Background

In order to address questions of global importance related to functional marine biodiversity and marine conservation and to stimulate an integrative and innovative research environment, HIFMB has created an independent postdoc pool, HIPP, that offers postdoctoral scientists the opportunity to develop their own research ideas and to actively shape their scientific careers. For each call, we set a topical context in order to foster collaborations between postdocs. For this call, we seek to hire a strong team of researchers, open and enthusiastic to interdisciplinary working, who will address the overarching question of ‘Ecosystem re-assembly under climate change’ in collaboration with the HIFMB community.

Ecosystems are re-assembling under climate change. Key species are lost from local areas and new species are taking their place. This process happens across scales, from the re-assembly of animal’s gut microbiomes stressed by changing environments to the loss of foundation species in coastal ecosystems such as corals, kelp and seagrasses. New tools, big data and as well as qualitative approaches mean that we can reassess classical questions of ecosystem assembly with the goal of developing a theoretical framework that can yield, perhaps, predictions about the reassembly process, and insights as to what it means for governance where movement may render existing spatial measures as obsolete (Maxwell et al. 2015).

We need to understand how ecosystems are reassembled to make decisions about where, when and what will be conserved and how we can engage “new ecosystems” in relation to human life.

Overview

Within the above-mentioned cohort-project, we offer 1 Postdoc position in “Geographic mosaics of mutualistic interactions” (Position #2a)

Climate change and other pressures on the environment is bound to disrupt many ecological communities, but can these communities perhaps reassemble elsewhere? This question is particularly interesting in the context of species that have symbiotic relationships, i.e. require other species to be present to survive, such as algae and corals. Studying the process of reassembly of ecological communities presents a complex dynamical multi-layer problem that requires modern mathematical approaches to model and analyse.

Tasks

The successful candidate will use modern methods of network science to study the structure and dynamics of re-assembly. We seek to develop models that describe how a community of species connected by a complex network of mutualistic and competitive interactions can spread across a geographical network of habitats/sites. The researcher will closely collaborate with another position 2b, approaching the same question from an experimental, data-driven angle

Requirements

  • PhD in Mathematics or a relevant discipline of science
  • Strong background in mathematical methods
  • Interest in ecological applications
  • Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent English written and oral communication.
  • Record of scientific publications.

The HIPP is explicitly meant to foster networking between marine institutions. We therefore offer the possibility for candidates to bring in additional advisors from institutions outside of HIFMB. HIFMB further strives for transformation and bridging the science-policy interface. Therefore, proven experience in transfer activities is a plus.

Further Information

The position will be financed for a fixed term of 3 years (100% TVöD E13, Jan 1 2024 to Dec 31 2026). This is a full-time position. It is also suitable for part-time employment.

We offer

  • An interdisciplinary research environment with expertise in experimental and field oriented marine ecology, data science, modelling, marine governance and political ecology.
  • Career development support through transdisciplinary workshops, seminars and mentoring at the Graduate Academy of Oldenburg University and AWI’s postdoc office PROCEED.
  • A lively international atmosphere and family-friendly environment.

Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of employees who are women, and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply.

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

The AWI fosters the compatibility of work and family in various ways and has received a number of awards as a result of this engagement.

We look forward to your application!

If you have any questions about your eligibility or the application procedure, please feel free to contact Ruth Krause (ruth.krause@hifmb.de). If you have content-related questions, please contact Prof. Thilo Gross (thilo.gross@hifmb.de).

The deadline for application is August 25th, 2023. Interviews are planned for the last 2 weeks of September 2023, in Oldenburg or online.

Applications include an extended motivation letter and your academic CV with a list of the most important publications (please use attached template). In your motivation letter, please explain the background and existing knowledge in the context of the announced Postdoc position.

Reference number: 23/71/G/HIPP-b.

Further information about this opportunities, click here.