Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Two postdoc positions are advertised as part of an exciting project exploring human predation on large mammal ecology and evolution. Funded by the ERC (via the UKRI Frontier Research Grant guarantee) the selected candidate will join a diverse team of researchers led by Robert A. Montgomery to develop and apply new methods exploring whether large mammals have evolved defences that are induced by human predation and whether such effects can cascade down trophic systems shaping spatial food web dynamics.

The postdocs selected as part of this project will quantify the costs of large mammal decisions in relation to human predation pressure and fit computer simulations to elucidate how human predation shapes food web dynamics. The selected candidates will have experience of coding and running computer simulations of dynamic complex systems. Experience with machine learning and technological sensor development for empirical data collection should also be highlighted. Given that the empirical data collection will occur in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, experience with field data collection is preferred.

The selected candidate will have a PhD, or be close to finishing a PhD, in quantitative ecology, or equivalent. The post is initially offered for 36 months with the possibility of extension. Funding is available for a full-time post-doc, but we will consider a part-time appointment too. The project will start in early 2024, but a later start date can be arranged.

Please apply by uploading a cover letter and CV through our e-recruitment system. Where Covid-19 has resulted in substantial disruption to your work or research outputs, please explain this by providing an additional paragraph in your supporting statement. Interested applicants are welcome to direct questions to [email protected].

The University of Oxford is committed to equality and valuing diversity. All applicants will be judged on merit, according to the selection criteria.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on 13th February with interviews to be held soon after.