Oferta compartida por Cristina
Background
This position is based at the Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group at the Max
Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany. Our team to date includes 3 Postdocs,
2 PhD students, 2 Technicians, as well as Master and Bachelor students. This research project is
part of a collaborative project which is partly funded by the VW Freigeist Foundation and aims at
testing the cognitive performance and curiosity in orangutans, chimpanzees and humans.
The research
Humans deliberately innovate, even in the absence of
any problem to solve. This desire to learn and know,
ie. curiosity, seems to set humans apart from other
species. Being curious has powerful consequences on
the individual level. Through increased innovation
rates, curious individuals transform their cognitive
capacity into skills and knowledge faster than
uncurious individuals. As such, curiosity may be a
key psychological trait that makes cognitive potential
visible for natural selection. Therefore, to fully
understand cognitive evolution, aside from external factors, it is crucial to take key psychological
motivations and their development within individuals into account. The project will investigate the
interplay between cognitive performance and the psychological motivation of curiosity in wild,
sanctuary- and zoo-housed orangutans and chimpanzees, as well as in humans from different
societies.
Your tasks and your profile
The research assistant will assist with data collection and independently collect data on cognitive
performance and curiosity in captive chimpanzees and orangutans in different European zoos. In
addition, the candidate will code the collected data using a video coding software.
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree in Biology or Comparative Psychology, or related
field. We seek a highly motivated candidate with a detail-oriented way of working, patience, a
strong sense of responsibility and excellent observation skills. Experience conducting cognitive
experiments with great apes, other primates or large-brained birds in captivity/wild is required. We
are looking for a candidate that is able to work independently and has excellent team working
skills. The position further requires excellent organizational skills. Very good spoken and written
English skills are required. German skills to communicate effectively with zoo staff and a driver's
license is highly desirable. Technical knowledge to repair test equipment if needed and experience
in coding behavioral data is desirable but not required. The candidate must be willing to travel and
live close to the respective zoo for several weeks/months during the data collection phase.
Our offer
The position will start in January/February 2025 and is planned to last ca. 6-9 months.
We offer an interesting job in an open-minded team, a responsible and varied workplace in an
interdisciplinary and international research institute.
The Max Planck Institute endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applicants of
severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and
diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Are you interested? Then we look forward to receiving your application until December 18th with
your CV containing your academic track record, the contact information of two references and a
motivation letter. Please send your application to: ilaumer@ab.mpg.de
