Doctoral/Postdoctoral Position in Comparative and Developmental Psychology

Supervised by Jun. Prof Raphaela Heesen (U KN)

March 20, 2026

The start date is as soon as possible (reviewing candidates on a rolling basis). The position is available for three years.

The University of Konstanz is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany. Since 2007 it has been successful in the German Excellence Initiative and its follow-up programme, the Excellence Strategy.

The successful candidate would be integrated into the interdisciplinary research environment of the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour (CASCB) and the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS-QBEE), which offers an international main hub on collective and animal behaviour with a range of further internal funding opportunities. The PhD or postdoc position is available as part of a larger project investigating the evolutionary, developmental and cultural origins of human cooperative sociality led by Jun. Prof Raphaela Heesen. The project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and provides a unique opportunity for candidates wishing to conduct cutting-edge research on the foundational communicative and emotional mechanisms underlying joint action in human children across the ages three-, five-, and ten years. The candidate will employ state-of-the-art methods and technologies while collaborating closely with team members to conduct systematic cross-group analyses. These will include comparative studies involving nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, bonobos and Callitrichid monkeys. The research has a strong interdisciplinary focus at the intersection of biology, primatology, linguistics, anthropology, psychology and computer vision. The working language is English, but German language skills are recommended given data collection procedures in Germany.

Your responsibilities

Conduct a doctoral thesis (Dissertation) or postdoc
Data collection with human children in Germany and possibly Uganda (observational and experimental methods)
Code and categorize behaviors and communication (gestures, facial expressions, language)
Writing of academic papers and preparation of oral presentations at national/international conferences
Contribute to the broader aims of the interdisciplinary project (including cross-species and cross-cultural comparisons in collaboration with other team members)
Analyze data using advanced statistical methods (e.g., Bayesian regression models)
Analyze data from motion tracking and posture recognition systems, set up tracking rooms
Mentoring junior researchers in the lab

Your Competencies

Completed master’s (/ doctoral) degree in psychology, biology, linguistics, evolutionary anthropology or in a related discipline
Strong written and oral communications skills in English and German (to work at German KiTas)
Experience in working with children
High level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams
Skills in designing experiments and collecting observational data
Advanced skills in statistical data analyses
Programming experience is desirable (e.g., Python, R)
Experience in using thermal-imaging and applying tracking technology is encouraged
Experience and/or interest in applying computer vision methods for posture estimation

We offer

Strong career development mentoring
An open and ambitious interdisciplinary research team
Access to innovative technologies and resources in the field of comparative cognition and behavioural biology
A dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment with collaborative and further funding opportunities within the CASCB
Comprehensive academic development support, including training and mentoring
Structured guidance toward acquiring independent research funding and preparing for a postdoctoral career
A vibrant academic community in the attractive and livable city of Konstanz, located by Lake Constance

We look forward to receiving your application including your CV, cover letter, 2 reference letters and reference contacts including phone numbers & email until 01.04.2026 by email to Jun. Prof Raphaela Heesen: raphaela.heesen@unikonstanz.de. Questions can also be directed to R. Heesen.

The University of Konstanz is committed to ensuring an environment that provides equal opportunities and promotes diversity, as well as a good balance between university and family life. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to increase the number of women working in research and teaching. We also support working couples through our dual career programme. Persons with disabilities are explicitly encouraged to apply. They will be given preference if appropriately qualified (contact sbv@uni-konstanz.de, + 49 7531 88-4016).