Research Associate in the Evolution of Intergroup Conflict, Department of Zoology, Cambridge
Job Description
Cambridge’s Department of Zoology is hiring a Research Associate to build theoretical models of intergroup conflict in animal societies, on an ERC Advanced Grant. The salary is £37,694 to £46,049 a year and applications close on 18 October 2026.
At a glance
- Post: Research Associate in the Evolution of Intergroup Conflict
- Where: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
- Salary: £37,694 to £46,049 a year
- Reference: PF51056
- Apply by: 18 October 2026
Read the official University of Cambridge advertisement before you apply.
About the work
The post sits in the Behaviour and Evolution Group directed by Rufus Johnstone. The team investigates the role of intergroup conflict in the evolution of animal societies, informed by data from banded mongoose and termite study systems.
Intergroup conflict is recognised as a powerful force shaping social behaviour, but there is limited theory to explain when fights break out, how long they last, how they end, or what they mean for individual behaviour and life history. You would develop new theoretical models of conflict initiation, dynamics, and consequences for life history allocation, aiming at predictions that can be tested against the mongoose and termite data or published data on other species.
The post is part of the ERC Advanced Grant INTERGROUP awarded to Rufus Johnstone and Michael Cant, funded by UKRI under the Horizon Guarantee programme. You would join a larger group of researchers on the project based at Exeter, Swansea, Liverpool John Moores and York, with regular team meetings and opportunities to collaborate.
What you need
- Strength in theoretical and mathematical modelling of behaviour and evolution
- An interest in connecting models to field data from real study systems
- Read the official advertisement for the full person specification
Pay
The advertised range is £37,694 to £46,049 a year. This is a fixed-term post.
How to apply
Apply online through the Cambridge job page. Click Apply, register an account with the University’s recruitment system if you do not have one, and complete the form. Quote reference PF51056 on your application and in any correspondence about the vacancy. You will normally be asked for a CV and the contact details of academic referees, so line those up before you start.
One thing to check first. The University states that it has a responsibility to ensure all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you are applying from outside the UK, read the visa position for this post before you spend time on the application.
Browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in, or search our Find a supervisor page.
Hiring institution: University of Cambridge
Official advertisement: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk
How to prepare for this application
- This is a theory post. Show models you have built. Fieldwork matters less here.
- The models have to meet data. Say how you would make predictions testable against mongoose and termite systems.
- Quote the reference, PF51056. Cambridge asks for it on the form and in every email about the post.
- Line up your referees early. Cambridge contacts them during selection, so tell them before you apply.
- Check your right to work in the UK. Every Cambridge advert carries this condition, and it is the usual reason an overseas application stalls.
About the University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is one of the world's leading research universities. Its research posts are advertised centrally at jobs.cam.ac.uk, with each department running its own selection.