Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cognitive Evolution over Deep Time

Join an international Deep Time Cognition project studying the evolution of brains, intelligence and cognition. The Edinburgh team led by Stephen Brusatte contributes palaeontology and phylogenetics, using CT scans of fossils, brain reconstructions and evolutionary datasets. The postdoctoral researcher will gather and synthesise tetrapod brain-endocast anatomy across more than 350 million years, analyse trends in brain size with Bayesian and phylogenetic methods, relate brain size to neuron counts in living species, and estimate counts in extinct taxa.

The role collaborates with Lawrence Witmer and other project researchers. The appointment is full-time at 35 hours weekly, from January 2027 to 31 December 2028. Salary is £41,064–£48,822 annually. Applications close on 23 October 2026 at 23:59 UK time; interviews are planned for the week beginning 2 November.

Applicants from palaeontology, anatomy, neurobiology or cognitive biology are welcomed. Submit a CV of at most five pages and a cover letter explaining your contribution and experience with 3D CT data and phylogenetic comparative and Bayesian statistics. International sponsorship may be possible subject to eligibility; quote 14952.