Two social evolution postdocs: conducting field experiments with wasps
across Africa to understand the evolution of cooperation

University of Bristol (UK)

Dr Patrick Kennedy (Bristol, UK) and Professor Dustin Rubenstein
(Columbia, USA) are looking for two excellent field biologists to work
on the evolution of cooperation using one of Africa's most familiar
insects - the 'needle-waist wasps', Belonogaster. Both postdocs will
undertake extensive fieldwork across Africa, collaborating with colleagues
in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa. You will be based at the University
of Bristol's Social Strategy Lab <https://www.patrickckennedy.com/>
in the UK.

Lab website: www.tinyurl.com/SocialStrategyLab

Application deadline: 11th January 2026

There are two positions available:

  1.  Postdoctoral Field Manager ("Quantifying Hamilton's rule in
  the wild")

The Postdoctoral Field Manager will help to coordinate an international
field team spanning three African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, and South
Africa), investigating the evolution of cooperation and conflict by
running field experiments. Working with in-country field teams, you will
collect field data on costs and benefits of cooperation in a powerful
wild system.

Find out more here: www.tinyurl.com/SocialStrategyLab/postdoc1

  1.  Senior Research Associate ("Understanding the evolution of castes")

The Senior Research Associate will investigate the evolution of castes
('queens' and 'workers'). You will run field experiments with
social wasps in three African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, and South
Africa), combining a diverse range of techniques - including behavioural
experiments in the field, CT scanning, and bioinformatics.

Find out more here: www.tinyurl.com/SocialStrategyLab/postdoc2

The essential requirements for each role (and how to apply) are detailed
at the links above. In overview:

* Postdoctoral Field Manager: we are looking for an exceptional
fieldworker. You must be prepared to spend at least six months per
year working in diverse habitats across Africa, with high independence,
strong practical and team skills, and confidence travelling for research.

  * Senior Research Associate: we are looking for 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.

  * The successful applicants will be initiative-taking scientists
with exceptional organisational and team skills and the ability to
problem-solve during fieldwork. Applicants without demonstrable field
research experience will not be considered. However, prior experience
working with social insects, or working in an African context, is not
essential.

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. You will be expected to develop a strong grasp of social evolution
and behavioural ecology, including inclusive fitness theory.

It is expected that these positions will start as soon as possible from
1st March 2026.

Salary: University of Bristol Grade J (43,482 - 50,253 per annum)

For informal enquiries, please email patrick.kennedy@bristol.ac.uk

Patrick Kennedy <patrick.kennedy@bristol.ac.uk>

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