P O S T - D O C T O R A L P O S I T I O N I N W I L D B E E C O G N I T I O N

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Postdoctoral Research Associate

 Postdoctoral Research Associate (m/f/d)
(Salary level E 13 TV-L, 100 %)

The Comparative BioCognition Research Group (Prof. Dr. Simone Pika) of the Institute of

Cognitive Science at Osnabrück University is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research

Associate to commence work on 01.01.2027 for a period of 3 years. The position allows for further scientific qualification (habilitation; https://www.uni-osnabrueck.de/en/university/working-at-osnabrueck-university/job-vacancies/140-fb-8-research-associate-mfd-institute-of-cognitive-science).

Your duties:

The position involves participation in the research and teaching activities of the Comparative BioCognition group at Osnabrueck University in the domain of nonhuman animals’ trust and the evolutionary trajectory of trust and involved cognition. The core work will be on behavioural interactions of mother-infant and infant-infant dyads of chimpanzees and bonobos in the wild, and the role of demographic and social factors. The selected candidate will analyse video footage of behavioural interactions of East African chimpanzees and bonobos and develop his/her own research questions within the scope of the broader focus on the evolution of trust to foster scientific growth. This position will be under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Simone Pika.

Requirements:

• A PhD degree in Biology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, Cognitive Science or
related fields and a strong background in animal behaviour, cognition or trust
• Experience in behavioural analyses or analysis of social factors and eagerness for
developing his/her skills in the other
• Expertise in coding and annotation of large datasets using ELAN, Boris or related
coding software
• Salient expertise in conducting statistical analyses using programmes like R, LMM’s
and GLMM’s or Bayesian Statistics
• Very good written and spoken skills in English, good written and spoken skills in
German

Desired qualifications:

The ideal candidate has
• strong team working skills, affinity to collaborative work and the ability to work in an
intercultural environment

• Successful applicants would have a good record of scientific publications in high-quality

journals and enjoy mentoring junior researchers and working in an international team.

We Offer:

The position offers the opportunity to publish first author papers, contribute to related projects as a co-author, work in an international team and present the work at international
conferences.
The position is available on a full- or a part-time basis. Osnabrück University is a family-friendly University and is committed to helping working parents balance their family and working lives. Osnabrück University is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and the professional equality of the genders. We promote a culture ofscience and work that enables fair opportunities and a discrimination-free environment for learning, teaching, and working. In doing so, we strive for fair representation of all social groups among our staff and work to counteract underrepresentation.

Applications from people with severe disabilities and those treated as equivalent under applicable law will be given preferential consideration where candidates are equally qualified.

Please submit your application with the usual supporting documentation (proof of diploma,

CV and cover letter) 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 September 16, 2026.
For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Simone Pika
(spika@uos.de).

Postdoctoral fellowships in Collective Behaviour - Konstanz

 

We have multiple dedicated postdoctoral fellowships for the study of collective behaviour (2 + 1 years) at the Future College and Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour in Konstanz, Germany. 

We have exceptional facilities in an exceptional location (including close proximity to a major international airport in Zurich) - and our working language is English.

You can find specifics for the fellowships here (deadline October 12 2026): https://www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskolleg/fellowships/postdoctoral-fellowship/

The Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/about-us/overview/) is a global interdisciplinary hub for the study of collectives. A collaboration between the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour we have over 160 scholars, the vast majority of whom are international, with a dedicated new research building (https://www.exc.uni-konstanz.de/collective-behaviour/research/facilities/centre-for-visual-computing-of-collectives/) and a large forthcoming investment in our collective behaviour community (https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/university/news-and-media/current-announcements/news-in-detail/hector-stiftung-reinforces-world-class-research-and-innovation/). 

If the timing doesn’t work for you now, we will have further fellowships for PhD students and postdocs to be announced in the Spring!

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).

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

Post doc

 

I’m reaching out to spread the word that have internal funding for a postdoc in my lab at Villanova University starting this August with guaranteed funding for 2-3 years: https://jobs.villanova.edu/postings/33765.

 

The position is 50:50 teaching and research. Among several other projects, I’m looking for help with a collaboration I’m developing with a small local nonprofit farm that grows food for the community to combat food insecurity. We’re going to try to help them develop human-wildlife strategies to ethically prevent crop loss. This is in the early stages, but we’re looking to get some nestbox and trail cameras, start documenting what species visit the farm, and who is snacking on the produce. They already know that they have an issue with voles, and they have seen barn owl at night, so one initial idea is to put up a few barn owl nest boxes and encourage the owls to deter the voles. This project will be integrated in the teaching responsibilities with a lab course giving students observational research experience. I’m hoping to grow this collaboration to enable experimental studies of cognition in the wild. Individuals with experience and/or interest in field work, video coding, and sustainability/conservation would be particularly well suited to the is postdoc opportunity.

 

The applicant may be ABD when they apply but must have completed their PhD by the time they start the position in August. Review of applications begins March 16^th, but interested applicants should reach out to me if they need a bit more time to put together a strong application.

 

Postdoc position in neuroethology

 We have two open positions for Post-doctoral Fellows in Neurogenomics at the SWIRE Institute of Marine Science (http://www.swims.hku.hk/) in Hong Kong to commence as soon as possible, for 2-3 years in the lab led by Celia Schunter (https://www.schunterlab.com/).
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher who will be involved in a collaborative research project spanning neurobiologists, molecular scientist and behavioural ecologists to work on the brain of the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus).  

Applicants should possess a Ph.D. in Neuroethology/Neurobiology/Molecular Ecology or similar. In this role you will be able to lead experiments, collect and analyze the data, mentor others, write and publish and be part of an international collaborative team. Large-scale, collaborative, international projects are already underway, ensuring a quick and productive start.

Deadline: Mar 15
Start date: May 2026 (flexible)

Interested candidates should send their CV, a cover letter summarizing research
interests, professional experience, career goals and contact information for three references to Dr. Celia Schunter (schunter@hku.hk). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Post doc

 

We are recruiting a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to work on research projects that aim to transform early-life management of piglets in commercial production systems and improve welfare.

 

You can read more about the position and apply here:

https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-and-vacancies/postdoktor-/

Post-doctoral Researcher Position 2026

 

The impact of global change on parental care systems and population resilience

Department of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest (UVMB), Budapest, Hungary (https://univet.hu/)

 

Rapid global change, including human disturbance and climate warming, poses mounting risks to wild animal populations. Successful parental care strategies may buffer against the negative consequences of global change. However, both human disturbance and climate warming may disrupt parental behaviour, accentuate the costs of care and sexual conflict, interfere in parental cooperation and ultimately cause lethal and non-lethal damage to offspring. Yet we currently lack information on how global change may influence sex roles in care and parental cooperation, the physiological impacts on parents and offspring, and its consequences for the viability of populations.

 

Our project will examine how climate change and human disturbance shape parental strategies and its consequences for population productivity by utilising (1) large scale studies across multiple species exhibiting diverse patterns of parental care in varied climatic regions, (2) field experiments of climate and disturbance in natural populations, and (3) detailed studies within populations to determine how climate change and human disturbance may interact to shape parental care strategies and the consequences for population resilience and productivity.

 

We will achieve this by combining fieldwork, behavioural research, experimentation, population monitoring, movement tracking and molecular lab research across multiple populations of a diverse avian group (shorebirds). Shorebirds are an ideal group to investigate the impact of global change on parental care as they provide a wide variety of parental care systems, are globally distributed, reproduce in varying climatic environments and are facing threats globally due to climate variability and human encroachment.

 

We seek to recruit a post-doctoral researcher to contribute to this project.

 

Who are we

Our international team led by Dr Grant C. McDonald (UVMB, Hungary) in collaboration with Dr Mike Weston (Deakin University, Australia), Prof. Andrew McKechnie (University of Pretoria, South Africa), Prof. Tamás Székely (University of Bath, UK) and Dr András Kosztolányi (UVMB, Hungary) comprises diverse experience in reproductive strategies research, investigating the detailed evolutionary and social underpinnings of parental care strategies, the impacts of climate on behaviour and physiology, and the impact of human disturbance on avian populations both on local population and global scale.

 

Main responsibilities of the post-doctoral researcher

> Organising and conducting avian fieldwork at selected study locations (e.g. Africa, Asia and Europe) in association with collaborators for several months per year

> Conduct experiments and behavioural observations in the field

> Blood sample collection and close cooperation with molecular laboratory collaborators

> Coordinate data collection by collaborating international research teams

> Conduct statistical analyses of datasets to address within- and between-population questions

> Writing manuscripts targeted towards top-ranked journals in the field

> Support the supervision of students and research assistants

> Work in partnership with locally based conservation NGOs and participating institutions

> Communicate results at international conferences, to stakeholders and to the broader public

> Support additional scientific activities that are important for the success of the project

 

What we are seeking

> PhD in life sciences (evolutionary biology, zoology or comparable field)

> Foundational knowledge in behavioural ecology, animal behaviour or evolutionary ecology

> Hands-on experience conducting international fieldwork with wild populations, preferably in birds

> Firm skills in data management and statistical analysis using R 

> Track record of converting scientific research into peer review publications

> Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

> Ability to work independently and collaborate as part of international team

> Openness to live in different cultures during extensive fieldwork periods 

>  Strong project management and leadership skills

> Valid driving licence

 

What we offer

> A 2.5 year position (with the possibility of extension) based at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest

> Fieldwork in multiple locations across the globe (incl. Cabo Verde, and sites in Europe and Asia)

> Extensive opportunities for networking and mentoring with international research teams

> Competitive local salary (including paid holiday, fieldwork per diem)

> English speaking research team

> Opportunity to contribute to conservation and collaborations with NGOs at the different field sites

> Opportunities to present research at national and international meeting

> Support to develop follow-up projects and independent research fellowship applications

 

How to apply

Interested candidates should contact Grant C. McDonald (grant.mcdonald@univet.hu). The application should include a max two pages cover letter, a CV with list of publications, and the name and contact details of at least two referees from research, academia or conservation. 

 

Deadline: Application deadline is 28 February 2026. Interviews will be held in March 2026.

Start Date: Start dates are negotiable but could be as early as April 2026.

 

Selected publications

Engel, N., G. C. McDonald, B. K. Sandercock, R. Rice, R. Moreno, S. Ratão, and T. Székely. 2023. Long-term decline in nest survival of a ground-nesting shorebird on a tropical island. Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 45:e02522.

Halimubieke, N., K. Kupán, J. O. Valdebenito, V. Kubelka, M. C. Carmona-Isunza, D. Burgas, D. Catlin, J. J. H. St Clair, J. Cohen, J. Figuerola, M. Yasué, M. Johnson, M. Mencarelli, M. Cruz-López, M. Stantial, M. A. Weston, P. Lloyd, P. Que, T. Montalvo, U. Bansal, G. C. McDonald, Y. Liu, A. Kosztolányi, and T. Székely. 2020. Successful breeding predicts divorce in plovers. Sci. Rep. 10:15576.

 

McDonald, G. C., Z. Barta, B. A. Caspers, T. Székely, and A. Kosztolányi. 2024. Sex roles in parental care in a species with precocial offspring and frequent brood desertion. Anim. Behav. 215:211–225.

 

McDonald, G. C., I. C. Cuthill, T. Székely, and A. Kosztolányi. 2023. Remating opportunities and low costs underlie maternal desertion. Evolution 77:97–109.

 

McDonald, G. C., N. Engel, S. S. Ratão, T. Székely, and A. Kosztolányi. 2020. The impact of social structure on breeding strategies in an island bird. Sci. Rep. 10:13872.

 

McDonald, G. C., K. Tasman, N. Engel, T. Székely, and A. Kosztolányi. 2025. Inconsistent fear: repeatability in flight initiation distance and neophobic behaviour differs in a ground-nesting bird. Anim. Behav. 225:123224.

 

Roast, M. J., G. C. McDonald, T. Székely, A. Kosztolányi, and I. Maggini. 2025. No detectable deployment impacts of solar-powered GPS devices for long-term use on a small shorebird. J. Avian Biol. 2025:e03508.

 

Székely, T., M. C. Carmona-Isunza, N. Engel, N. Halimubieke, W. Jones, V. Kubelka, R. Rice, C. E. Tanner, Z. Tóth, J. O. Valdebenito, K. Wanders, and G. C. McDonald. 2024. The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding systems. Ibis 166:357–385.

Postdoc position in bioacoustics

 

We are looking for a Postdoc with experience in Bioacoustics to join our team on the ANIML project, where the goal is to study the complex units of budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus, a small parrot species) warble song. In prior work, we showed that these song units contain subunits that are similar to consonants and vowels in human speech. However, our recordings were limited to mostly male songs that were produced directly by willing individuals into an experimenter’s microphone.This project has been running for 1.5 years with a team with backgrounds in signal processing/machine learning to develop a pipeline to record individual budgerigar vocalizations while they are all vocalizing naturally together in a group. We are now looking for someone with expertise to study this dataset as it becomes available. 

This project is being hosted at the Acoustics Research Institute, which is an interdisciplinary institute with researchers of many fields (e.g., biology, phonetics, mathematics, physics, psychoacoustics etc). This allows us to address interdisciplinary problems in acoustics and is a unique work environment.

Deadline: February 15

Start date: June 2026 (with some flexibility)

The position is limited to 2 years but a short-term (max 12 months) extension may be possible. 

For details and how to apply, see: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/oeaw-home/jobs?jh=a16ucy4z9sicr0g4bj0wvv3ritd0kml

Post doc

 

Just to let you know that I have a post doc advertised at the moment for the poultry catching and handling study (although HR have given it a very unhelpful title!!). Please do circulate to your contacts!

 

Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol

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

Postdoc on mathematical modelling of stress responses

 Are you interested in how organisms respond to stressors in their environment? Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team? The Department of Evolutionary and Population Biology (EPB) at IBED, University of Amsterdam, is looking for a skilled, responsible, and organized postdoctoral researcher to develop mathematical models of adaptive stress regulation. These models will inform empirical research with humans.

Full details here: https://werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies/postdoctoral-position-in-mathematical-modeling-of-stress-responses-netherlands-14544

Postdoctoral position in neuroethology and genomics of coral reef fish

 Applications are invited for an appointment as Post-doctoral Fellow in Neurogenomics at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (https://www.hku.hk/) and the SWIRE Institute of Marine Science (http://www.swims.hku.hk/), to commence as soon as possible, for 2-3 years in the lab led by Dr. Celia Schunter (https://www.schunterlab.com/).
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher who will be involved in a collaborative research project spanning neurobiologists, molecular scientist and behavioural ecologists to work on the brain of the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus).  

Applicants should possess a Ph.D. in Neuroethology/Neurobiology/Molecular Ecology or similar. In this role you will be able to lead experiments, collect and analyze the data, mentor others, write and publish and be part of an international collaborative team. Large-scale, collaborative, international projects are already underway, ensuring a quick and productive start.

Required criteria:
• Ph.D. in neuroethology/neurobiology/molecular biology (or related topics)
• Good problem-solving skills
• Willingness to work on interdisciplinary research

Desirable:
• Knowledge of marine ecology, fish biology
• Experience with imaging tools
• Prior experience working with neural tissues
• Proven ability to manage and coordinate collaborative projects

Interested candidates should send their CV, a cover letter summarizing research
interests, professional experience, career goals and contact information for three references to Dr. Celia Schunter (schunter@hku.hk). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Postgraduate position in neuroethology and genomics of coral reef fish

 The Schunter lab is supporting application to well-funded Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowships or HKU presidential fellowships. Through these schemes, interested candidates can apply for a Ph.D. position in Molecular Neuroethology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (https://www.hku.hk/). The University is a long-standing English-speaking institution and ranks as one of the top Universities in Asia.
 
We are looking for a curious, ambitious and enthusiastic Ph.D. student to take part in a diverse team, working on molecular mechanisms and adaptation to changing environments. Research topics span from neuronal to molecular to behavioural levels (www.schunterlab.com) providing a comprehensive approach to understanding how organisms respond to their environment. The lab is associated with the Swire Institute of Marine Science, also known as SWIMS (http://www.swims.hku.hk/), a beautiful research station in a remote area of the Island of Hong Kong.

The lab combines several disciplines ranging from marine biology, behaviour, ecology, molecular biology, neurobiology to computational biology and prospective students should be interested in working in a cross-disciplinary environment. Generally, projects start with fieldwork or aquarium experiments with measurements of behaviour followed by molecular lab work to extract molecules of interest (e.g. DNA, RNA or proteins) and/or imaging techniques. Most projects also require large bioinformatic analyses and writeup into scientific articles. The lab maintains long-standing international collaborations and travel is likely to be required.
Additional requirements:
• Willingness to work in a highly international and collaborative environment
• If no previous experience, the student must be eager to learn bioinformatics
• Willingness to work in aquarium systems and/or fieldwork in a marine environment.
Hong Kong Ph.D. fellowships (HK$28,400 monthly plus travel allowance and research funds) are competitive and require high GPAs but come with a range of benefits. You can find more information about these fellowships here: https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/fees_scholarships_and_financial_support/hong_kong_phd_fellowship_scheme
The application deadline is the 1st of December. Information about the Ph.D. programme, in general, can be found here https://www.gradsch.hku.hk/gradsch/

Interested candidates should send their CV, a cover letter summarizing research
interests and contact information for two references to Dr. Celia Schunter (schunter@hku.hk) no later than the 1st of November to account for enough time to write a proposal for the application deadline.

Post doc

 

Postdoc in the Smith Bee Lab at Auburn University, 2-4 years

Research Areas: collective behavior, nest architecture, spatial organization, social physiology,
or any complementary research area.

We are especially interested in recruiting people with diverse research perspectives and analytical skills.  Full advert (also for interested graduate students), can be found here, and attached.  

Review of applicants begins 1 Nov, and will remain open until the position is filled.  Flexible start date. 

Offre de poste IR

 Research Engineer in Quantitative Genetics & Animal Behaviour (34 months, INRAE, France).
Join the HenCare EU project to study the genetic and social bases of emotional resilience in laying hens, combining quantitative genetics, behavioural data, and social network analysis in an international consortium. We’re looking for someone with a PhD in animal or data sciences, and some experience in genetics and/ or social network analysis to join us in Nouzilly (25km from Tours). More details and how to apply here https://jobs.inrae.fr/en/ot-27511

Post doc

 

We have a position as a postdoc/ research engineer in Quantitative Genetics & Animal Behaviour (34 months, INRAE, France).
Join the HenCare EU project to study the genetic and social bases of emotional resilience in laying hens, combining quantitative genetics, behavioural data, and social network analysis in an international consortium. We’re looking for someone with a PhD in animal or data sciences, and some experience in genetics and/ or social network analysis to join us in Nouzilly (25km from Tours). More details and how to apply here https://jobs.inrae.fr/en/ot-27511

Postdoc in corvid cognition

 

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.

https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/postdoctoral-research-associate-fixed-term-pj46816

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.