Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow

Overview

The University of Exeter invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow position within the Environment, Science and Economy department. This full-time, fixed-term position runs from January 1, 2027, until December 31, 2029, and is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant funded by UKRI. The successful candidate will join a collaborative multi-institution team in the UK and Germany to study the evolution of intergroup conflict in animal societies.

The project investigates collective aggression, social behaviour, development, and life history using a basal termite system. Work involves laboratory populations of Zootermopsis angusticollis along with experiments conducted at field sites in the Santa Cruz area of California, USA. The researcher will be based at the laboratory in Cornwall, United Kingdom, and will travel to the California field sites for short periods to collect wild colonies and conduct complementary experiments.

Who can apply

Candidates must hold a relevant PhD or possess an equivalent qualification and experience in a related field of study, or be nearing completion. For the Associate level, applicants need sufficient knowledge in the discipline and research methods to work within established programmes. For the Fellow level, applicants must be a nationally recognised authority in collective behaviour, behavioural ecology, or evolutionary biology, with specialist knowledge to develop research programmes and methodologies.

What you get

The starting salary ranges from £34,610 to £43,482 per annum. The starting rate is set at £34,610 on Grade E for the Associate level or £43,482 on Grade F for the Fellow level, determined by qualifications and experience.

Requirements

Appointees must be able to conduct research for short periods at the field site in California. Associate candidates are required to present research progress, communicate complex information orally, in writing, and electronically, and prepare proposals and applications to external bodies. Fellow candidates are expected to develop research objectives and proposals, identify and secure funding sources, and present at conferences and events.

Key dates

The application closing date is December 2, 2026. The position is available starting January 1, 2027, and concludes on December 31, 2029.