Contract Researcher - Houbara Bustard Study

About the role

Reneco is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Contract Researcher for a two-year scientific project on the Telomere Dynamics, Phenotypic Traits and Post-release Survival of Wild-sourced and Captive-origin Houbara Bustards. The successful candidate will integrate, statistically analyse and publish an extensive pre-collected dataset combining physiological, behavioural, developmental and movement data, contributing to conservation research and evidence-based breeding, release and population restoration strategies.

Key responsibilities

• Integrate, clean and manage datasets on telomere dynamics, growth, physiology, behaviour, movement and survival, ensuring consistency across aviaries, identification rings, GPS transmitters and sampling time points.
• Analyse GPS tracking and accelerometry data to assess dispersal, habitat use, activity and post-release survival.
• Evaluate animal personality and behavioural traits such as Flight Initiation Distance and behavioural consistency, and their links to stress indicators and survival.
• Analyse telomere length and attrition (repeated qPCR) and feather corticosterone levels against growth, health and survival.
• Develop and apply mixed-effects models, movement modelling and survival analysis to find predictors of fitness outcomes.
• Compare patterns between wild-sourced and captive-origin birds.
• Write scientific manuscripts for international peer-reviewed journals and contribute to technical reports and conservation recommendations.
• Work with Principal Investigators and research teams to refine hypotheses, interpret findings and present results to stakeholders and at international conferences.

Required profile

• PhD in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Physiology or a closely related discipline.
• 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; able to work independently and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in statistical programming, particularly R and/or Python.
• Strong background in quantitative ecology, ecological statistics and data analysis.
• Preferred: experience with telomere dynamics, molecular biomarkers, GPS telemetry, animal personality, conservation breeding and wildlife translocation.