Postdoc Position in Animal Behaviour

Join the lab of Dr. Jorg Massen (Animal Behaviour & Cognition research group) as Postdoctoral Researcher in animal behaviour and investigate whether and how intergroup conflict shapes (parochial) prosociality. Together with Jorg, you will work on a DFG/NWO Weave Grant in collaboration with a PhD student, Dr. Claudia Fichtel (German Primate Center, Göttingen) and Professor Carsten de Dreu (University of Groningen).

Your job
The project aims to identify the behavioural, neuroendocrine, and (epi)genetic mechanisms of parochialism—how cooperation and conflict emerge within and between primate groups. You will experimentally manipulate intergroup competition and conduct behavioural experiments to measure prosociality, social tolerance, and cooperation, testing how these behaviours relate to ingroup parochialism. In addition, you will analyse saliva and blood samples to study endocrine and genetic influences. You will work primarily with eight multigenerational groups of rhesus macaques at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) in Rijswijk, the Netherlands.

The findings will be integrated within the broader project, including ecological and functional analyses of parochialism in wild lemurs conducted by our German counterpart, a PhD student supervised by Dr. Claudia Fichtel.

Your responsibilities include:

• conducting research using standard ethological observation techniques;
• combining observational and behavioural experimental methods involving behavioural and cognitive measures;
• collecting and analysing salivary oxytocin;
• supporting the analyses of (epi)genetics;
• conducting advanced statistical and analytic analyses on behavioural data.

In addition to research, you will contribute to teaching (20%), providing opportunities for professional development.

We are looking for an enthusiastic new colleague who meets the following criteria:

• a PhD in animal behaviour or a related field;
• demonstrable experience in conducting behavioural experiments and structural observations of animal social behaviour (preferably with primates), and physiological parameters in the study of animal behaviour;
• a strong background in data analysis using R, preferably experience with Bayesian statistics and social network analysis;
• lab experience related to endocrinology and/or genetics (preferred);
• the social skills to motivate people from different backgrounds and facilitate team-work;
• substantial and demonstrable experience with academic writing;
• proficiency in English, both in speech and writing.

• a position for one year (1.0 FTE), with an extension of two additional years upon a positive evaluation;
• a gross monthly salary, depending on qualifications and experience, between € 3.546 and €5.538 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

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You will be embedded in the Animal Behaviour and Cognition (AB&C) group. This group is part of the Institute of Environmental Biology within the Department of Biology. The AB&C group conducts research on animal social behaviour and cognition, in particular primates and birds. The group has its own teaching line within the Biology Bachelor’s programme and its own track Behavioural Ecology in the Master Environmental Biology.

For more information, please contact Dr. Jorg Massen at j.j.m.massen@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.