(part-time 65%, TV-L13)
Reference no.: 2025/114. 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 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The candidate will employ state-of-the-art methods and technologies while collaborating closely with team members to conduct comparative analyses. These will include cross-species comparisons with other nonhuman primates (Callitrichid monkeys), as well as with human children across developmental and cultural gradients. 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) in Biology
• Data collection with chimpanzees in and outside Europe (observational and experimental methods)
• Writing of academic papers and preparation of oral presentations at national and international conferences
• Contribute to the broader aims of the interdisciplinary project (including cross-species comparisons in collaboration with other team members)
• Analyze data using advanced statistical methods (e.g., Bayesian regression models)
• Code and categorize behaviors and communicative signals (gestures, facial expressions, vocalizations)
• 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 Biology or in a related discipline
• Strong written and oral communications skills in English (French is a plus for better communication at field sites)
• Experience in working with primates, especially apes, ideally in the area of cognition/communication
• 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 is desirable (e.g., Python, R)
• Experience in using thermal-imaging and applying tracking technology is encouraged
• Experience and/or interest in applying computer vision methods for posture estimation

We Offer

• An open and ambitious interdisciplinary research group
• Access to innovative technologies and resources in the field of comparative cognition
• A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment with collaborative and further funding opportunities within the 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 and livable city of Konstanz, located by Lake Constance

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