Doctoral Position in Developmental and Comparative Psychology

Internetchemie; Konstanz; Vor Ort; EUR 30.000 - 50.000; Teilzeit

Zusammenfassung

The University of Konstanz offers a part-time doctoral position in Developmental and Comparative Psychology, focusing on the origins of human cooperative sociality. Candidates will engage in interdisciplinary research, employing advanced methods and collaborating with diverse teams. This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in a vibrant academic environment.

Leistungen

Access to innovative technologies

Comprehensive academic development support

Dynamic interdisciplinary research environment

Qualifikationen

• Completed master’s degree in psychology, biology, or related discipline.
• Experience in working with children.
• Advanced skills in statistical data analyses.

Aufgaben

• Conduct a doctoral thesis (Dissertation).
• Data collection with human children in Germany and possibly Uganda.
• Analyze data using advanced statistical methods.

Kenntnisse

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Statistical Data Analysis

Experiment Design

Programming

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in psychology, biology, or related discipline

Tools

Python

R

Jobbeschreibung

Doctoral Position in Developmental and Comparative Psychology (part-time 65%, TV-L13)

Reference no.: 2025/115. The start date is October 1st, 2025. The position is available for three years.

The University of Konstanz is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany. Since 2007, it has been successful in the German Excellence Initiative and its follow-up programme, the Excellence Strategy.

The successful candidate would be integrated into the interdisciplinary research environment of the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB), which offers an international main hub on collective behaviour with a range of further internal funding opportunities. The PhD position is available as part of a larger project investigating the evolutionary, developmental, and cultural origins of human cooperative sociality, led by Dr. Raphaela Heesen. The project is mainly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and provides a unique opportunity for candidates wishing to conduct cutting-edge research on the foundational communicative and emotional mechanisms underlying joint action in human children across the ages of three, five, and ten years.

The candidate will employ state-of-the-art methods and technologies while collaborating closely with team members to conduct systematic cross-group analyses, including cross-cultural comparisons of human joint action development and comparative studies involving nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, bonobos, and Callitrichid monkeys. The research has a strong interdisciplinary focus at the intersection of biology, primatology, linguistics, anthropology, psychology, and computer vision. The working language is English.

Your Responsibilities

• Conduct a doctoral thesis (Dissertation)
• Data collection with human children in Germany and possibly Uganda (observational and experimental methods)
• Writing of academic papers and preparation of oral presentations at national/international conferences
• Contribute to the broader aims of the interdisciplinary project (including cross-species and cross-cultural comparisons in collaboration with other team members)
• Analyze data using advanced statistical methods (e.g., Bayesian regression models)
• Code and categorize behaviors and communication (gestures, facial expressions, language)
• Analyze data from motion tracking and posture recognition systems, set up tracking rooms
• Mentoring BSc and Master students

Your Competencies

• Completed master’s degree in psychology, biology, or a related discipline
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and German (for work at German KiTas)
• Experience in working with children
• High level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams
• Skills in designing experiments and collecting observational data
• Advanced skills in statistical data analyses
• Programming experience (e.g., Python, R) is desirable
• Experience in using thermal-imaging and applying tracking technology is encouraged
• Interest or experience in applying computer vision methods for posture estimation

We Offer

• An open and ambitious interdisciplinary research team
• Access to innovative technologies and resources in comparative cognition
• A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment with collaborative and further funding opportunities within CASCB
• Comprehensive academic development support, including training and mentoring
• Structured guidance toward acquiring independent research funding and preparing for a postdoctoral career
• A vibrant academic community in the attractive city of Konstanz, located by Lake Constance

Questions can be directed to Dr. Raphaela Heesen: [e-mail].

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents (e.g., CV, motivation letter) until 16.06.2025 via our Online Application Portal.

The University of Konstanz is committed to ensuring an environment that provides equal opportunities and promotes diversity, as well as a good balance between university and family life. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women in research and teaching. We support working couples through our dual career programme. Persons with disabilities are explicitly encouraged to apply and will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact [e-mail], [phone]).