Senior Research Associate: AI-Enabled Behavioural Ecology for Conservation

Senior Research Associate – AI-Enabled Behavioural Ecology for Conservation Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK An exciting opportunity for a behavioural ecologist to join the BEACON programme and lead field experiments and mechanistic modelling investigating how disturbance disrupts reef fish behaviour and ecosystem function. Salary: Grade 7. Location: Lancaster, with at least 3 days per week in person. Fieldwork on coral reefs and UK coastal waters required. Contract length: 2 years 9 months. We are seeking a highly motivated behavioural ecologist to co-lead the ecological research within BEACON (Behavioural Ecology AI for CONservation action), a new interdisciplinary research programme funded by UKRI. BEACON will develop the first integrated AI-enabled system for monitoring ecosystems and guiding conservation decisions through changes in animal behaviour. You will work closely with the PI (Dr Sally Keith) and interdisciplinary team to design field experiments and analyses that reveal the mechanistic links between environmental disturbance, animal behaviour and ecosystem function, providing the ecological foundation for AI-enabled conservation monitoring. We are looking for someone with a passion for behavioural ecology who is excited by combining field ecology, quantitative analysis and AI to answer ecological questions that have not previously been tractable. You should have a PhD in behavioural ecology, marine biology or a related discipline, with strong grounding in animal behaviour. You will be able to demonstrate evidence of marine field skills including fieldwork in remote international locations, field experiments and SCUBA diving qualifications. A proactive and enthusiastic approach, strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to interdisciplinarity, open science and responsible AI are all essential. Prior expertise in AI is not essential, but you should be enthusiastic about developing practical AI skills and working closely with AI researchers to create genuinely integrated approaches. You will join a growing interdisciplinary team within the LEC-REEFS research group linked strongly to the Data Science and AI Institute @Lancaster (DSAIL), working alongside AI specialists, field ecologists and conservation practitioners. The project will draw on an extensive archive of underwater video footage from the ReefRUV Network and will collaborate with an international network of partners including Prof Sergio Floeter (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina), Dr José Paula (University of Lisbon), the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority, Cefas, Renew Earth and Natural England. The post offers considerable scope to develop mechanistic understanding of behaviour and ecosystem function. The successful candidate will play a central role in defining the behavioural metrics and ecological understanding that underpin the AI methods developed within BEACON. Dedicated training and mentoring will enable you to develop practical AI skills, allowing them to work confidently at the interface of behavioural ecology and AI. Lancaster University is a research-intensive university, ranked in the top 1% of universities globally and in the top 10 in the UK. Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) is a large and multidisciplinary department tackling environmental challenges across the natural and social sciences, with strengths in high-diversity tropical systems. LEC offers a highly collegial and stimulating environment for career development based on departmental values and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) considerations and actions. We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis as well as the Athena SWAN Charter, which recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address gender equality in higher education and research. Furthermore, we are active and progressive around sustainability, wellbeing and decolonising agendas. EDI is strongly embedded within LEC-REEFS and DSAIL, and we actively work to create an inclusive environment where researchers from all backgrounds can thrive. We are committed to inclusive fieldwork practices and will work with the successful candidate to plan fieldwork schedules compatible with personal circumstances where possible. We recognise that career paths are not always linear and welcome applications from candidates who have taken career breaks or worked outside academia. We welcome informal enquiries about flexible working arrangements. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. We anticipate shortlisting in September 2026, with interviews shortly thereafter. The successful candidate is expected to start in Jan 2027. What to include in each document of your application: CV: Please include a 2-page CV. You do not have to include publications in this document. Publication List: Please include a complete list of all publications. You may include publications that are accepted and not yet published, but please do not include publications that are in review or in submission. Cover Letter: Please outline why you are interested specifically in this position, how it fits with your career goals, and describe any ideas you have for methodological or scientific developments that could strengthen the project. Maximum 800 words. Supporting Statements: Please provide a supporting statement for each Personal Specification point that is listed as being scored via “Supporting Statements”. This should include examples that provide evidence of your experience and expertise. Please write one paragraph per criteria, with each paragraph limited to 200 words. Referees: Please include contact information for at least two referees. Further enquiries: Informal enquiries about the scope of the research or working arrangements are welcome to Dr Sally Keith (sally.keith@lancaster.ac.uk). Such enquiries are not necessary as part of the application and will not inform any decision. Applications without prior enquiry are welcome and will not be disadvantaged.