2 Postdoctoral Researchers (Ecologists) (m/f/d) — Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

For over 200 years the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) has represented one of the most relevant institutions investigating nature and its diversity. Currently, scientists from more than 40 countries across 12 locations in Germany conduct research in the fields of biodiversity, Earth system analysis, and climate change.

Following its mission to “analyze and document biodiversity in Earth system dynamics – to serve science and society,” Senckenberg stands for curiosity-driven and application-oriented collections-based research.

The Department of River Ecology and Conservation at Senckenberg, in cooperation with the Faculty of Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, jointly invite applications for:

2 Postdoctoral Researchers (Ecologists) (m/f/d)

(full time or part-time (at least 75%); 2 years with option for extension)

We are looking for enthusiastic ecologists (m/f/d) with a background in community ecology, macroecology, metacommunities, and/or analysis of ecological time series. The applicant should have a strong track record of scientific publications.

Over the past years, we have compiled one of the most comprehensive marine and freshwater biodiversity time series across Europe, including macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, algae, fish, and plankton from approx. 25,000 sampling locations and 25 European countries. We also host a large data set of > 30,000 terrestrial insect species. Additionally, we have access to accompanying environmental data. These data sets provide a unique opportunity to address a broad variety of fundamental and applied ecological questions in fields like metacommunity theory, time series analyses, multiple stressor responses, invasive species, ecological communities, or conservation depending on candidate interests (see 10.1038/s41586-023-06400-1 for an example). We encourage applications from ecologists with backgrounds in freshwater, marine, or terrestrial ecosystems.

The position is partly embedded in two large EU-funded projects, namely the MARCO-BOLO project: MARine COastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations ( and the new Biodiversity Meets Data (BMD) project which will start on March 1st, 2025. The BMD project will provide a toolbox equipped with a suite of Virtual Research Environments (VREs) that are co-designed with stakeholders to deliver biodiversity assessments, biodiversity trend analyses, identification of drivers of change, and projections to future climatic and land cover scenarios at local, regional, national, and European scales. For this, we will develop a suite of thematic VREs that allow an easy-to-use application of models on available and harmonized biodiversity and environmental data. Both projects provide access to a wide range of spatial and temporal biodiversity and environmental data and a fantastic opportunity to become part of European networks of established researchers, postdocs, and graduate students working with monitoring data.

Responsibilities:

• Analyzing spatial and temporal biodiversity and accompanied environmental data to elucidate spatial patterns and temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and drivers thereof.
• Contributing to the research of the MARCO-BOLO and BMD projects and conducting research on global change impacts on biodiversity within the framework of other projects in the department (i.e., restoration ecology, multiple stressor analyses, long-term ecological research).
• Development of VREs.
• Data analysis, preparation of manuscripts, and reports.

Your Profile:

• PhD in Ecology or a related field.
• Solid background in (macro-) ecology and zoology (preferably invertebrates or fish).
• Advanced skills in statistical analyses, preferably using R.
• Strong track record of international publications.
• Excellent written and oral communication and project presentation skills.

Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-H E13, 100%; part-time (at least 75%)). The contract should ideally start around December 1st, 2024 and will initially be restricted to 2 years with a possible extension.

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives, and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity, or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability, they will be given preference. Applicants with a severe disability will be given special consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

Please send your application until September 15th, 2024, preferably by e-mail (attachment in a single pdf document), mentioning the reference of this position (Ref. #04-24003) and include:

• A letter outlining your suitability for the post.
• Contact details of 2 references.
• A list of publications and acquired funding.

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