Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

Exeter Science Park Limited; Santa Cruz (CA); Remote; USD 47,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Intellectual freedom

Support teams

Exeter Academic initiative

Staff benefits

Cornwall campus

Job summary

The University of Exeter is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to study the evolution of intergroup conflict in animal societies, using laboratory and field experiments on a basal termite system. Fieldwork will take place at sites in the Santa Cruz area, California, USA, as part of a UK/Germany team.

The successful candidate will develop research objectives, contribute to funding applications, supervise colleagues, and present findings at conferences and other events, with

Qualifications

• PhD (or nearing completion) or equivalent qualification in a related field and ability to work within research programmes.
• Strong statistical and IT skills and ability to conduct laboratory and field experiments.
• Ability to work collaboratively and supervise others as needed.

Responsibilities

• Participate in research on intergroup conflict using lab and field experiments.
• Investigate how intergroup conflict influences social behaviour using termite models.
• Collaborate within a multi-institution team and conduct field work at Santa Cruz sites.

Skills

Communication skills

Statistical skills

IT skills

Collaborative work

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

Tracking technology

Theoretical modelling

Job description

About The Role

Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

This ERC Advanced Grant (UKRI funded) full-time post is available from 01/01/2027 until 31/12/2029.

The starting salary will be from £35,302 on Grade E for Associate level or £44,352 for Fellow level on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience.

The Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Associate to participate in research on the evolution of intergroup conflict in animal societies, using laboratory and field experiments on a basal termite system. The successful applicant will work with a team led by Dr Faye Thompson and Professor Michael Cant to investigate how intergroup conflict influences individual and colony social behaviour, development and life history using a lab population of the basal termite, Zootermopsis angusticollis, combined with experiments at field sites in the Santa Cruz area, California, USA.

Intergroup conflict is recognised as a potentially powerful force shaping the evolution of social behaviour in animal societies. However, little is known about the dynamics and organisation of collective aggression, the effect of intergroup interactions on social behaviour, or the longer term impacts on development and life history. This project will test new theoretical models of fighting behaviour and explore the consequences of intergroup conflict in a model insect system, the basal termite Zootermopsis angusticollis. Using controlled laboratory and field experiments, advanced tracking technology, and theoretical modelling, the project will illuminate the behavioural rules that shape conflict between groups to understand the initiation, dynamics and outcomes of intergroup interactions.

The broader aim is to better understand the causes and consequences of intergroup conflict in animal societies and its role in social evolution.

The successful applicant will be based at our lab in Cornwall, UK but will be required to spend short periods at our field sites in the Santa Cruz area, California, USA to conduct complimentary field experiments and collect wild termite colonies for our laboratory population. They will join a large and dynamic multi-institution team in the UK and Germany working on the evolution of intergroup conflict using diverse empirical systems and theoretical approaches.

About You

Postdoctoral Research Associate: The successful applicant will be able to present information on research progress and outcomes, communicate complex information, orally, in writing and electronically and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or be nearing completion) or possess an equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study and be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, have good statistical and IT skills, and familiarity or experience with conducting laboratory and/or field experiments. Applicants will be required to conduct research for short periods at the field site.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow: The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals, identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in behavioural ecology, collective behaviour, or evolutionary biology and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will have good statistical and IT skills, and familiarity or experience with conducting laboratory and/or field experiments. Applicants will be required to conduct research for short periods at the field site.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

Further information

Please contact Dr Faye Thompson, [e-mail]

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Join the University of Exeter, a top 200 Russell Group university (QS & THE World University Rankings 2025), excelling in teaching (triple Gold rating, TEF 2023) and leading groundbreaking research in the beautiful southwest of England.

We are committed to understanding different cultures and perspectives, supporting diverse leadership, and striving for social justice. We encourage applications from all groups underrepresented in our community, including racially minoritised individuals and those with disabilities. Our inclusive, merit based recruitment processes seek to embrace a diverse set of experiences to ensure colleagues feel supported equitably. With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 140 countries, we foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

You can read more about our current accreditations and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here, including our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.

What we can offer you:

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines;
• Support teams that understand the University wide teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly;
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development;
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supports high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career;
• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy;
• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Cornwall.

How we can help

If you are considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [e-mail]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.