Lauren Brent

Two fully-funded PhD opportunities are available at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, focusing on social monitoring and manipulation in group-living species. The research will combine long-term data analysis, field experiments, and potentially theoretical modelling, tailored to the interests of successful candidates. Fieldwork and data are sourced from South African mongooses and South American macaques, providing a rich context for studying biological markets and cooperative exchanges in social animals. Project 1, 'Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social animals,' is funded by the University of Bristol and specifically supports UK-domiciled applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean, or other Black or mixed Black heritage, aiming to improve representation in postgraduate research. Project 2, 'Social monitoring and manipulation of cooperative exchanges,' is funded by the NERC GW4+ DLTP scheme and is open to students worldwide. Both projects are supervised by Professor Andy Radford (lead, Bristol), Professor Lauren Brent (Exeter), and Dr Patrick Kennedy (Bristol). Applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences, an interest in animal social behavior, and skills in data analysis and fieldwork. The positions offer full funding, including tuition and stipend, with specific eligibility criteria for each project. The start date is September 2026, and the application deadline is early January 2026. For further details and application instructions, refer to the project links or contact Professor Andy Radford at [email protected].