PhD - Marine ecology

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Bremerhaven, Germany

The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), division of Biosciences, section Coastal Ecology at the Wadden Sea Station Sylt, in cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre of Ocean Research GEOMAR and the Christian-Albrechts University, both located in Kiel, Germany, is seeking to appoint a PhD candidate (f/m) (with focus on benthic marine ecology) within the framework of the BMBF ‘Verbundprojekt’ BIOACID phase II, consortium 2.

Description:

Located within the framework of BIOACID II (Biological Impacts of Ocean ACIDification, www.bioacid.de), consortium 2 (‘Responses of benthic assemblages to interactive stress”) will investigate the direct impact of single and combined stresses of ocean acidification, temperature increase, changing salinity and eutrophication on the performance of macroalgae and seagrasses as well as on the associated fauna, flora and consumers. We seek a candidate for the work package “Direct and indirect effects of environmental stress: shifts in macrophyte interactions with consumers and epibionts and ensuing community re-structuring”. The investigation is focused on biotic interactions between the different components (primary producers, decomposers, herbivorous secondary producers, as well as consumers of higher trophic levels). As a result a system-based response of a macrophyte community to a single stress factor and a combination of them will be obtained. Change of community characteristics will be tested by network analysis to quantify the change on the community level. The successful candidate will be based at the AWI in List/Sylt and will work on Sylt and in Kiel at the Geomar. The candidate will obtain the opportunity to subscribe to the Helmholtz graduate school for Polar and Marine Research ‘POLMAR’ (www.polmar.awi.de).

Requirements:

Diploma/MSc degree in marine ecology, biology, or a comparable scientific subject. A broad background in benthic marine ecology of coastal systems as well as good knowledge in written and spoken English is expected.

The position is limited to 3 years, the salary will be in accordance with the German Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst (TVöD Bund): salary group 13 (50% minimum). Official starting date for this position is September 1st, 2012. Handicapped applicants with comparable qualifications receive preferential status. Please see the notification on our homepage under job_offers/jobs. AWI supports balanced work-life career development via a variety of schemes.

Applications:

To apply for the position, please cite the code 58/D/Bio and send your application by August 1st, 2012, to: Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar- and Marine Research, Personnel Department, P.O. Box 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven, Germany or by email (all documents merged into one PDF file) to:

Petra.Breyer(at)awi.de

Questions regarding the project should be directed at Ragnhild.Asmus(at)awi.de