Technical Assistant (m/f/d) | Bonobo Database Contributor

Max Planck Society; Konstanz; Vor Ort; EUR 42.000 - 56.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz invites two Technical Assistants (m/f/d) to contribute to the Bonobo Database project. You will implement data pipelines, clean, store long-term data, and help make research resources accessible within an international team.

Ideal candidates have strong data handling, R proficiency, and Excel/Access experience with a focus on mammalian behavior data. English required; German a plus.

Qualifikationen

• Experience in collecting observational data on mammalian behavior.
• Advanced R programming including statistics.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and Access with SQL queries.
• Ability to handle, process and analyze large datasets and multiple data streams.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently after an initial introduction to tasks.
• Good written and spoken English; French is a plus.
• Training as a technical assistant or comparable qualification.
• Knowledge of the German language is an asset.
• Experience with relational databases is beneficial.
• Experience with primate data and data storage/processing is a plus.

Kenntnisse

Data collection

R programming

Excel & Access

Data analysis

Organisational skills

Independent work

English language

French language

Ausbildung

Technical assistant training

Tools

SQL queries

MS Excel

MS Access

Relational databases

Jobbeschreibung

Scientific and Technical Assistance Radolfzell / Konstanz

Developmental and Evolutionary Biology & Genetics Behavioral Sciences Microbiology & Ecology

Job Code: 173

Job Offer from September 09, 2026

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at its sites in Konstanz and Radolfzell offers an international, interdisciplinary, and cooperative environment that opens up unique research opportunities. The goal of our basic research is to develop a quantitative and predictive understanding of the decisions and movements of animals in their natural environment.

The Department of the Ecology of Animal Societies at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior would like to fill two positions as Technical Assistants (m/f/d). The workplace will be in Konstanz, Germany.

Technical Assistant (m/f/d) 100 % "Bonobo Database Contributor"

The project

The Bonobo Behavioral Ecology Research Group has been studying individual life histories and social relationships of wild bonobos (Pan paniscus) for over 20 years. It is focusing on the ecological and social factors that determine behavior within and between neighboring groups. Similarly, studies are conducted on interspecific relationships, analysing the role of individual species within this complex ecosystem comprising predators, prey and competitors. At the moment, our group consists of two senior researchers, one postdoc, three PhD students, several independent scientists, one database manager, several MSc students, as well as an international team in the host country, DRC, including research assistants collecting data year-round at our field site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The position is intended to continue with the implementation and expansion of the project’s database, including the development of efficient pipelines for the cleaning, storage and accessibility of long‑term data.

Job requirements

Essential Requirements

• Experience in collecting observational data on mammalian behavior
• Advanced programming skills in R, including the performance of statistical analyses
• Proficiency in MS Excel and Access, including the creation of SQL queries
• Handling, processing and analysing large datasets and multiple data streams
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently after an initial introduction to tasks
• Good written and spoken English; French is a plus
• Training as a technical assistant or comparable qualification

Additional skills that would be an asset, but are not necessary:

• Knowledge of the German language
• Experience with relational databases
• Previous work with primate data, ideally 'focal and party-follow' studies, as well as 'ad libitum' data.
• Experience with imaging and image‑processing techniques
• Experience with legacy data storage (audio, video and documents)

We offer

The position will start on November 1, 2026, and is limited to 24 months. We offer an interesting job in an open-minded team, and a responsible and varied workplace embedded in a growing interdisciplinary and international research institute.

The successful candidate will work in a dynamic and highly international research environment. Our working language is English. The payment for the position is made in accordance with your experience and qualifications of the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund).

The Max Planck Society endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applications from persons with severe disabilities are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Questions about this position will be answered by Barbara Fruth, [e-mail].