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Ben Kawam

@benkawam.bsky.social
335 followers 238 following 37 posts

Primatologist lost in a Markov chain | benkawam.github.io.

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Reposted by Ben Kawam
Zoë Goldsborough @zoegoldsborough.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Why care about weird animal behaviors? Just out as an advanced publication, my contribution to the next Frans de Waal special issue in Behaviour @degruyterbrill.bsky.social. Unusual behaviors are a recurring theme in my career, and I much enjoyed writing this perspective! doi.org/10.1163/1568...
doi.org
The science of the unusual: how rare observations reveal the diversity of animal behaviour
Abstract Behavioural biology often focuses on identifying general patterns, yet unusual or rare behaviours at both the population and individual level can provide insight into animal behaviour. Here, ...
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Brendan Barrett @bjjbarrett.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I am part of a team guest editing a special issue of the American Journal of Primatology on "Digitization and use of legacy datasets in primatology” and we are seeking out submissions due on 1 September 2027. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
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Paul Smaldino @psmaldino.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I just gave a talk on interdisciplinary yesterday that features a call for interdisciplinary people and not just diverse teams of disciplinary types. Today I read this essay with delight. Viva antedisciplinarity. journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol...
journals.plos.org
“Antedisciplinary” Science
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Félicie Dhellemmes @felicie-dhellemmes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Proud to present our latest work "Tracking human foragers and their prey reveals adaptive predator-prey dynamics", now hosted on BioRxiv! 🧵 doi.org/10.64898/202... @ralfkurvers.bsky.social @scioi.bsky.social @arc-mpib.bsky.social @alexschakowski.bsky.social @dominikdeffner.bsky.social
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Zoë Goldsborough @zoegoldsborough.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
📣🎓 Open #PhD Position (3.5 years) 🎓📣 Want to come work with me on culture and social bonds in apes? 🐵 Apply to join my new group in the @livingingroups.bsky.social at @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social. Full job posting: imprs-qbee.mpg.de/131133/cultu... Deadline 📅 23 October 2026 Please share widely!
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EvoBio Crash Course @evobiocc.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The Evobio Crash Course is coming back for its fifth edition! Join us from December 7 to December 18 for an incredible line up of classes and tutorials from amazing researchers in the field! The course is open to all, completely free and held online. Registration is OPEN, please share widely!
Poster for the Evobio Crash Course. Online from December 7-18, 2026.
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MPI-EVA Leipzig @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
How does seasonal scarcity shape cooperation & defection in the use of natural resources? New study from #Pemba shows how seasonal fluctuations lead to illegal resource extraction, shedding light on the enduring human challenge of managing the commons. tinyurl.com/3k79uccd & doi.org/10.1016/j.cr...
tinyurl.com
Seasonal scarcity and the challenge of preserving natural resources
New study shows how predictable income shortfalls can put shared forests under pressure
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Daniel Redhead @danielredhead.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Now that (I think) it's official, I'm really happy to announce that I will be starting as a CNRS (@cnrsbiologie.bsky.social) researcher at the Institute for Cognitive Sciences in Lyon at the end of the year 🎉. I'll continue working on how networks & (in)equalities emerge across animal societies!
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lastpositivist.bsky.social @lastpositivist.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
If you want to read the paper that will soon ruin @danielmalinsky.bsky.social's life you can check it out here. Forthcoming in Journal of Causal Inference. www.liamkofibright.com/uploads/4/8/...
liamkofibright.com
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Juha Karvanen @juhakarvanen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
When does“variance explained” actually mean causation? In our new preprint, Olli Saarela and I develop graph-based causal variance decompositions. The framework clarifies when components of an ordered variance decomposition have causal interpretations. arxiv.org/abs/2608.27140
arxiv.org
Graph-based causal variance decompositions: When "variance explained" means causation
Recursive application of the law of total variance decomposes the marginal variance of an outcome into components attributed to explanatory variables and a residual component. The resulting decomposit...
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Ben Kawam @benkawam.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Just ended up on this beauty, introducing Gaussian processes distill.pub/2019/visual-...
distill.pub
A Visual Exploration of Gaussian Processes
How to turn a collection of small building blocks into a versatile tool for solving regression problems.
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Aki Vehtari @avehtari.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
StanCon 2026 tutorial "Bayesian model diagnostics: Workflows and software tools" by Noa Kallioinen, @teemusailynoja.bsky.social and @aloctavodia.bsky.social is available online n-kall.github.io/stancon2026/
n-kall.github.io
Bayesian model diagnostics: Workflows and software tools
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Mauricio González-Forero @mauriciogforero.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Updated preprint: “A mathematical synthesis of genetics, development, and evolution”. Much of our understanding of phenotypic evolution relies on quantitative genetics, which in turn relies on what is known as the infinitesimal model. Thread. 1/10 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
A mathematical synthesis of genetics, development, and evolution
Mathematically integrating genetics, development, and evolution is a longstanding challenge. A prevalent approach is quantitative genetics underpinned by the infinitesimal model, which considers a sim...
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Ben Hanowell @hanowell.me · 13/08/2026
When in doubt, point process models!
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Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
These ratio outcome variables are a plague in the sciences. If your analysis treats 1/2 and 10/20 as the same evidence, then you have discarded uncertainty in the outcome. Model what you measure, not what you construct. Use the denominator as an exposure instead.
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Zoë Goldsborough @zoegoldsborough.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Imagine you are a white-faced capuchin monkey on Jicarón island learning how to use stone tools 🔨 Your mother does not use tools, so who do you turn to as a model? Our new manuscript answering this question is out now in Animal Behaviour @asab.org. doi.org/10.1016/j.an.... A 🧵 of our findings (1/10)
A juvenile white-faced capuchin monkey eating a coconut. Photo credits Christian Ziegler
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EvoBio Crash Course @evobiocc.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Hi folks! We are still alive 🥹 This year has been especially tough because we are experiencing a bit of a cohort effect in which a LOT of us are finishing our PhDs, BUT the 2026 edition of the course ✨will happen in winter✨ and is under planning.Share, follow and we will keep you updated! 💚
static.klipy.com
Surprised Raccoon in Dumpster
ALT: Surprised Raccoon in Dumpster
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Gerry Carter @gerrycarter.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Job posting: Associate Professor in behavioral ecology and cultural evolution within the Department of Ecology and Evolution (DEE) at the University of Lausanne. Deadline for applications is 30.09.2026: wwwfbm.unil.ch/releve/appli... (there is a button to switch to English at the top right)
wwwfbm.unil.ch
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Hanna Kokko @kokkonut.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
.The very talented and fun Jonathan Henshaw has two positions to offer! If you like theoretical eco-evo questions, don't hesitate. Also, Freiburg is a very pretty place PhD: uni-freiburg.de/stellenangeb... Postdoc: uni-freiburg.de/stellenangeb...
uni-freiburg.de
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Santa Fe Institute @sfiscience.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Applications are open for SFI's 2027 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships. SFI is looking for recent Ph.D. graduates with strong quantitative and computational skills who want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research. Deadline: September 30, 2026 Apply: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
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Erin Wessling @northernlimitpt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
On the tail of the announcement of my new Behavioural Conservation group at @idiv-research.bsky.social, I can also say... I'm hiring! We're looking for a Project Assistant (60% FTE) to join our "Conserving Cultures" project. Job posting: uni-leipzig.b-ite.careers/jobposting/1...
uni-leipzig.b-ite.careers
Project Assistant (m/f/d/x)
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Ben Kawam @benkawam.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
For those of you at #ISBE2026, I will be presenting some of my work tomorrow (Friday the 24th) at 13:15, in the Auditorium Agnelli. Would love to see you there!
Title slide: "Inferring the causes of animal social network structure from time-series data", Ben Kawam, ISBE 2026, July 24th, 2026.
Features a drawing by Laure Pigeon.State transition diagram for four dyadic behavioural states: (i) no body contact; (ii) body contact without grooming; (iii) grooming from a to b; (iv) grooming from b to a.
Each state is illustrated by a watercolor painting painting created by S. M. Pereira & J. von Nordheim.
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ESLR @eslr.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
🚨 ESLR Workshop coming up next week! 🗓 July 23, 2026 ⏰ 4pm CET Online Using bayesflow for likelihood free inferences by @masonyoungblood.bsky.social 🔗 Join at: calendar.app.google/RKMwxPeaGveM...
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Matthew Silk @mattjsilk.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Excited to be @isbe2026.bsky.social in Turin. For any #SocialNetworks researchers - planning an informal social tonight. Meeting at registration area after the poster session at 7pm. Please spread the word! #ISBE2026
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c. @frederikruysch.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Nostos: il ritorno (1989), Franco Piavoli.
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Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Sample size isn't their problem. Doing dumb regressions is their problem. I don't think I convinced many of them.
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Liran Samuni @lirsamuni.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🐒 Work with primates? Have you observed 3 or more individuals grooming together? Polyadic grooming is barely documented and we know little about its distribution. Please take 1–2 minutes to fill out this short survey and share: forms.gle/cLPB1mnwrjJo...
forms.gle
Polyadic grooming in primates
survey about observations of polyadic grooming in primate species
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Zoë Goldsborough @zoegoldsborough.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I’m beyond excited to share I’ve been awarded a Minerva Fast Track Fellowship by @maxplanck.de to start my research group “Culture and Social Behavior” at @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social! Keep your eyes peeled for a PhD position advertisement coming later this year 🐒 www.ab.mpg.de/1442914/zoe-...
ab.mpg.de
Zoë Goldsborough named Minerva Fast Track Fellow
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Lauren Brent @ljnbrent.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The University of Exeter is not in budget deficit. Yet are proposing to cut 150 academic jobs. This include my job. Please sign and share the petition, write our Vice Chancellor, to your MP, and get the word out about the act of self harm this university is about to commit. c.org/yKcx6Zr29H
c.org
This campaign needs you now
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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Aki Vehtari @avehtari.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
New paper "To select or not to select: predictively consistent priors instead of model selection" with Anna Elisabeth Riha, Leevi Lindgren, @davidkohns.bsky.social, @paulbuerkner.com arxiv.org/abs/2606.22850 Model selection is not a substitute for building good models in the first place 1/
To select or not to select: predictively
consistent priors instead of model selection

Anna Elisabeth Riha, Leevi Lindgren, David Kohns, Paul-Christian Bürkner, Aki Vehtari

Bayesian modelling workflows often consider multiple candidate models of varying complexity. Model selection is commonly used to navigate potential trade-offs between model complexity and generalisability to new data. We study when model selection is unnecessary or can even be harmful for predictive performance in finite data regimes and find that the need for selecting simpler models can depend on prior choice. We formalise predictively consistent priors, which keep prior predictive implications stable as model complexity increases. Across examples and numerical experiments, including adding covariates in linear and logistic regression, forward variable selection, and nonlinear modelling, flexible models with predictively consistent priors typically match or outperform selected simpler models in out-of-sample predictive performance. When selection helps, it can indicate poor joint prior implications, such as excessive prior mass on implausible predictive values. Based on our findings, we propose replacing the notion of sparsity or parsimony at the level of model components with specifying priors that remain sensible in predictive space as models become more complex.
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Elspeth Ready @elspethready.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
my group is looking for a HiWi (student assistant) to help transcribe narrative interviews for our project on Inuit health and well-being. Must be a student enrolled in a bachelor or master's program at a German University. Link here: www.eva.mpg.de/career/posit...
eva.mpg.de
Positions available - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
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Stu West @stuwest.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Social insects tackle pathogens with behaviours like grooming and the removal of infected individuals. These behaviours facilitate the evolution of larger more complex societies. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... @mingpapilio.bsky.social @georgeshillcock.bsky.social @tomwscott.bsky.social
pnas.org
Social immunity can be a consequence and cause of social evolution | PNAS
Many social insects respond to pathogens in ways that reduce pathogen transmission within their social groups, with behaviors such as grooming or r...
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Ben Bolker @bbolker.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
new diamond open-access Journal of Statistical Ecology launched 🎉🎉🎉 jse.centre-mersenne.org @fredbarraquand.bsky.social @oaggimenez.bsky.social @marieaugermethe.bsky.social @vianeylb.bsky.social (apologies to any Bsky editors I missed)
jse.centre-mersenne.org
Journal of Statistical Ecology Journal of Statistical Ecology
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MPI-EVA Leipzig @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
We are delighted to welcome a new Max Planck Research Group to @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social! 🥳 Led by @lirsamuni.bsky.social, this group will study wild #apes to address fundamental questions about the ecological & social bases of #cooperation & #culture. @maxplanck.de www.eva.mpg.de/press/news/a...
eva.mpg.de
Uncovering the roots of cooperation and culture
Liran Samuni has started a new research group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig
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Danai Papageorgiou @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Almost synchronously with our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper on “Levelling: behaviours that constrain inequality in animal societies”, I'm also excited to advertise the first PhD student position in my Emmy Noether project @humboldtuni.bsky.social
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Theiss Bendixen @theissbendixen.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
It's alive! 🎉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁'𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 is out -- an introduction to causal inference in practice. The first two chapters are available for free here: theissbendixen.com/dag-book/ More below 👇
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Ryan Senne (he/him) @ryguy.io · 30/05/2026
Move over, GLM-HMM—there’s a new hidden Markov model in town. In our new preprint, we introduce the DDM-HMM: a model that jointly infers latent decision states from reaction times and choices. Using 24-hour behavioral data from rats, we found that evidence accumulation changes with time of day!
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Ben Kawam @benkawam.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Two teams in behavioural ecology with regard to statistical modelling: 1: "yeah but building a model for this would force us to make assumptions" (derogatory) 2: "yeah but building a model for this would force us to make assumptions" (complimentary)
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Brendan Barrett @bjjbarrett.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Post Peer-review pub out from my former PhD student @oddjacobson.bsky.social dissertation. Im proud of their integration of longitudinal demographic, behavioral, historical, remote sensing, climate & movement data under a causal inference framework using hierarchical social relations models & CTMM
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Charley Wu @thecharleywu.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
🚨Last week to apply for a 3 year postdoc with me and @dominikdeffner.bsky.social, embedded in theadaptivemind-excellencecluster.de Focus is on developing innovative experiments and computational models to understand social & cultural learning. Deadline is March 30th 👉 hmc-lab.com/SocialLearni...
hmc-lab.com
Postdoc position -- Social Learning and Cultural Evolution
Postdoc position -- Social Learning and Cultural Evolution posted on March 2, 2026 We are currently seeking a highly motivated individual...
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KLI @kli.ac.at · 21/04/2026
Barbara Fischer (KLI Group Leader for Evolutionary Biology) was interviewed for an episode of a podcast by Springer Medicine Vienna with the title “Evolutionärer Pfusch? Die enge Passform bei der menschlichen Geburt” 🎧 Listen (in German): springermedizin-hoergang.podigee.io/316-evolutio...
springermedizin-hoergang.podigee.io
Evolutionärer Pfusch? Die enge Passform bei der menschlichen Geburt
In dieser Podcast-Episode erklärt die Evolutionsbiologin Dr. Barbara Fischer die spannende Herausforderung der menschlichen Geburt: das Verhältnis von Kopfgröße Neugeborener zum mütterlichen Becken. O...
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Afra Salazar @salazarafra.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Samuel Beckett, born on this day in 1906, photographed by Reg Lancaster.
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Christian Steglich @steglich.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Now "coming soon" status @universitypress.cambridge.org: Our long-in-the-oven book on Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models. www.cambridge.org/core/books/s...
cambridge.org
Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models for Longitudinal Networks
Cambridge Core - Research Methods In Sociology and Criminology - Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models for Longitudinal Networks
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Aki Vehtari @avehtari.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
More details about the Bayesian Workflow book and case studies now available on the book web site avehtari.github.io/Bayesian-Wor... (but you still need to wait a bit for the book)
avehtari.github.io
Bayesian Workflow book: Website – Bayesian Workflow book
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Matthijs Hollanders @matthollanders.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
New pre-print! I cover a range of open capture-recapture models (single survey/robust design, multistate/multievent, in (Cormack-)Jolly-Seber variants) in Stan, and provide efficient log likelihood functions. I also introduce a method to account for unequal survey intervals in the entry process.
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Arev P. Sümer @arevsumer.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Our institute @mpi-eva-leipzig.bsky.social starting a new Masters program with the University of Leipzig. If you are a bachelors student graduating soon, and would like to get involved with our research during you MSc, consider applying :) www.uni-leipzig.de/en/studying/...
uni-leipzig.de
Evolutionary Anthropology MSc
The programme aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the latest research into human evolution and development. The focus is on the genetic, paleoanthropological and cognitive aspects of human behaviour and the mind. Particular emphasis is placed on engaging with the complexities of research processes, and on developing skills in designing, implementing and evaluating studies. Students will gain professional expertise in handling and rigorously analysing and effectively presenting data, preparing them for doctoral research.
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Nathaniel Haines @natehaines.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
New blog just dropped! This one is all about estimators—we cover James-Stein, classical test theory, empirical Bayes, penalized regression, and hierarchical models, showing how they all can be used to do a better job than sample stats alone 🤓 haines-lab.com/post/how-to-...
haines-lab.com
How to Estimate a Mean, and What It Means for Science | Computational Psychology
Introduction If I asked you to estimate 30 means, you would probably compute 30 sample means. And you would be provably wrong (well.. maybe not wrong, but at least provably inefficient).
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Yoon Kim @yoonkim.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
“We are eternal travelers of ourselves, and the only landscape that exists is what we are. We possess nothing, because we do not even possess ourselves... The universe is not mine: it is me.” — Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet
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HUMAN ORIGINS - Cluster of Excellence @humanorigins.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
🚨Job alert!🚨 The Cluster of Excellence HUMAN ORIGINS announces 2 junior Professor (W1) positions: A W1 Tenure track Professorship in Evolutionary Modelling (shorturl.at/FN102) and a W1 Professorship (non Tenure-track) in Primatology (shorturl.at/sH0Mk) Deadline: April 6 2026! Please share! 🔄
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Charles Mullon @charlesmullon.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
With @saramitri.bsky.social, @sonjalehtinen.bsky.social and L. Lehmann we’ve launched the UNIL Center for Theory in Ecology and Evolution @unil.bsky.social🇨🇭 To kick things off, we’re offering short visiting fellowships for theorists in ecology & evolution. Apply & pls RP 😀 tinyurl.com/2wem36zz
unil.ch
Unil center for theory in ecology and evolution (UCTEE) - FBM Unil
Page Unil Center for Theory in Ecology and Evolution of site Faculty of Biology and Medicine hosted by the University of Lausanne
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