PhD position in Behavioral Biology (m/f/d)

The German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen conducts basic research in primate biology, molecular biomedicine and neuroscience. It maintains four field stations and is a competence and reference center for research on and with primates. The DPZ is one of the 96 research and infrastructure facilities of the Leibniz Association.

We currently invite applications for a fully funded

PhD position in Behavioral Biology (m/w/d)

We are in search of a PhD candidate to conduct research within the project “Linking social and communication networks in ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta)”. This is a 65% position (payment E13 TV-L) for a period of 3 years. The anticipated start date in mid-2025.

Project overview

Communication in group-living species is inherently complex, involving multiple senders and receivers interacting simultaneously within a dynamic network. Social groups also exhibit preferred and avoided associations, creating heterogeneous social structures. While communication and social networks are thought to influence one another, the mechanisms underlying this interplay remain poorly understood. Using cutting edge bio-logging technology, this project aims to understand how social relationships shape information transfer within groups of ring-tailed lemurs. Individuals within an entire social group will be equipped with tags containing microphones, GPS, proximity sensors, and accelerometers, enabling the simultaneous monitoring of vocal activity, behavior, interactions and location in both semi-free-ranging (Affenwald Straußberg) and wild (Madagascar) populations. This will allow the candidate to investigate how animals respond to multiple cues, how audience composition influences cue production, and how social context shapes both individual and collective responses.

The PhD candidate will be based in Göttingen, Germany, in the Department of Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (DPZ), under the primary supervision of Dr. Kaja Wierucka and co-supervision of Dr. Claudia Fichtel. The project is part of a broader collaborative effort involving Prof. Peter Kappeler (DPZ), Dr. Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin (Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior) and Prof. Alexander Ecker (Institute of Computer Sciences, University of Göttingen).

Candidate profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A strong background in animal behavior, behavioral ecology or a related field (M.Sc. degree or equivalent)
• Experience conducting observational or experimental studies with animals
• Quantitative skills in R or Python
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Experience or an interest in fieldwork and willingness to work in both semi-controlled and wild settings (Madagascar)
• Excellent critical thinking and communication skills
• Excellent English language skills; additional French language skills would be an advantage
• Experience with animal tracking, bioacoustics, or behavioral data analysis (preferred)
• Published or accepted peer-review articles (preferred)
• Driver’s license (preferred)

What we offer

• An interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment
• Modern work equipment and facilities
• Flexible and family-friendly work hours, with options for mobile work
• Access to training, workshops, and career development opportunities
• Enrolment in the GAUSS graduate program (University of Göttingen)
• Supervision by an interdisciplinary Thesis Advisory Committee

Employment at the DPZ is based on the civil service rules and regulations. The salary scale is in accordance with TV-L, with VBL pension scheme.

We welcome diversity and therefore welcome applications from qualified people, regardless of their ethnic, cultural and social background, gender, religion, ideology, disability, age or sexual identity. Registered disabled applicants with equal aptitude and qualifications will be given preferential consideration. We kindly ask you to indicate a disability in your application.

Please submit your application by the 31^st May, 2025. Your application should be compiled into a single PDF file and must include a cover letter outlining your motivation and relevant experience, your CV, contact details for two references, copies of your degree and language certificates. Send your application via E-Mail to: bewerbung@dpz.eu. Please title the file: YourLastName_LemCom_PhD and use the subject line: LemCom PhD application.

For scientific or general inquiries about the project, please contact Dr. Kaja Wierucka (kwierucka@dpz.eu). For general information, you may also call +49 551-3851-105 or visit our website at www.dpz.eu