PhD position: Using Machine learning techniques to analyse spatio-temporal patterns in phytoplankton dynamics for the development of environmental indicator systems for the Arctic – Deadline 20 August 2024

Background

In polar regions, climate-related changes in environmental conditions, e.g. decreasing sea ice cover and water temperatures rising at rates considerably higher than in temperate areas. This, in turn, leads to changes in plankton biodiversity and biogeography patterns. Despite the potentially severe consequences for marine food webs, marine plankton biodiversity patterns are still insufficiently understood, and despite recent observational advances, some important groups such as parasitic plankton have been little investigated as a functional group.
Recent developments in high-throughput observation methods have greatly enhanced our ability to investigate plankton biodiversity at smaller spatio-temporal scales. We therefore seek a PhD candidate with a strong plankton ecology/taxonomy background to synthesize existing information, establish a baseline inventory of plankton biodiversity and their functional traits with a focus of the hitherto under-investigated diversity of mycoplankton (parasites and saprotrophic plankton).

• You will analyse data from various sources including manual counts and molecular and imaging data to investigate biodiversity and biogeography of plankton, particularly mycoplankton in the Fram Strait and surrounding areas of the Arctic Ocean.
• You will also apply novel imaging techniques, i.e. the planktoscope, to analyse archived samples, complementing existing data sets.
• You will use advanced statistics (including machine learning tools) to analyse the potential drivers of observed diversity patterns.
• As part of the BMBF-funded project INDIFUN-AI you will also work with teams at the Universities of Bremen and Oldenburg as well as the Helmholtz center GEOMAR to integrate observational plankton data with experimental data on the functional characteristics of key plankton taxa.
• The overarching goal is to assess potential future changes in biodiversity e.g. via new taxa establishing a presence in the Arctic, as a basis for the development of sensitive biodiversity indicators.

Requirements

• Masters in Marine Biology, Data Science or related field
• Very good programming skills in R, jupyter notebooks or similar
• Familiarity with the processing of high-throughput imaging and/or molecular data
• Good knowledge of plankton ecology and biology
• Good knowledge of plankton ecology and biology
• Willingness to participate in Arctic ship expeditions

Further Information

For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr Alexandra Kraberg (Alexandra.Kraberg@awi.de
+49(471)4831-1317).

This position is limited to 3 years.  The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66 %). The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI’s postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures.

The AWI is characterized by

• our scientific success – excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• flexible working hours
• health promotion and company fitness
• support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. Our Family Office will be happy to support you – even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by August 20^th 2024, exclusively online.
Reference number: 24/130/D/Bio-b