Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

This NERC-funded full time post is available from 03/05/2027 until 02/05/2029.
 
Starting salary: £35,302 to £40,704 for PDRA and £44,352 for PDRF, depending on knowledge, skills & experience. 

Recruiting for a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to join the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the Penryn Campus.

You will work with Dr Bram Kuijper, Professor Alex Thornton and collaborators on the theoretical components of their NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant: “The co-evolution of learning and social structure: how minds shape societies and societies shape minds” (UKRI4324).

It has long been suggested that the demands of social life drive cognitive evolution. However, if cognition allows individuals to learn who best to associate with, individuals’ mental processes may shape societies in return. To understand such dynamics and generate testable predictions, this post will develop evolutionary models (primarily individual-based evolutionary simulations) to establish a predictive framework linking the evolution of learning in social decision-making to social evolution. It will include the development of simulation code using a programming language such as C++, R or Python, interpretation of model outputs, publication and presentation of findings. The work will be conducted in close collaboration with empirical researchers working on wild jackdaws as part of the grant, you will be a member of Thornton’s Wild Cognition Research Group.

About You

PDRA: You will have proven skills in evolutionary modelling and be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion) or equivalent qualification/experience in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, theoretical biology or a related field of study, demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes and possess relevant skills in computational evolutionary biology including individual-based simulations.

Applicants should demonstrate experience of conducting and completing research from idea conception to publication and presentations, with experience in coding and data analysis. They should demonstrate excellent communication, teamwork and collaboration skills, and be enthusiastic about interdisciplinary research. Desirable skills include: the ability to develop simulation code using a programming language such as C++, R or Python, knowledge of social network analysis and game theory, experience of collaborations spanning theoretical and empirical research.

PDRF: You will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD in behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, theoretical biology or a related field of study, have a strong track record of high quality publications, including evidence of published research in theoretical evolutionary biology, sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies, with skills in evolutionary modelling including individual-based simulations and the ability to develop simulation code using a programming language such as C++, R or Python.

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Closing date: 14 December. 

Please contact Dr Bram Kuijper, a.l.w.kuijper@exeter.ac.uk or Prof Alex Thornton, alex.thornton@exeter.ac.uk.