PhD Student (m/f/d) | Oceanic Collective Intelligence

The Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior at its sites in Konstanz and Radolfzell offers an international, interdisciplinary, and collaborative environment that opens up unique research opportunities. The goal of our basic research is to develop a quantitative and predictive understanding of the decisions and movements of animals in their natural environment.

The Collective Ecology Group at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior would like to fill a PhD Student position (m/f/d) Oceanic Collective Intelligence with a flexible starting date in summer / autumn 2027. This position is full-time and fully funded for a period of 4 years. The workplace will be in Konstanz, Germany.

Our group

In the Collective Ecology Group, we explore how physical and biological ecosystem variation shape animals' individual, social, and collective behaviors. In turn, we explore how animals' social lives shape the ecosystems they inhabit. We interrogate these questions across taxa and ecosystems, but with a particular focus on the biophysical and social conditions of life in Earth’s largest living space: the ocean.

This research requires cooperation among networks of humans and our technologies. We reflect on how our own species' remarkable capacity for collective behavior can enable us to more effectively and equitably understand, steward, and adapt to the changing ecosystems of which we are all a part.

We are seeking a PhD student to join this collective effort, focusing in particular on questions concerning social foraging and collective behavior in two oceanic predator-prey systems:

1. blue whales and krill;
2. and sperm whales and their deep-sea prey.

Project details

This PhD project will be a part of the Oceanic Collective Intelligence project funded by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung Nexus Programme. The research will involve developing computational approaches to analyze, integrate, and interpret diverse, complex datasets which provide insights into the behavior of oceanic predators and prey. First, we use bio-logging devices (archival instrument suites attached to animals) to make detailed observations of predator behavior (3D movement, individual feeding events, acoustic behavior, etc.). Second, we use echosounders (“active” acoustic sensing) to quantify the prey resource landscape (density, abundance, and coarse taxonomic composition of prey aggregations). Finally, we leverage long-term seafloor hydrophone deployments (“passive” acoustic sensing) to quantify the social information available to predators. The PhD student will have access to existing datasets as well as the opportunity to collect additional data from these platforms in the California Current Ecosystem during the PhD. Using these data, the successful candidate will address questions regarding when, why, and how oceanic predators (blue and/or sperm whales) produce and use social information while foraging under the unique constraints and opportunities afforded by life in the pelagic ocean.

Qualifications

The student will be expected to proactively develop and implement research ideas to move the project forward; thus, a high degree of independence is crucial. The ideal candidate should be enthusiastic about addressing biological questions using quantitative approaches. Prior experience with programming (e.g., in R, Python, MATLAB, etc.), scientific writing, and ecological fieldwork is desirable. Given the highly collaborative nature of our research group and this project, interest in and capacity for international, interdisciplinary collaboration is valued. Our research group also values community outreach and exchange, so enthusiasm for broader science communication is appreciated.

This call is open to candidates who have completed a M.Sc. in the natural sciences (e.g., ecology and evolutionary biology, oceanography, physics, or another related field) or mathematics. The working language of the institute is English (German language skills are not a requirement).

Our offer

The candidate will join the Collective Ecology Group within the Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, with a start date of summer / autumn 2027. Elements of this project will be conducted in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Cascadia Research Collective. The successful candidate will join a supportive, international, and interdisciplinary research team, with access to strong academic and career mentorship, the ability to participate in coursework and conferences, and opportunities for growth as both a computational and field biologist.

The student will also be a member of the  International Max Planck Research School for Quantitative Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (IMPRS-QBEE), a cooperative doctoral program between the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the University of Konstanz. The University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior together form a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment.

The position is fully funded for 4 years (TVöD salary scale E-13, 65%). The Max Planck Society endeavors to employ more severely disabled people. Applications of severely disabled persons are expressly welcome. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

How to apply

Are you interested? Then we look forward to receiving your application by November 15, 2026 through Online Portal.

Please include the following application materials:

• Letter of motivation / research statement (2 pages)
  • 1 page: Describe your main research interests, how they developed, and how they relate to the proposed research project.
  • 1 page: Describe 1-2 biological questions you would like to ask or hypotheses you would like to test using the described dataset(s), and explain the analytical approach(es) you would use to address them. Please include a mock figure (preferably hand-drawn) of what your results might look like and a brief interpretation of your potential findings.
  • Please note that this letter is an opportunity for you to develop your ideas and demonstrate how you would address scientific questions with quantitative approaches. This is not meant as a full-fledged PhD proposal, and you will not be expected to carry out the exact ideas you propose should you join our team!
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Contact information for 2-3 references
• Academic transcripts for your BSc and MSc degrees. Transcripts can be unofficial at this stage – official records will be required before acceptance.
• A sample of your scientific writing (e.g., publication or manuscript in prep, thesis, term paper, etc.)

Questions about this position should be addressed to Dr. William Oestreich (woestreich.research@gmail.com).