PhD position in parrot tool use - Goffin Lab, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Job offer: applications opening 19th of February 2025.
We are looking for a PhD student (funded by the Austrian Science Fund, FWF) for a doctoral project in the field of animal behaviour and cognition
Project Title:Dexterity in the tool use of the Goffin’s cockatooProject Location:
The Messerli Research Institute is located at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Its division on Comparative Cognition investigates cognitive abilities in both the social and physical domain of various, free-living as well as domesticated, animal species including Goffin’s cockatoos, keas, dogs, goats and pigs.
https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/
en/messerli This PhD project will be conducted at the Goffin Lab in Lower Austria.
https://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/
cognition/goffin-lab Academic Supervision:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alice Auersperg (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Project Description:
The Goffin’s cockatoo uses and builds tool -based technologies rivalling higher primates, both in captivity as well as in the wild. While we already understand a lot about what kinds of tools animals use in which context, we still know very little about the innovative process and fine-scaled mechanisms underlying such behaviour: how are the cockatoos able to innovate tool use in the first place?
Thereby, it is important to consider behavioural as well as physical barriers that animals face when using tools. We currently predict that tool use techniques are strongly affected by the different properties of the tasks the birds are operating their tools upon. This PhD project aims to test to what extent the tool use techniques invented by aviary cockatoos in Austria manifest in a predictable manner based on specific tool and task properties. To achieve this, we plan to blend behavioural analysis and material physics. The findings of this project will help to understand the onset and mechanisms underlying rare animal technologies.
Deadline and project start:Please send your application before 1st of June 2025. The successful candidate can start in July atthe earliest (we would like to have started the project by September of this year).Requirements· A master’s degree· A master’s thesis with a topic related to animal cognition/animal behaviour/comparative psychology or material science.· Genuine Interest in animal behaviour and cognition· At least some experience in direct interaction with animals (experience with animal testing is highly appreciated).· Comfortable with direct contact with parrots· Statistical knowledge (preferably experience in General Liner Mixed Models, PCA, Survival Analysis etcetera.)· Experience with R.· Excellent English skills written and spoken (additional German skills are highly appreciated)· Excellent teamworking and communication skillsWhat we offer· Employment at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna via a FWF funding for a minimum of three years.· Access to institutional support (administrative support, statistician, IT manager, technician for experimental apparatuses).· Various scientific events including weekly seminars of comparative cognition researchers· Opportunity to visit international conferences.· Opportunity to visit social events for PhD students studying avian cognition in Vienna.· An international and interdisciplinary work environment at the Messerli Research Institute for Human-Animal Interaction.How to apply:Applications (email: alice.auersperg@vetmeduni.ac.at) will be considered until the 1st of June 2025
Only complete submissions will be taken into consideration.
Your application should contain the following information:1. A Cover Letter detailing your motivation for the research topic, relevant experience, and expectations for the position (max. 2 pages)2. A Curriculum Vitae including copies of relevant university degree certificates3. Contact details for two references (incl. email)
