University of Bristol - School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Senior Research Associate: Understanding the Evolution of Castes
University of Bristol - School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Bristol, Connecticut, us, 06010
Senior Research Associate: Understanding the Evolution of Castes
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The role A Senior Research Associate position is available in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol. Working across Africa, you will investigate the evolution of behavioural castes in the social insects ("queens" and "workers"). You will run field experiments with social wasps in three African countries: Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa. You will join an international team of postdocs, PhD students, local field assistants, and combine a diverse range of techniques – including behavioural experiments in the field, CT scanning, and bioinformatics.
This position is funded by a NERC-NSF Pushing the Frontiers grant to Dr Patrick Kennedy (University of Bristol, UK) and Professor Dustin Rubenstein (Columbia University, USA).
Lab website: tinyurl.com/SocialStrategyLab
What will you be doing? You will work in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa to understand how the evolution of castes is shaped by climate. You will conduct field sampling across environmental gradients, and analyse diverse datasets including transcriptomes, behavioural footage, and CT scans. We anticipate the Senior Research Associate being first author on resulting papers.
You should apply if You are a biologist with good all-round skills. You should be confident travelling and conducting fieldwork across remote locations, and prepared to analyse diverse data strands.
Essential Requirements
Experience conducting overseas research fieldwork
Demonstrable capacity, enthusiasm, and commitment to spend at least 3 months a year in the field. You must be prepared to travel extensively across three African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa)
Ability to work as part of an international field team and collaborate closely with partners from multiple international institutions
High practical independence
Strong abilities to trouble‑shoot in the field
Confidence driving overseas, including 4X4 vehicles
Excellent research record
PhD in a related field
Desirable Requirements
Ability to speak French to a conversational level, as you will be working with Cameroonian colleagues and engaging with local communities and government officials
Prior experience working in an African context
Academic background in behavioural ecology
Experience working in challenging environments
Experience analysing bioinformatics datasets
Do you need to have a background in evolutionary biology? Applicants with outstanding fieldwork experience coming from disciplines outside evolution, ecology, or animal behaviour (e.g., anthropology, geography, population health, conservation biology) are welcome to apply, although experience with bioinformatics datasets is an advantage. You will be expected to develop a strong grasp of social evolution and behavioural ecology, including inclusive fitness theory.
Additional information
Contact: Dr Patrick Kennedy, Lecturer (patrick.kennedy@bristol.ac.uk)
Position starts as soon as possible from 1st March 2026
Contract type: Open ended (Fixed term funding until 31/05/2028)
Work pattern: Full-time
Grade: J
Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum
Recruitment timeline: Advert will close 23:59 UK time on Sunday 11th January 2026. Shortlisting 12th-16th January 2026. Interviews Wednesday 28th January 2026.
Equal Opportunities The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people – because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.
Available documents
ACAD108408 – Senior Research Associate – Job Description .pdf
Further Particulars_Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.pdf
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Contract
Job function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The role A Senior Research Associate position is available in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol. Working across Africa, you will investigate the evolution of behavioural castes in the social insects ("queens" and "workers"). You will run field experiments with social wasps in three African countries: Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa. You will join an international team of postdocs, PhD students, local field assistants, and combine a diverse range of techniques – including behavioural experiments in the field, CT scanning, and bioinformatics.
This position is funded by a NERC-NSF Pushing the Frontiers grant to Dr Patrick Kennedy (University of Bristol, UK) and Professor Dustin Rubenstein (Columbia University, USA).
Lab website: tinyurl.com/SocialStrategyLab
What will you be doing? You will work in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa to understand how the evolution of castes is shaped by climate. You will conduct field sampling across environmental gradients, and analyse diverse datasets including transcriptomes, behavioural footage, and CT scans. We anticipate the Senior Research Associate being first author on resulting papers.
You should apply if You are a biologist with good all-round skills. You should be confident travelling and conducting fieldwork across remote locations, and prepared to analyse diverse data strands.
Essential Requirements
Experience conducting overseas research fieldwork
Demonstrable capacity, enthusiasm, and commitment to spend at least 3 months a year in the field. You must be prepared to travel extensively across three African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa)
Ability to work as part of an international field team and collaborate closely with partners from multiple international institutions
High practical independence
Strong abilities to trouble‑shoot in the field
Confidence driving overseas, including 4X4 vehicles
Excellent research record
PhD in a related field
Desirable Requirements
Ability to speak French to a conversational level, as you will be working with Cameroonian colleagues and engaging with local communities and government officials
Prior experience working in an African context
Academic background in behavioural ecology
Experience working in challenging environments
Experience analysing bioinformatics datasets
Do you need to have a background in evolutionary biology? Applicants with outstanding fieldwork experience coming from disciplines outside evolution, ecology, or animal behaviour (e.g., anthropology, geography, population health, conservation biology) are welcome to apply, although experience with bioinformatics datasets is an advantage. You will be expected to develop a strong grasp of social evolution and behavioural ecology, including inclusive fitness theory.
Additional information
Contact: Dr Patrick Kennedy, Lecturer (patrick.kennedy@bristol.ac.uk)
Position starts as soon as possible from 1st March 2026
Contract type: Open ended (Fixed term funding until 31/05/2028)
Work pattern: Full-time
Grade: J
Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum
Recruitment timeline: Advert will close 23:59 UK time on Sunday 11th January 2026. Shortlisting 12th-16th January 2026. Interviews Wednesday 28th January 2026.
Equal Opportunities The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people – because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.
Available documents
ACAD108408 – Senior Research Associate – Job Description .pdf
Further Particulars_Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.pdf
Seniority level Mid‑Senior level
Employment type Contract
Job function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr