Job opportunities

Researcher Placement

Dartmoor Zoological Society is seeking placement students for the role of ‘voluntary research assistant’ for the 2025-26 academic year.

Candidates must be undertaking an animal or zoo-related degree, environmental science or psychology degree, be highly
motivated and forward thinking. In return you will gain experience within a BIAZA accredited zoo research
department, receiving regular tutorials from professional zoo staff.

The main responsibilities for this role include:
• Assisting the research department and representing the zoo in a positive, forward-thinking manner that will enable the department to be highly productive.
• To conduct, analyse and write up at least one research project whilst at the zoo with the guidance of the Research Officer.
• To be trained to collect data for any ongoing research projects currently being carried out by the research department.
• To present your research to staff at Dartmoor Zoo.
• You may have the opportunity to represent Dartmoor Zoo at relevant zoo conferences and present your research findings.

Current and previous research topics include assessing the impact of visitor talks on animal behaviour, determining whether an overnight feeder is beneficial for dik dik, evaluating auditory enrichment for otters and birds, evaluating enrichment for tapir and assessing an enclosure move on the behaviour of an iguana.