Scientific Internships

Please contact one of the CRC Research Staff members below for information on internship possibilities.

Applied ethology and animal welfare: Marina Salas, Marjolein Osieck, Zjef Pereboom
Primatology: Nicky Staes, Jonas Verspeek, Kristel De Vleeschouwer, Jacob Willie
Conservation Genetics: Philippe Helsen, Peter Galbusera
Veterinary sciences: Jonas Spruyt

We currently have the following MSc projects available:

Bonobos, bacteria, and behavior:
does the social network predict gut and vaginal microbiome diversity and composition in zoo-housed bonobos?

Both the gut and the vagina of primates harbor thousands of bacteria (the microbiome) that play an important role in regulating their hosts’ health, physiology, digestion, and even brain function and behavior. These bacteria can be acquired from the direct environment (e.g. through soil or food), but might also be transmitted from one individual to another through social contact, such as grooming and sociosexual interactions. Interestingly, in bonobos, these are the two most important forms of social behavior and therefore, their social contacts might be strong predictors of the diversity and the composition of their gut and vaginal microbiomes. For instance, individuals that have central positions in their network might have highly diverse microbiomes, and bonobo dyads that are in contact often might share more bacteria with each other than with bonobos they have less or no contact with. The aim of this study is to collect behavioral data on bonobos living in European and North-American zoos. While the overarching goal of the larger project in which the internship is embedded is to link social behavior with microbiome composition and diversity in this species, the student can develop their own thesis topic together with the supervisor(s), focusing on a behavioral study alone or incorporating microbiological data. There is also a possibility to perform wet-lab analyses (DNA extractions from microbiome samples).

Practical information:

There are different options regarding timing and location of data collection:
- GERMANY: Between October 2025 and March 2026 OR July 2026 and December 2026 in one or more German zoos: Zoo Leipzig (Leipzig), Wilhelma (Stuttgart), Kölner Zoo (Cologne)
- USA: Between March 2026 and August 2026 in one or more USA zoos: Cincinatti Zoo (Ohio), Columbus Zoo (Ohio), Fort Worth Zoo (Texas), Jacksonville Zoo (Florida), Memphis Zoo (Tennessee), Milwaukee County Zoo (Wisconsin), San Diego Zoo (California)
- BELGIUM: Between October and December 2026 in Zoo Planckendael (Belgium)
Two weeks of training is planned preferably in Zoo Planckendael (Belgium), with the option of doing (some parts of) the training remotely. The goal of this training is to learn the ethogram and protocol. A few days of training will happen in the zoo itself (under supervision).
During the actual observations, uninterrupted availability is required for 6 to 12 weeks, at least five days a week. The exact time period can be planned in flexibly within the timeframe mentioned above and depending on the zoo’s availability to accommodate research.
You will need a personal (Windows) laptop to install The Observer XT software and fast and blind typing is crucial for successful completion of this project.
Accommodation and travel has to be arranged and funded by the student. For the German zoos, there is a possibility to travel by car with the supervisor between Belgium and Germany.
This project can be used for a scientific internship, bachelor thesis, master thesis, volunteer work, or equivalent. Supervision regarding statistical analyses and writing can be provided.

For more information or to apply, please contact (Dutch or English):
Jonas Torfs: Jonas.torfs@uantwerpen.be

How does maternal style influence sociality in bonobos (MP)

Abstract: Preferred affiliative relationships, or social bonds, are essential to the social life of primates. Yet, little is known how these social dynamics develop. Maternal behavior has been suggested to shape these relationships by influencing infant exposure to the social climate and potentially the overall social competence of offspring. This project aims to link maternal styles to the social development of bonobo infants.

Location and timing: Include zoo-based observations of bonobos in summer-fall 2025. 2 weeks of training in Zoo Planckendael + 6-8 weeks observations in one European zoo abroad (Apenheul, Frankfurt, Wuppertal, Koln, Leipzig, Twycross).

Description of tasks: Behavioural data collection using group scan sampling, focal animal sampling and all occurrence sampling. Student needs own laptop to install observer software and fast and blind typing is CRUCIAL for success of this project.

Contact:
Jonas Verspeek: Jonas.verspeek@kmda.org
Daan Laméris: daan.lameris@uantwerpen.be

Handedness across contexts in bonobos (MP)

Cerebral lateralization is often reflected in an individual’s behavioral laterality (e.g., handedness), where the degree of lateralization may have implications for various cognitive and affective processes. Behavioral laterality may therefore vary across tasks and contexts. Understanding these variations can provide insights into how the brain organizes functions like emotion, and decision-making. By studying lateralization in different settings, we can explore its potential role in adaptive behaviors.

Location and timing: Include zoo-based observations of bonobos in Zoo Planckendael (Mechelen) in summer-fall 2025. 2 weeks training + 8 weeks of observations

Description of tasks: Record different behaviours of bonobos across contexts. Recordings will be coded afterwards. A camera will be provided, but the student needs their own laptop to install coding software. A good eye for detail and fast and blind typing is CRUCIAL for success of this project.

Contact:
Daan Laméris: daan.lameris@uantwerpen.be
Jonas Verspeek: Jonas.verspeek@kmda.org

The curious case of orangutan control (MP or IP(only video-coding))

An innate psychological need for humans and non-human animals is the ability to successfully engage with the environment beyond satisfying immediate needs, i.e. agency, by for example achieving goals. A fundamental aspect for an animal to experience agency is having control and overcoming challenges. This project aims to link flexible decision-making in zoo-housed orangutans using a multi-choice set-up, with their performance in a curiosity paradigm.

Location and timing: Includes zoo-based observations of orangutans in Zoo Planckendael in summer-fall 2025 (± 10 weeks observations).

Description of tasks: Behavioural data collection using focal animal sampling of orangutans interacting with a set-up that allows for increased environmental control; and video-coding of recorded curiosity experiments. Student needs own laptop to install software and fast and blind typing is CRUCIAL for success of this project.