Stephanie L King
@stephanielking.bsky.social
Professor of Animal Behaviour @ University of Bristol | cetacean communication and cognition group | loves dogs | PI @ Shark Bay Dolphin Research | she/her 🏳️🌈
Pinned
🐳 UPCOMING BOOK ALERT 🐬
The Evolution of Cetacean Societies
Edited by @darrencroft.bsky.social @andrewfoote.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social and myself
Preorder available now
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
#whale #dolphin #animalbehaviour
The Evolution of Cetacean Societies
Edited by @darrencroft.bsky.social @andrewfoote.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social and myself
Preorder available now
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
#whale #dolphin #animalbehaviour
Reposted by Stephanie L King
🌟Huge CONGRATULATIONS to @patrick-kennedy.bsky.social who has won the @asab.org Christopher Barnard Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Investigator. 🤗
Research on social evolution and what links climate & cooperation in a changing world, using #wasps as models.
#worthywinner #ECR #proud
Research on social evolution and what links climate & cooperation in a changing world, using #wasps as models.
#worthywinner #ECR #proud
December 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🌟Huge CONGRATULATIONS to @patrick-kennedy.bsky.social who has won the @asab.org Christopher Barnard Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Investigator. 🤗
Research on social evolution and what links climate & cooperation in a changing world, using #wasps as models.
#worthywinner #ECR #proud
Research on social evolution and what links climate & cooperation in a changing world, using #wasps as models.
#worthywinner #ECR #proud
Reposted by Stephanie L King
Almost four years on since we started work on this project, it feels surreal to have a copy in my hand. @stephanielking.bsky.social @darrencroft.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Almost four years on since we started work on this project, it feels surreal to have a copy in my hand. @stephanielking.bsky.social @darrencroft.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social
Friendship is magic: male dolphins with close friends age more slowly
theconversation.com/friendship-i...
theconversation.com/friendship-i...
Friendship is magic: male dolphins with close friends age more slowly
Like friendship itself, the slower ageing is more than just skin deep.
theconversation.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Friendship is magic: male dolphins with close friends age more slowly
theconversation.com/friendship-i...
theconversation.com/friendship-i...
New paper out in @commsbio.nature.com: Social bonds decrease epigenetic age in male bottlenose dolphins rdcu.be/eUoID led by @liviagerber.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social
Social bonds decrease epigenetic age in male bottlenose dolphins
Communications Biology - Across 40 years of behavioural and epigenetic data, male dolphins with stronger social relationships show lower epigenetic ages and therefore appear to age slower compared...
rdcu.be
December 15, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New paper out in @commsbio.nature.com: Social bonds decrease epigenetic age in male bottlenose dolphins rdcu.be/eUoID led by @liviagerber.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephanie L King
The ZSL Scientific Medal is also awarded to Professor Stephen Montgomery, @bristolbiosci.bsky.social whose research has provided insights into the relationships between ecological niche specialisation, brain structure, and cognitive function 🏅 @ebablab.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The ZSL Scientific Medal is also awarded to Professor Stephen Montgomery, @bristolbiosci.bsky.social whose research has provided insights into the relationships between ecological niche specialisation, brain structure, and cognitive function 🏅 @ebablab.bsky.social
I’m one of the lucky people to have been mentored by @andyradford.bsky.social and I can’t think of anyone that deserves this award more than he does 🙌🏻
Honoured & humbled to receive a #Nature #Award for #Mentoring in #Science yesterday. ☺️
Testament to the wonderful #ECRs I've been privileged to work with. THANK YOU to all who nominated me. 🙏
#proud #support
@natureportfolio.nature.com @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/de...
Testament to the wonderful #ECRs I've been privileged to work with. THANK YOU to all who nominated me. 🙏
#proud #support
@natureportfolio.nature.com @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/de...
December 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
I’m one of the lucky people to have been mentored by @andyradford.bsky.social and I can’t think of anyone that deserves this award more than he does 🙌🏻
Huge congratulations to @ebablab.bsky.social - can’t think of anyone more deserving! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
blown away by this, given the names of previous winners - recent and not so recent - hugely grateful to @zslofficial.bsky.social, and all the many students, postgrads, postdocs and collaborators who have helped make the last 14 years so fun and exciting
Will go back to avoiding cameras now… 🫣
Will go back to avoiding cameras now… 🫣
The ZSL Scientific Medal is also awarded to Professor Stephen Montgomery, @bristolbiosci.bsky.social whose research has provided insights into the relationships between ecological niche specialisation, brain structure, and cognitive function 🏅 @ebablab.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Huge congratulations to @ebablab.bsky.social - can’t think of anyone more deserving! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Reposting now @samhill-cousins.bsky.social is on Bluesky - he is about to start an exciting PhD with @researchdolphin.bsky.social so follow him for more cool science!
New paper on dolphin motor synchrony led by master's student Sam Hill-Cousins with a fantastic team of co-authors @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social @emmachereskin.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social 🐬🐬🐬: Male dolphins use synchrony to both maintain and strengthen their social bonds
rdcu.be/eQ543
rdcu.be/eQ543
Allied male dolphins use synchronous displays to strengthen social bonds in a cooperative context
rdcu.be
November 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposting now @samhill-cousins.bsky.social is on Bluesky - he is about to start an exciting PhD with @researchdolphin.bsky.social so follow him for more cool science!
New paper on dolphin motor synchrony led by master's student Sam Hill-Cousins with a fantastic team of co-authors @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social @emmachereskin.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social 🐬🐬🐬: Male dolphins use synchrony to both maintain and strengthen their social bonds
rdcu.be/eQ543
rdcu.be/eQ543
Allied male dolphins use synchronous displays to strengthen social bonds in a cooperative context
rdcu.be
November 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New paper on dolphin motor synchrony led by master's student Sam Hill-Cousins with a fantastic team of co-authors @danaipapageorgiou.bsky.social @emmachereskin.bsky.social @researchdolphin.bsky.social 🐬🐬🐬: Male dolphins use synchrony to both maintain and strengthen their social bonds
rdcu.be/eQ543
rdcu.be/eQ543
Reposted by Stephanie L King
The final chapter of my thesis has just been published in Ecology and Evolution! @ecol-evol.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The final chapter of my thesis has just been published in Ecology and Evolution! @ecol-evol.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Here we find that the social environment, notably vocal and aggressive interactions, are linked to cognitive development in magpie fledglings.
Reposted by Stephanie L King
An important ontogenetic perspective into the relationship between cognition and social interactions! Congrats @lizziespeechley.bsky.social!
With collaborators @stephanielking.bsky.social @ceb-uwa.bsky.social Ben Ashton, Alex Thornton and Leigh Simmons
With collaborators @stephanielking.bsky.social @ceb-uwa.bsky.social Ben Ashton, Alex Thornton and Leigh Simmons
Social Interactions Are Related to Cognitive Development in Western Australian Magpie Fledglings | doi.org/10.1002/ece3... | Ecology and Evolution | #ornithology 🪶
Social Interactions Are Related to Cognitive Development in Western Australian Magpie Fledglings
The early social environment can play a pivotal role in an individual's ability to learn, solve problems and make decisions. We find that multiple elements of an individual's social upbringing influe...
doi.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
An important ontogenetic perspective into the relationship between cognition and social interactions! Congrats @lizziespeechley.bsky.social!
With collaborators @stephanielking.bsky.social @ceb-uwa.bsky.social Ben Ashton, Alex Thornton and Leigh Simmons
With collaborators @stephanielking.bsky.social @ceb-uwa.bsky.social Ben Ashton, Alex Thornton and Leigh Simmons
Reposted by Stephanie L King
Don't just take my word for it ... @stephanielking.bsky.social and Denise Herzing provide insightful comments in this piece: www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-n...
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Don't just take my word for it ... @stephanielking.bsky.social and Denise Herzing provide insightful comments in this piece: www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-n...
3 year postdoc funded by @ukri.org NERC on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins is now live - please share widely 🙏 www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Details | Working at Bristol | University of Bristol
University of Bristol Beacon House Queens Road Bristol, BS8 1QU, UK Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000 Contact us
www.bristol.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
3 year postdoc funded by @ukri.org NERC on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins is now live - please share widely 🙏 www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...
Reposted by Stephanie L King
🎉 Excited to share the 2nd chapter of my PhD!
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
Integrating Environmental DNA Metabarcoding and Remote Sensing Reveals Known and Novel Fish Diversity Hotspots in a World Heritage Area
Aim Shark Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Western Australia, is highly vulnerable to climate change, yet its fish biodiversity remains poorly understood at fine spatial scales. We integrated en...
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
🎉 Excited to share the 2nd chapter of my PhD!
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
From 270 eDNA samples across Shark Bay (🇦🇺), we identified 106 fish species and mapped their diversity with remote sensing — all non-invasively! 🌊🐠
A scalable framework for characterising marine biodiversity
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70074
Reposted by Stephanie L King
🐬 Want to be part of a most excellent research team? See @stephanielking.bsky.social post 👇🏻 for a ⭐️ post-doc
Excited to share that we have just been awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to work on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins. We will soon advertise a 3 year post-doc to join the team - drop me an email if you might be interested! Pls share widely 🙏🏻
October 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
🐬 Want to be part of a most excellent research team? See @stephanielking.bsky.social post 👇🏻 for a ⭐️ post-doc
Reposted by Stephanie L King
Amazing opportunity for a post doc, fantastic team to work with, and a brilliant project... opportunities like this don't come up every day ......
Excited to share that we have just been awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to work on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins. We will soon advertise a 3 year post-doc to join the team - drop me an email if you might be interested! Pls share widely 🙏🏻
October 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Amazing opportunity for a post doc, fantastic team to work with, and a brilliant project... opportunities like this don't come up every day ......
Reposted by Stephanie L King
A dream postdoc on an incredible population, building on over three decades of field research, and with a brilliant and supportive PI.
Excited to share that we have just been awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to work on between-group cooperation in the Shark Bay dolphins. We will soon advertise a 3 year post-doc to join the team - drop me an email if you might be interested! Pls share widely 🙏🏻
October 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
A dream postdoc on an incredible population, building on over three decades of field research, and with a brilliant and supportive PI.
Amazing PhD opportunity with a wonderful bunch of supervisors 🫶
Looking for a #PhD?
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
Interested in #SocialBehaviour #BiologicalMarkets #Fieldwork?
Want to be based in #Bristol?
Check out this project with me, @ljnbrent.bsky.social & #PatrickKennedy:
tinyurl.com/aja54nr6
For UK-domiciled Black-heritage applicants
Get in touch for more information
Please #share
Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social animals at Unive...
PhD Project - Funded PhD open to UK-domiciled, home fee applicants of Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black or mixed Black heritage - Biological market monitoring and manipulation in social an...
www.findaphd.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Amazing PhD opportunity with a wonderful bunch of supervisors 🫶
Reposted by Stephanie L King
❓ Want to join us?
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
October 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
❓ Want to join us?
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
📢 Fully funded #PhD for UK-domiciled Black heritage candidates
🐵 Biological market monitoring & manipulation in social animals #mongooses #macaques #fieldwork
👥 With me, #LaurenBrent & #PatrickKennedy
🎓 @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
ℹ️ www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
🙏Share widely
Huge congratulations @diandraduengen.bsky.social - your thesis was outstanding and a pleasure to read. Distinction with cum laude is so well deserved 👏🏻
I am mind blown to announce that the day before yesterday I have been awarded the degree of doctor from Radboud University, Nijmegen, with the distinction cum laude, which I learned is the highest distinction in the Netherlands 🤯👩🏼🎓
That my thesis was honored in this way really moves me.
That my thesis was honored in this way really moves me.
October 11, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Huge congratulations @diandraduengen.bsky.social - your thesis was outstanding and a pleasure to read. Distinction with cum laude is so well deserved 👏🏻
Reposted by Stephanie L King
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Analysis of communication and collective behavior in animal groups
imprs-qbee.mpg.de
October 3, 2025 at 7:40 AM
⭐PhD position available!⭐
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Come join us @imprs-qbee.bsky.social to study communication and collective behavior in animal groups! We're looking for someone excited to use computational approaches to tackle biological questions, using our full-group tracking datasets
imprs-qbee.mpg.de/121465/analy...
Incredible animal system, awesome science and the nicest group of people to work with - what’s not to like? ⬇️
We are hiring - PDRA position exploring how information access shapes social dynamics in killer whales. Collaboration with @samellisq.bsky.social @drwhale.bsky.social Prof Dan Franks (York) start 1st Nov (or ASAP) end 31st Oct 2028. Apps close on 19th Oct.
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOT336/p...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOT336/p...
September 24, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Incredible animal system, awesome science and the nicest group of people to work with - what’s not to like? ⬇️
Huge Congratulations @stephaniellaura.bsky.social - truly a thesis to be proud of!
It's official! PhD submitted. Thanks to @mandyridley.bsky.social, @stephanielking.bsky.social and Dr Sarah Walsh for everything, particularly over the last few months as I bombarded you with manuscript drafts. Excited to share this research with the world soon!
Stay posted, but for now, sleep.
Stay posted, but for now, sleep.
September 6, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Huge Congratulations @stephaniellaura.bsky.social - truly a thesis to be proud of!
Reposted by Stephanie L King
New paper led by @josharbon.bsky.social. Adults jackdaws often bully youngsters, but we show they can learn to be tolerant and attend to juveniles as sources of information. @uniexecec.bsky.social. Funded by @leverhulme.ac.uk & @swbiodtp.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
August 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
New paper led by @josharbon.bsky.social. Adults jackdaws often bully youngsters, but we show they can learn to be tolerant and attend to juveniles as sources of information. @uniexecec.bsky.social. Funded by @leverhulme.ac.uk & @swbiodtp.bsky.social
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
August 12, 2025 at 12:04 PM