Postdoctoral Research Associate (Fixed Term)

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.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

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.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

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.

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.

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