Postdoctoral Position - Bonobo Life History Including Database Management

Postdoctoral Position - Bonobo Life History Including Database Management

Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Konstanz, Germany

The project

We are looking for a postdoc to work on our long-term database, establishing an accessible framework that allows access to our core bonobo project and its multiple accompanying projects. The bonobo project focuses on behavioral, ecological and physiological data of wild bonobos, collected over more than two decades. These data make it possible to investigate and answer proximate and ultimate questions at an individual level.

In addition, data from multiple related projects focus on the ecosystem in which the species is embedded. This includes the availability and choice of food, as well as the role of bonobos as both hunters and prey within this complex system. Line transect, camera trap, acoustic, and other survey data are available to obtain a deep understanding of the animal and plant communities in which bonobos are embedded.

The candidate will be responsible for incorporating long-term data available on various analog and digital storage media into a continuously growing relational database. Two technicians, as well as a team of experienced project members, will contribute to allow this database to grow in a meaningful way. The candidate will be expected to make use of the growing database by analyzing the project’s existing long-term data and, ideally, contributing to the project’s scientific output.

Job requirements

We are looking for a candidate with a PhD in Natural Sciences, ideally Biology, Ecology, Primatology, or a related field. Our team is highly collaborative and aims to create a friendly and jointly productive research environment. We are looking for a team player and an enthusiastic scientist. Applicants should bring:

• Proficiency in R, including the ability to understand, execute, and extend existing scripts, as well as develop new ones; and to analyze and visualize data;
• Experience with relational databases (proficiency in SQL and with MS Access is an advantage);
• Experience in handling and processing large datasets, including analytical skills (Frequentist and Bayesian statistical frameworks);
• Experience in collecting and/or analyzing observational data on animal behavior, including ‘focal and party follow’ studies, as well as ‘ad libitum’ data;
• Experience in collecting and/or analyzing survey data (CT, PAM, Telemetry);
• Experience in remote sensing;
• Organization skills, reliability, and a thorough work style with attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently;
• Strong problem-solving skills, including openness to learning new tools, software, and methods;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in French is a plus;
• Experience in writing and publishing manuscripts (including published or accepted first-author papers).