MSc thesis project for a 2nd year master student
Dominance hierarchies are central to the organization of animal societies, influencing access to resources, mating opportunities, and overall social stability. The relationships among different structural properties of these hierarchies—such as linearity, steepness, and stability—remain poorly understood. This MSc project aims to investigate how these properties co-vary across species or populations, and potentially to what ecological and social factors they are linked. Using quantitative behavioral data across multiple species from the literature, the candidate will also examine whether certain properties of dominance hierarchies are more common or a condition for others. The project provides an opportunity to develop strong analytical and theoretical skills in behavioral ecology and social evolution, while contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that shape animal social structures.
Needed skills
– Coding in R, including statistical analysis (ideally, experience in linear models)
– Fluency in English
– Interest in animal behaviour
You will learn to:
– Handle very large datasets (matrices of multiple species)
– Analyze them comparatively
– Write scientific articles
Supervisors:
– Nikolaos Smit, University of Turku, 20014, Finland
– Theresa Rueger, Newcastle University
The location of the candidate is negotiable. We can support applications for mobility grants.
Apply with an email to nismit@utu.fi by November 10th , including a cover letter (1 page max; summarizing motivation and research interest) and CV (including education, positions, professional experience, and contact details of two academic referees).
Start date: as soon as possible or as agreed
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