How does individual experience impact cognitive development in a wild bird?

This is a fully funded doctoral scholarship to study cognitive evolution in wild birds, specifically the North Island robin (toutouwai). The research investigates how individual experiences shape cognitive abilities through a Marsden-funded project examining spatial memory in food-caching species. The successful PhD candidate will contribute to experiments testing whether repeated experience of cache theft causes birds to scatter caches more widely, how this response impacts spatial memory performance, and the resulting effects on survival and reproductive success in the wild. This cutting-edge research aims to reveal causes and consequences of cognitive variation in the wild, broadening understanding of evolutionary processes that shape animal minds. The position offers comprehensive funding including a generous stipend plus full tuition coverage for three years.