1- PhD student position (m/f/d): Time series analysis of spatio-temporal variability in coastal phytoplankton at the University of Oldenburg:
The Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg invites applications for a PhD student position (m/f/d) Time series analysis of spatio-temporal variability in coastal phytoplankton salary according to E13 TV-L, 75%: starting summer 2022 for a period of 3 years
The ICBM is an interdisciplinary research institute, for fundamental and applied marine research. The internationally renowned institute aims at understanding the function of marine environmental systems through close cooperation of the various scientific disciplines (chemistry, biology, physics, mathematical modelling) of its more than 20 research groups.
The position is available in the Mathematical Modelling group of Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius at the ICBM and is part of a cooperation between the ICBM and the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research NIOZ. It will be jointly supervised by Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius and Prof. Dr. Helmut Hillebrand at the ICBM and Prof. Dr. Katja Philippart at NIOZ.
Your tasks: The aim of this binational German-Dutch project is to analyze spatio-temporal data on phytoplankton communities in the German and Dutch Wadden Sea and adjacent coastal waters. The successful candidate will have access to long-term abiotic and biotic information along several stations and transects. Using modern data analysis methods, such as multi-variate wavelet analysis and machine learning techniques, he/she will study temporal and spatial variation in phytoplankton composition in relation to abiotic conditions. The aim will be to identify characteristic phase shifts in the seasonal succession, to estimate variability and long-term trends in community turnover rates, and to analyze how and why these patterns vary along the Dutch-German coast.
Requirements: Qualifying academic university degree (Master or Diploma (not of a University of Applied Sciences)), with a strong background in theoretical ecology, applied mathematics, or related areas. Profound knowledge in ecology, time series analysis, or machine learning is required. Applicants experienced in the field of phytoplankton ecology are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants should be fluent in written and spoken English and should have a strong interest to work in a multidisciplinary team.
The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance with Lower Saxony regulations (§ 21 Section 3 NHG) female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.
For further information regarding this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius (blasius@icbm.de). Applications, including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and qualifying documents (final academic records) should be submitted by email in a single pdf file to Bernd Blasius (blasius@icbm.de) by 15 July 2022.
2 – PhD Funded Position in Plankton Ecology and Climate Change at Alfred-Wegener-Institute:
The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics, thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals. PhD position (m/f/d) in plankton ecology and climate change
Background
Planktonic organisms are at the base of aquatic food webs and, while being crucial organisms for healthy ecosystems, they are particularly sensitive to environmental change. The impact global change has on planktonic organisms, may in turn alter ecosystem services such as nutrient turnover, provision of food to higher trophic levels, and carbon sequestration/export. The goal of this PhD is to evaluate the combined influence of warming and dissolved nutrient concentrations on trophic interactions between zooplankton and their prey.
Indeed, temperature affects metabolic rates, and thereby nutritional demands, whereas nutrient availability influences resource quality. Hence, we expect that currently ongoing shifts in environmental conditions may create nutritional mismatches in planktonic food webs. The PhD candidate will address this topic by conducting experiments with planktonic organisms to assess the temperature conditions that may promote nutrient limitation in various zooplankton groups, and how nutritional mismatches impact food web interactions.
Tasks
- Conduct laboratory grazing experiments with microzooplankton and mesozooplankton; as well as mesocosm experiments with natural plankton communities
- Investigate how zooplankton demands for energy and nutrients change with temperature
- Analyse feeding preferences of zooplankton at different temperatures, and quantify the pressure exerted by zooplankton on different prey groups
- Compute nutrient budgets by analysing nutrients recycled by zooplankton
- Evaluate complex datasets, and present research results to experts and non-experts (scientific journals, conferences, workshops)
Requirements
- Master degree (or equivalent) in Aquatic Sciences
- Strong background in Aquatic Ecology/Marine Biology
- Working experience with plankton ecology including plankton culturing
- Strong team player skills
- Strong communication skills in English language written and oral
Further Information
Please contact Dr. Cedric Meunier (Cedric.Meunier@awi.de;
+49(4725)819-3143) for further information. 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 Helgoland. 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 characterised by
- our scientific success – excellent research
- collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
- opportunities to develop – on the job, aiming at other positions and beyond AWI
- a culture of reconciling work and family – an audited and well-supported aspect of our operation
- our outstanding research infrastructure – ships, stations, aircraft, laboratories and more
- an international environment – everyday contacts with people from all over the world
- having an influence – fundamental research with social and political relevance
- flat hierarchies – facilitating freedom and responsibility
- exciting science topics, with opportunities also in technology, administration and infrastructure
Equal opportunities are an integral part of our personnel policy. The AWI aims to increase the number of female employees and therefore strongly encourages qualified women to apply. Disabled applicants 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! Please submit your application by Auguts 2nd 2022, exclusively online.
Reference number 22/96/G/INSPIRES-b