Job Description

Introduction

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UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 15,500 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

www.unil.ch/carrieres

Presentation

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The Group of Prof. Nourani is proposing a PhD position (Doctorant FNS) in

Investigating the role of resource and social landscapes in development of soaring flight

at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The PhD candidate will join a dynamic team working mainly on the ecology of behavioral development. The group aims to understand how young animals learn and become skilled in complex behaviors as they grow, with a focus on how their physical environment and social interactions influence this learning process. The three main goals are: (1) Tracking the development of soaring flight in young golden eagles using advanced tracking devices, measuring their flight skills from early life until three years post-independence, (2) Understanding the learning environment that each bird experiences and how these, along with social and individual learning opportunities, contribute to learning of soaring flight, (3) Creating a predictive framework that allows for predicting how animals learn complex behaviors in various environments, applicable to other species and behaviors beyond just soaring birds.

The PhD candidate will contribute to the first and second goals.

Informations liees au poste

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Expected start date in position: 01/02/2026 or to be agreed

Contract length: 4 years

Activity rate: 100%

Workplace: Lausanne-Dorigny

Vos activites

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The PhD candidate will lead the processing and analysis of the tracking data (GPS and Inertial Measurement) collected for juvenile and adult golden eagles in multiple populations. The PhD candidate will not be responsible for conducting fieldwork but is expected to participate in selected fieldwork sessions to gain familiarity with the species and its habitat.



Specific responsibilities:
Calculating metrics related to biomechanics of flight using high-resolution multi-sensor tracking data (GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) Quantifying social learning opportunities by analyzing data collected for parent-offspring dyads Quantifying the resource landscape, mainly based on atmospheric support, for soaring flight Analysis of ontogenetic trajectories of soaring flight, in relation to the resource and social landscapes Disseminating the output of the project through scientific presentations and publications.




The job description stipulates:

70% Personal research

25% Participation to teaching activities and master student supervision

5% Maintenance of lab equipment or other institutional tasks.

Votre profil

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Your qualifications

Master's degree in biology, ecology, physics, or a related field Interest in behavioral ecology, behavioral development, and social learning in wild systems Good data analysis and programming skills (e.g., R, Python, or Matlab) Interest, and preferably experience, in using multi-sensor tracking data to answer questions in behavioral ecology Interest, and preferably experience, in processing and analysis of environmental, spatial, and/or movement data Strong organizational and problem-solving skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

Interpersonal skills

Willingness and ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other members of the team and international collaborators Good communication skills, as the PhD candidate will be working in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team

Vos avantages

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We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment, with opportunities for professional training. Possibilities of continuous training, a lot of activities and other opportunities to discover.

The Department of Ecology and Evolution in Lausanne University hosts research groups working on a broad range of topics, producing a rich intellectual and social life. Although French is the common language in Lausanne region, the department research activities and seminars are conducted in English. The campus is located on the shore of the Geneva Lake, with the view on the Alps.

Pour tout renseignement complementaire

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For further information please contact Prof. Elham Nourani: elham.nourani@unil.ch

Delai de candidature

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Deadline to apply: 30.10.2025

Formal applications should include:
a cover letter (max 2 pages) detailing 1) motivation for pursuing a PhD in general, 2) specific motivation for applying for the advertised position, and 3) skills and experiences relevant to the listed requirements;

your CV (max 2 pages);

the names and contact information of two referees.




To receive full consideration, application documents should be uploaded online through the University of Lausanne recruitment platform.