Location: | Durham |
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Salary: | £37,999 to £45,163 per annum. Grade 7 |
Hours: | Full Time |
Contract Type: | Fixed-Term/Contract |
Placed On: | 14th January 2025 |
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Closes: | 14th February 2025 |
Job Ref: | 24002350 |
The Role
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in cultural evolutionary modelling with a particular emphasis on examining the unique contributions of children to processes of culture change. This position is part of a larger European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, Children as Agents of Cultural Evolution—ChACE, led by Dr Sheina Lew-Levy (Durham University) along with a wider international collaboration team. The project aims to investigate whether (1) Peer cultures evidence distinct cultural evolutionary mechanisms from adult cultures; (2) Knowledge produced as part of peer cultures helps communities adapt to social and ecological change. The successful applicant will be based at Durham (UK) and will be responsible for producing cultural evolutionary ag ent-based models which will then be tested against empirical data collected in diverse field sites using Approximate Bayesian Computation. The successful applicant will be supervised by the PI (Sheina Lew-Levy) an advisor Jeremy Kendal (Durham University).
ChACE will eventually integrate PhD students, Masters students, and RAs, who will work at local and international field sites to collect data against which the agent-based models will be tested. The project is thus ideally suited for someone who is organized, detail-oriented, and who is excited about working as part of an interdisciplinary team.
The successful candidate will have a strong academic track record, including experience in designing, carrying out, analysing, and interpreting agent-based models and Approximate Bayesian Computation. Experience with any of the following topics and approaches will be a strong advantage
However, we do not necessarily expect candidates to have experience in all of these, and we can provide training as needed on those which are unfamiliar. You will report to Dr. Sheina Lew-Levy as the PI on the grant. You will also be supported by Jeremy Kendal as an advisor on the grant.
This post is fixed term for 35 months due to the length of funding available.
The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.
Successful applicants will, ideally, be in post by June and September 2025, however alternative start dates can be discussed.
When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.
To apply please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.
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