Research Assistant (f/m/d) | Great Ape Cognition and Curiosity

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at its sites in Constance and Radolfzell offers an international, interdisciplinary, and cooperative environment that opens up unique research opportunities. The goal of our basic research is to develop a quantitative and predictive understanding of the decisions and movements of animals in their natural environment.

For the Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior we are looking to fill the following position starting in January / February 2025.

Research Assistant (f/m/d)
Great Ape Cognition and Curiosity

Background

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, i.e. 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

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.

Your profile

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 required. 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.

We offer

The position will start as in January/February 2025 and is limited for 6-9 months. We offer an interesting job in an open-minded team, a responsible and varied workplace in a growing interdisciplinary and international research institute. The payment is made in accordance with your experience and qualification and the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-Bund).

The Max Planck Society endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applications of severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. For details see Diversity & Inclusion.

Are you interested? Then we are looking forward to receiving your application until January 5, 2025, with your CV containing your academic track record, the contact information of two references and a motivation letter.

Please submit your application documents through our online portal.

For questions about the position please contact Dr. Isabell Laumer (ilaumer@ab.mpg.de).