRI dataset of the study subjects, and potentially incorporating new MRI, the student will also attempt to quantify the facial musculature of living primates and directly compare underlying anatomy with expressive behaviour.

The project will include an approximately 10-month visit to the Centre for Primatology (SILABE, University of Strasbourg) for the collection of behavioural and cognitive data. All field costs will be covered by the project.

You will be supported by interdisciplinary team: Jamie Whitehouse (Nottingham Trent University),  Sébastien Ballesta (University of Strasbourg) and Bridget Waller (Nottingham Trent University). International applications welcome! Deadline 19^th June, apply here: https://tinyurl.com/PhDNTU and more information here: https://jamiewhitehouse.github.io/mappingconnections/

PhD proposal

 https://www.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-study/how-to-apply/studentship-opportunities/ai-recognition-of-animal-emotions

Funded PhD position: Miller Cognition & Conservation Group

 

We have a 4-year PhD position at University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, Cornwall, ideally starting Sept 2026, entitled “From cognition to conservation: using cognitive and behavioural research to enhance animal reintroductions”. The supervisory team is Dr Rachael Miller (Harrison), Prof Alex Thornton, Dr Malcolm Burgess, Dr Malcolm Nicoll and Liz Corry, and funding is via my Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship.

 

Advert: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=5860 and https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/from-cognition-to-conservation-using-cognitive-and-behavioural-research-to-enhance-animal-reintroductions-phd-funded/?p196547

The closing date for applications is midnight on 5th June 2026. Please note it is (unfortunately) open to UK/Home students only, due to funder budget constraints.

Please can you help to circulate to your networks and relevant candidates. 

Two PhD (postdoc) Positions in the Evolutionary Cognition Group

 We are offering two 4-year PhD positions in the Evolutionary Cognition Group of the Department of
Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Zurich.
The candidates will be hired for the SNF project The Evolutionary Roots of Altercentrism. In a broader
team, we investigate whether altercentric effects on cognition are unique to humans, or instead also
present in nonhuman primates. A strong focus is on the cooperatively breeding marmosets, who may be
particularly susceptible to altercentric influences, and on how altercentrism may be influenced by dyadic
and group properties such as bond strength, prosociality, and inter-individual synchronization at various
levels (physiological with thermography, hormonal, behavioral and communicative). To identify
evolutionary pathways toward altercentrism, additional nonhuman primate species will be tested.
The project combines cutting-edge technologies: experiments and observations supported by computer
vision and machine learning, gaze tracking, thermography, hormonal analyses, automated sound location
and RIFD controlled tasks. Candidates with expertise in at least one oft these techniques are particularly
welcome to apply.
The successful candidate is expected to
- be interested in animal cognition and communication and contribute to shaping the project
- perform cognitive tests and collect observational data with marmosets
- have previous experience with one of the above mentioned techniques, or a strong interest in it
- collect data in additional nonhuman primate species
- possess a solid background in statistics and data processing
- be fluent in English (oral, written)
Candidates should have a Msc degree or equivalent and a relevant training background in Biology,
Psychology, or Evolutionary Anthropology. They will be part of the PhD program in Evolutionary Biology
of the University of Zurich. The start of the positions is ideally in October 2026, or upon agreement. We
may also consider postdoc applications for one of the positions.
Please submit your application in a single pdf to judith.burkart@iea.uzh.ch, ideally until May 20, 2026.
Applications should include a cover letter stating your motivation and how your expertise fits in this
project (1 page), a CV, a copy of the highest degree obtained, and the names of two referees.
We take gender balance and diversity seriously in our hiring decisions

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.

 

Open to UK, EU, and international applicants.

Background: Many mammals regularly use burrows as resting sites, predation refuges, and breeding dens. Burrows also aid thermoregulation by buffering extreme temperature fluctuations, making them vital as mammals adjust to a changing world. Despite the crucial functions burrows fulfil, we still know little about how their architecture influences their value as shelters and nurseries, and how animals interact with their subterranean environment. This exciting, multi-disciplinary, technology-driven PhD aims to clarify how the structure of breeding and sleeping burrows affects the lives of their occupants, using an exceptional long-term study of wild Kalahari meerkats (Suricata suricatta).

Full details and application portal available here: https://www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-doctorate/phd-mapping-the-manor-burrow-architecture-and-its-consequences-in-wild-kalahari-meerkats-cramdu26biolvh

Application deadline: 30^th April

Questions? Contact Dom Cram d.cram@uea.ac.uk

PhD position in field-based ape

The Department of Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany) is currently seeking Qualified applicants (m/f/d) for a PhD position in field-based human and/or ape locomotor biomechanics.

 

Who are we looking for?

The PhD student will work within a new Minerva Fast Track Research Group led by Dr. Charlotte King focused on human and ape locomotor biomechanics and ecomorphology. We are offering a PhD position to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of great apes, including humans, through experimental approaches. This project provides the opportunity to contribute to our understanding human origins by examining the functional morphology of living apes as models to reconstruct locomotor evolution in our extinct hominin relatives. The research will integrate field-based data collection with computational and quantitative analyses.

We seek a candidate with a strong interest in human origins and competency in computational approaches to data processing and analysis. Candidates with prior fieldwork experience with primates or other mammals will be prioritized.

Essential criteria include:

• A completed Master`s degree (including M.Sc. thesis) in biological anthropology, zoology, biomechanics, ecology and evolution, biology, ethology, or a related topic.
• Excellent academic performance and strong motivation to pursue a PhD
• Fluent in written and spoken English (which is the working-language of the Institute)
• Willingness, and ideally previous experience, to conduct fieldwork-based research
• Willingness to collaborate effectively and have strong teamwork skills

Desired skills:

 

• Experience with machine learning applications
• Experience with biomechanical recording equipment (e.g., 3D motion capture, force)
• Interest in primate functional morphology and behaviour
• Experience with field-based research on primate or other mammals

 

What do we offer?

• Highly integrative projects that require a willingness to embrace multiple disciplines and close collaborations with other researchers with different backgrounds.
• State-of-the-art equipment.
• An excellent research environment.
• A structured training program.
• German language courses are offered (German language skills are not required)
• Successful candidates will obtain a 3-year Ph.D. position corresponding to TVöD Bund (Collective Wage Agreement for the Public Service): The doctoral funding contracts combine research in scientific freedom with social security. They allow doctoral researchers to devote themselves independently to their scientific work without any constraints.
• The agreed working time currently amounts to 39 hours per week.
• Consumables and equipment required for the project will be covered by the department.
• Selected Ph.D. students would ideally start at the beginning of September 2026 (and a Master’s degree must be completed by this date).
• The candidates will be enrolled within the International Max Planck Research School “The Leipzig School of Human Origins” (IMPRS-LSHO: link for more information find here).

 

You want to apply?

Interested applicants should apply only via our online recruiting system (link, also see below).

For questions (no applications), please write to Dr. Charlotte King, Minerva Group Leader, Dept. of Human Origins at origins_office@eva.mpg.de. 

Applications should include:

• Cover letter (max. 2 pages), outlining your previous research experience, your specific area(s) of research interest, and a brief overview of potential research directions or questions that interest you within the scope of the project.
• Curriculum vitae with the names and contact information of at least two referees.
• Scientific certificates (B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees)

All electronic applications should be submitted by April 30th, 2026.

The Max Planck Society and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology are committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and gender equality. We actively support the compatibility of work and family and have set ourselves the goal of employing more severely disabled people and groups that are underrepresented in science, especially in the given field of activity. Therefore, we explicitly encourage them to apply and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

The aim of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI EVA) in Leipzig/Germany is to investigate the evolutionary history of humankind with the help of comparative analyses of genes, morphology, cultures, cognitive abilities, languages and social systems of past and present human populations as well as those of primates closely related to human beings.

The collaboration of the different departments – representing the natural, social, and human sciences – at one institute leads to new insights into history, variety, and abilities of the human species. The institute unites scientists with various research interests who are concerned with human evolution seen also from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Great attention is paid to cooperation between the departments in the institute. The focus of the Department of Human Origins (Director: Dr. Tracy Kivell) is on early hominin and ape evolution and the reconstruction of behaviour in the past using high-resolution imaging, experimental biomechanics and archaeology, and the study of living primates (including humans).

 

We look forward to receiving your completed

 

https://www.eva.mpg.de/human-origins/positions-available/?tx_evaumantis_showpositions%5Baction%5D=show&tx_evaumantis_showpositions%5Bcontroller%5D=Position&tx_evaumantis_showpositions%5Bdepartment%5D=Abteilung%20Menschliche%20Urspr%C3%BCnge&tx_evaumantis_showpositions%5Blang%5D=en&tx_evaumantis_showpositions%5Bposition%5D=676&cHash=9a8fc726327f3c0c7d813419d18d8506

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Bristol and Macquarie University.

 

Fully funded PhD opportunity available to quantify animal movement patterns and behavioural interactions in a changing world. The PhD will involve integration of new movement modelling and rich empirical data from both dwarf mongoose groups and individually tagged zebra finches: the data can be used to parameterise models and improve realism; models can generate predictions that can be tested with the empirical data. The student would be based for the first half of the PhD in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK (hosted by Prof. Andy Radford) and then in the School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia (hosted by Prof. Simon Griffith); a joint studentship under a Cotutelle arrangement between the two universities who fund half each.

A key part of the project is further development of analytical movement modelling under the tuition of co-supervisor Prof. Luca Giuggioli (Engineering Maths, Bristol); candidates should therefore have a strong track record in mathematical and/or computational skills. Large existing datasets will then be used to test model predictions; candidates should therefore have good experience of (or be willing to learn) sophisticated statistical analysis methods. There will also be the opportunity for fieldwork in Australia on the long-term zebra finch population.

Full details are available here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/funded-phd-quantifying-animal-movement-patterns-and-behavioural-interactions-in-a-changing-world/?p188221

Application deadline is: 19^th April 2026

For any enquiries, please contact Andy Radford (andy.radford@bristol.ac.uk)

PhD position on lemurs genomics

 

I am currently recruiting a PhD student to carry out a doctoral thesis on mouse lemur population genomics.

The candidate will join the Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution team at the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences of Montpellier (ISEM, France), with an expected start date of 1 September 2026.

More information is available here:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/420224

PhD/Postdoc Positions

 

Below are two links for position options within my lab (1 PhD/postdoc fully funded position, 1 joint grant application option) at Uni Konstanz, Germany.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions in relation to the postings, or issues to access the links.

Best wishes, Raphaela Heesen

Fully-funded PhD/Postdoc Position on joint action in human children

Margarete von Wrangell Grant - Joint Application for Postdoc Position on Great Ape Communication

Doctoral/Postdoctoral Position in Comparative and Developmental Psychology ( O p e n c a l l )

 (PhD part-time 65 % / Postdoc full-time 100% E 13 TV-L)
The start date is as soon as possible (reviewing candidates on a rolling basis). The position is available for
three years.
The University of Konstanz is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany. Since 2007 it has been successful in the
German Excellence Initiative and its follow-up programme, the Excellence Strategy.
The successful candidate would be integrated into the interdisciplinary research environment of the Centre for the Advanced Study
of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) and the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS-QBEE), which offers an international
main hub on collective and animal behaviour with a range of further internal funding opportunities. The PhD or postdoc position is
available as part of a larger project investigating the evolutionary, developmental and cultural origins of human cooperative sociality
led by Jun. Prof Raphaela Heesen. The project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and provides a unique
opportunity for candidates wishing to conduct cutting-edge research on the foundational communicative and emotional
mechanisms underlying joint action in human children across the ages three-, five-, and ten years. The candidate will employ
state-of-the-art methods and technologies while collaborating closely with team members to conduct systematic cross-group
analyses. These will include comparative studies involving nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, bonobos and Callitrichid
monkeys. The research has a strong interdisciplinary focus at the intersection of biology, primatology, linguistics, anthropology,
psychology and computer vision. The working language is English, but German language skills are recommended given data
collection procedures in Germany.
Your responsibilities Your Competencies We Offer
– Conduct a doctoral thesis
(Dissertation) or postdoc
– Data collection with human children
in Germany and possibly Uganda
(observational and experimental
methods)
– Code and categorize behaviors and
communication (gestures, facial
expressions, language)
– Writing of academic papers and
preparation of oral presentations at
national/international conferences
– Contribute to the broader aims of the
interdisciplinary project (including
cross-species and cross-cultural
comparisons in collaboration with
other team members)
– Analyze data using advanced
statistical methods (e.g., Bayesian
regression models)
– Analyze data from motion tracking
and posture recognition systems, set
up tracking rooms
– Mentoring junior researchers in the
lab
– Completed master’s (/ doctoral)
degree in psychology, biology,
linguistics, evolutionary
anthropology or in a related
discipline
– Strong written and oral
communications skills in English and
German (to work at German KiTas)
– Experience in working with children
– High level of interpersonal skills and
the ability to work collaboratively in
diverse teams
– Skills in designing experiments and
collecting observational data
– Advanced skills in statistical data
analyses
– Programming experience is desirable
(e.g., Python, R)
– Experience in using thermal-imaging
and applying tracking technology is
encouraged
– Experience and/or interest in
applying computer vision methods
for posture estimation
– Strong career development
mentoring
– An open and ambitious
interdisciplinary research team
– Access to innovative technologies
and resources in the field of
comparative cognition and
behavioural biology
– A dynamic, interdisciplinary research
environment with collaborative and
further funding opportunities within
the CASCB
– Comprehensive academic development
support, including training and mentoring
– Structured guidance toward acquiring
independent research funding and
preparing for a postdoctoral career
– A vibrant academic community in the
attractive and livable city of Konstanz,
located by Lake Constance
We look forward to receiving your application including your CV, cover letter, 2 reference letters and reference contacts
including phone numbers & email until 01.04.2026 by email to Jun. Prof Raphaela Heesen: raphaela.heesen@uni-
konstanz.de. Questions can also be directed to R. Heesen.
The University of Konstanz is committed to ensuring an environment that provides equal opportunities and promotes diversity, as well as a good balance between
university and family life. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women working in research and teaching. We also support working
couples through our dual career programme. Persons with disabilities are explicitly encouraged to apply. They will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact
sbv@uni-konstanz.de, + 49 7531 88-4016).

PhD proposal

 PhD Opportunity – Fall 2026
INVESTIGATION INTO DIFFERENT
FARROWING SYSTEMS FOR INTENSIVELY REARED
SOWS
Description:
Prairie Swine Centre’s Ethology department presents a new PhD opportunity with the objective of
evaluating alternative farrowing systems on the welfare and productivity of sows and piglets.
Prairie Swine Centre is located in Saskatoon, SK, Canada and includes a 300-sow farrow-to-finish barn.
Two alternative farrowing systems will be evaluated alongside the conventional farrowing crate.
Several factors will be measured throughout the duration of the project to systematically evaluate the
systems and their possible integration into commercial industry.
This project will be supervised by Dr. Jen-Yun Chou (PhD, MSc, MA) from the department of Ethology at
Prairie Swine Centre. The student will be enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department
of Animal and Poultry Science.
Funding is expected to last 3.5 years (2026-2030). Coursework will be completed at the University of
Saskatchewan. The selected candidate will be paid according to the standard rate for Doctoral
students ($30,655/year) and are expected to help acquire additional scholarships.
Deadline for submission of application: March 31, 2026.
Expected starting date: September 1, 2026
Skills:
• Master’s degree in Animal Science, Animal Behaviour/Welfare, Animal Agriculture, or other
relevant fields
• Research interest in farm animal welfare
• Good understanding of the needs of Canadian livestock producers
• English proficiency
• Holder of a valid Canadian driver’s license and is committed to acquiring a car within one year
of acceptance to facilitate trial work
Applicants:
For more information, please contact Dr. Jen-Yun Chou (jenyun.chou@usask.ca) or research officer
Abby Tillotson (abby.tillotson@usask.ca). To apply, please send your CV (4 pages max, including two
references and their contact information), unofficial transcript records, and a cover letter outlining your
expression of interest (2 pages max).

PhD studentship

Mutation load dynamics in banded mongooses.
Supervisors: Prof Joe Hoffman (Bielefeld University, Germany) and Dr Hazel Nichols (Swansea University, United Kingdom).
An outstanding opportunity is available for a PhD student to work on mutation load dynamics in a cooperatively breeding mammal, the banded mongoose. The position is available in Joe Hoffman’s research group (www.thehoffmanlab.com) at the Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics at Bielefeld University and is co-supervised by Hazel Nichols at Swansea University. The position is fully
funded for three years.
The PhD project
Ever since Darwin, inbreeding depression has been recognized as a major evolutionary force affecting individual fitness and population viability. Consequently, in an era of unprecedented anthropogenic impacts on wild populations and global species declines, understanding the mechanisms underlyinginbreeding depression is more pressing than ever. Traditional studies used genome-wide inbreeding as a proxy for the effects of deleterious mutations on fitness, but the specific contributions of these mutations remain poorly understood. Fortunately, advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics now allow the prediction of deleterious mutations from whole-genome data, enabling investigation of their dynamics in wild populations.
This project will explore how predicted deleterious mutations influence fitness in the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo), a cooperatively breeding African mammal. In this species, inbreeding occurs at unusually high rates, with around 9% of pups resulting from father-daughter or brother-sister matings,offering a rare opportunity to study the dynamics of deleterious mutations. The PhD student will analyse their contributions to inbreeding depression using a long-term dataset spanning three decades, which includes molecular data from ~2,000 individuals, a multigenerational pedigree, and detailed behavioural and life-history data.
This PhD offers a unique opportunity to combine cutting-edge genomic approaches with rich ecological and behavioral data to uncover the genetic basis of fitness variation in a wild population.
Applicant’s profile
We seek a bright and highly motivated student with a good first degree and an M.Sc. or equivalent in a relevant topic (e.g. population genomics, bioinformatics, molecular ecology, behavioural ecology). The ideal candidate will have strong quantitative skills, including proficiency in working in R and experience ofwriting custom scripts. Practical experience of handling, analysing and interpreting next generation sequence (NGS) data is strongly preferred, although additional training will be provided as needed. The candidate should also be able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, and must demonstrate a high standard of spoken and written English.
The working environment
The PhD student will be based at the Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics at Bielefeld University, Germany (www.thehoffmanlab.com). Our group is located in the newly constructed Verhaltensforschung building, which features modern offices and state-of-the-art, fully equipped laboratories. The building currently hosts 11 principal investigators and more than 30 postdocs and PhDstudents. It offers a stimulating, supportive and highly international research environment. The working language of the department is English.
Bielefeld is a city of 325,000 inhabitants with an attractive historical centre and easy access to the Teutoberger Wald for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. It is an affordable and pleasant city to live in and is well connected to most major European cities.
This project will be mainly carried out at Bielefeld University, but the PhD student will also have the opportunity to spend some time at Swansea University (https://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/h.j.nichols). The successful applicant will therefore benefit from excellent opportunities for international travel and collaboration, while receiving a rigorous integrative training that will prepare her/him very well for a scientific career in evolutionary genetics / population genomics / molecular ecology / behavioural ecology.
Remuneration
This generous PhD studentship is funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG) for a period of threeyears and includes health insurance, pension contributions etc. The pay scale is TVL E13 (65%). Funding
will also be available for the student to attend workshops and conferences.
Application procedure
To apply for this position, please provide: (i) a letter of motivation; (ii) a CV; (iii) copies of relevant degree certificates, (iv) a maximum 2-page statement of your research interests, including your relevant skills and experiences; (v) a publication list, if applicable, (vi) two confidential referee statements. All materials should be submitted to the online portal of Bielefeld University via the following link:
https://jobs.uni-bielefeld.de/job/apply/4737/research-position-m-f-d-phd-canddiate?page_lang=en
The reference for the position is: Wiss25540.
The application deadline is 30th January 2026 and online interviews will take place shortly afterwards. For further information, please see www.thehoffmanlab.com and http://hazelnichols.weebly.com. We also
encourage you to contact Joe Hoffman (joseph.hoffman@uni-bielefeld.de) and / or Hazel Nichols (H.J.Nichols@Swansea.ac.uk) with any informal inquiries.
Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements in the provision of equal opportunity and has been recognized as a family friendly university. The University welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in Information Technology and Trades and Craft. Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state equal opportunity statutes. Applications from suitably qualified handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.
Representative publications
Wells, D., et al. (2018) A high quality pedigree and genetic markers both reveal inbreeding depression for
quality but not survival in a cooperative mammal. Molecular Ecology, 27: 2271-2288. Doi: 10.1111/mec.14570.
Wells, D.A. et al. (2020) Inbreeding depresses altruism in a cooperative society. Ecology Letters, 23: 1460- 1467. Doi: 10.1111/ele.13578.
Chen, R.S. et al. (2025) Predicted deleterious mutations reveal the genetic architecture of male reproductive success in a lekking bird. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 9: 1924–1937. Doi: 10.1038/s41559-025-02802-8.
Chen, R.S. et al. (2025). Early-life viability selection targets deleterious mutations in exons. Current Biology, 35: 5908–5914. Doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.043.

Interested in pursuing a PhD on the evolution of female ornamentation? Deadline to apply: 27 January 2026.

 

The study animal for this project is the pipefish Nerophis ophidion, which is a species of fish with strikingly ornamented females, but some mathematical modelling will also be included. The PhD studies will be based at University of Gothenburg while field work will be carried out at Kristineberg marine research station, 100 km north of Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast.

More information here: Göteborgs universitet | Doctoral student in biology (https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=39131)

TWO fully-funded PhD OPPORTUNITIES at the University of Bristol

 

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 (Bristol)

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