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

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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