Possibilities & Requirements

Independent Researchers are considered all people working at the Kalahari Research Centre (KRC) and carrying out research, but are not directly working on long-term data collection for the Kalahari Research Trust (KRT) or the Universities of Zurich and Cambridge. This includes MSc and PhD students, post-docs, and principal investigators.

Research at the KRC has involved a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Many of the projects have focused on the ecology and evolution of animal breeding systems, cooperative behaviour, cognition and communication, population dynamics, and the consequences of climate

We welcome independent researchers wishing to work on any of the plant and animal species present in the Southern Kalahari. The KRC provides a range of facilities for researchers including access to our 5250ha reserve (which it owns and is managed for research purposes), lab space, on-site accommodation, and internet access.

If you are interested in working at the KRC as an independent researcher, please read the sections below for more information. If you are interested in developing a new study species or area of research, please get in touch via our enquiry form here.

From time to time, there are also open positions with one or more of the research teams working at the site. In addition, several of the projects provide opportunities for volunteers to work with them for different periods of time. See our open positions [link to open positions] for more information.

The following documents and web-pages will help you gain a good understanding of what it is like to work at the KRC, important on-site regulations and measures, and the application process you must follow to submit a research proposal of work and to carry out this work under suitable permits and assessments.

It is the responsibility of any associated PI or the supervisor of prospective students, research assistants or associates, to ensure the following process are followed and all documents are fully completed for every individual proposed to conduct research with the KRC.

Students should communicate with their Pl or supervisor regarding their projects. In the case of any uncertainty, please fully complete all documents to the best of your ability.