Researcher

Project Title: Telomere Dynamics, Phenotypic Traits and Post-release Survival of Wild-sourced and Captive-origin Houbara Bustards

About the Role:

Reneco is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Contract Researcher to join a two-year scientific research project investigating the relationships between telomere dynamics, phenotypic traits, and post-release survival in wild-sourced and captive-origin houbara bustards.

The successful candidate will lead the integration, statistical analysis, and scientific publication of an extensive, pre-collected dataset combining physiological, behavioural, developmental, and movement data.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to conservation research and generate scientific insights that support evidence-based breeding, release, and population restoration strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Integrate, clean, and manage complex datasets covering telomere dynamics, growth, physiology, behaviour, movement, and survival.
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency by matching individual records across aviaries, identification rings, GPS transmitters, and sampling time points.
• Conduct advanced statistical analyses to investigate relationships between early-life conditions, phenotypic traits, and post-release performance.
• Analyse GPS tracking and accelerometry data to assess dispersal patterns, habitat use, activity, and post-release survival.
• Evaluate animal personality and behavioural traits, including Flight Initiation Distance (FID), behavioural consistency, and differences between wild-sourced and captive-origin birds.
• Investigate associations between personality traits, physiological stress indicators, and movement and survival outcomes, accounting for sex, origin, and developmental history.
• Analyse telomere length and attrition data, including repeated qPCR measurements, to assess their relationships with growth, health, and post-release performance.
• Examine relationships between feather corticosterone levels, telomere dynamics, personality traits, and other physiological indicators.
• Develop and apply mixed-effects models, movement modelling, and survival analysis to identify key predictors of fitness-related outcomes.
• Compare developmental, behavioural, physiological, and survival patterns between wild-sourced and captive-origin individuals.
• Prepare high-quality scientific manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and contribute to technical reports and conservation recommendations.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs) and research teams to refine hypotheses, interpret findings, and present results to stakeholders, management, and at international scientific conferences.

Requirements:

• PhD in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Physiology, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in quantitative ecology, ecological statistics, and scientific data analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in statistical programming languages, particularly R and/or Python.
• Demonstrated experience with mixed-effects models, survival analysis, and animal movement data.
• Proven ability to manage and analyse large, complex, multi-source ecological datasets.
• Strong scientific publication record in relevant peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent analytical, scientific writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage research priorities, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred qualifications:

• Previous research experience involving telomere dynamics, molecular biomarkers, or physiological indicators of stress.
• Experience analysing GPS telemetry, accelerometry, or other wildlife tracking datasets.
• Knowledge of animal personality, behavioural ecology, and life-history strategies.
• Familiarity with conservation breeding, wildlife translocation, reintroduction, or post-release monitoring programmes.
• Experience working with avian species, particularly in conservation-focused research.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific findings into practical conservation recommendations.