"Senior Research Associate in Animal Behaviour"

The role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated postdoc to work on our NERC funded project ‘Tactical toothed whales: Evolution of between-group alliances in a non-human model’. This timely project will use cutting-edge field methods and long-term social and behavioural data to investigate how cooperative relationships between dolphin groups are formed and maintained and how between-group alliances influence social decision-making. Start date 1st March 2026.

What will you be doing?

The successful applicant will use long-term data, spanning 40 years, and social network analyses to examine the ontogeny and stability of between-group alliances in the Shark Bay dolphins. They will also work with an established team of field researchers to conduct field-based playback experiments to investigate the social cognition underpinning between-group alliances. This will require the candidate to spend time at a remote field site in Western Australia for a few months per year with other research team members. The candidate will be responsible for fieldwork, data analysis and paper writing.

The successful applicant will be part of a supportive and collaborative team at Bristol University led by Professor Stephanie King and will be supported with career development opportunities. They will also be a member of the international Shark Bay Dolphin Research team (www.sharkbaydolphins.org).

You should apply if

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant subject, a strong background in animal behaviour and experience conducting fieldwork with wild animal populations and/or conducting behavioural experiments with animals in human care. The role-holder will need excellent data handling and management, and communication skills.

Additional information

For informal queries about the role please contact Stephen King, stephanie.king@bristol.ac.uk

Contract type: Open Ended with Fixed Funding for 3 years

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Monday 1st December 2025

Interviews will be held in week commencing Monday 15th December 2025