PhD Funded Position in Experimental Marine Ecology – University of Oldenburg, Germany

The University of Oldenburg is inviting applications for a Doctoral Candidate position in Experimental Marine Ecology at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The position is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP, an international research network investigating response diversity and its importance for ecosystem resilience.

This is a 36-month, full-time doctoral position designed for candidates with a Master’s degree in ecology, marine or aquatic environmental science, biology, or a related discipline. The research will investigate how marine plankton communities respond to environmental change and how response diversity is influenced by adaptation and spatial dynamics.

The project combines laboratory experiments, ecological analysis, biodiversity research, and modelling. It also includes international secondments at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Zürich, giving the successful candidate an opportunity to develop interdisciplinary research skills within a European doctoral network. The vacancy identifies the application deadline as 30 September 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Berlin time.

Key Details

Category	Details
Position	Doctoral Candidate (PhD) in Experimental Marine Ecology
Organisation	University of Oldenburg
Department	Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM)
Research Field	Environmental Science – Ecology
Researcher Profile	First Stage Researcher (R1)
Position Type	PhD Position
Location	Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Contract Type	Temporary
Job Status	Full-time
Working Hours	38.5 hours per week
Duration	36 months
Starting Date	Earliest 1 January 2027; latest 1 March 2027
Application Deadline	30 September 2026, 23:59 Europe/Berlin
Funding	Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
Salary	100% TV-L E13
Degree Required	Master’s degree or equivalent
Number of Positions	1
Language	English

About the ReDiLEEP Doctoral Research Project

The doctoral research is based on the concept of response diversity (RD), which describes differences in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change. The project examines response diversity as an important factor in ecosystem resilience and seeks to improve understanding of how biodiversity can contribute to stable ecosystems under changing environmental conditions.

As part of the ReDiLEEP Doctoral Network, the successful candidate will investigate response diversity in marine pelagic ecosystems. The research will focus particularly on plankton communities and how their responses to environmental change are shaped by adaptation and spatial dynamics.

The doctoral candidate will conduct experiments ranging from relatively simple bioassays to more complex metacommunity experiments. The position therefore combines experimental marine ecology with biodiversity research and quantitative approaches to understanding ecosystem responses.

Research Project DC3

The specific doctoral project, DC3, will use empirical plankton ecology to investigate both the stabilizing effects of response diversity and changes in response diversity under environmental change. One major research question is whether communities with greater response diversity, measured through thermal reaction norms, maintain more stable biomass production and elemental stoichiometry during gradual warming and marine heatwave events.

The project will also examine whether response diversity declines under sustained environmental change and whether it can be replenished through spatial dynamics in metacommunities or through adaptation that shifts response traits. The research consists of four main experimental components. The first involves bioassays and thermal reaction norms using monocultures and natural phytoplankton communities. The second is a long-term microcosm experiment involving gradual temperature increases to assess biodiversity, community composition, biomass, and elemental stoichiometry.

Further experiments will investigate thermal reaction norms in selected species and examine the effects of marine heatwaves. A laboratory experiment involving 36 metacommunities with different levels of connectivity will also be used to study the spatial dynamics of response diversity.

Main Responsibilities

The doctoral candidate will be responsible for planning, conducting, and analysing the project’s experiments. This includes developing experimental approaches, collecting and analysing data, and contributing to scientific publications.

The successful candidate will also create a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) covering research objectives, timelines, professional skills, and career goals. They will organise and participate in supervisory meetings and contribute actively to the scientific activities of the Plankton Ecology Lab in Wilhelmshaven. Participation in the wider ReDiLEEP network is another important part of the role. The candidate will take part in network training, secondments, dissemination activities, reporting, and cohort events.

International Secondments and Training

A distinctive feature of this PhD opportunity is the planned international research experience. The position includes five months of secondments at partner institutions. The first secondment will involve two months at Trinity College Dublin, working with Ian Donohue’s research group to develop methods for analysing responses to pulse disturbances. The second will involve three months at the University of Zürich, where the candidate will work with Owen Petchey’s group on modelling, resilience, and response-diversity metrics.

The doctoral network will also provide training in response diversity methods, data management, reproducible coding, R/Tidyverse, machine learning and AI for ecologists, scientific visualisation, evidence-based policymaking, science-policy communication, and policy brief writing.

Salary, Duration, and Benefits

The position is offered as a 36-month full-time doctoral appointment at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment at the University of Oldenburg. The vacancy specifies a 100% TV-L E13 gross salary and employment under the applicable MSCA Doctoral Network conditions and University of Oldenburg regulations. The planned employment location is Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

The successful candidate will also participate in the OLTECH graduate school of the University’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The university describes the working environment as international, open, and collaborative. Relocation and integration assistance is available through the German EURAXESS Centre, including guidance relating to visas, residence permits, social security, and everyday integration in Germany.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants should hold a Master of Science degree or equivalent in ecology, marine or aquatic environmental science, biology, or a closely related discipline. Experience with wet-lab methods and experiments is expected, while experience in phytoplankton cultivation and microscopy is particularly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate an interest in ecological concepts and biodiversity research and should have experience with general statistical methods, preferably using R.

Strong English skills are required for reading, speaking, and writing. The university is also looking for candidates who can communicate scientific ideas effectively through talks, workshops, or similar activities. Experience with scientific publishing, such as contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts, is considered an advantage.

MSCA Mobility and Doctoral Eligibility

Because the position is part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network, applicants must satisfy additional MSCA eligibility conditions. Under the stated mobility rule, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity, including work or studies, in Germany for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment. Exceptions apply in specific circumstances, including compulsory national service, refugee status, and temporary protection.

Applicants must also not already hold a doctoral degree. Upon selection, the successful candidate will become a doctoral researcher and enrol in a doctoral programme at the University of Oldenburg. The selected researcher must work full-time and exclusively on the ReDiLEEP project during the appointment, in accordance with the applicable MSCA rules.

Selection Process

The recruitment process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based principles in line with the MSCA Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers. Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, scientific excellence, motivation, project fit, relevant skills, and the applicant’s potential contribution to the ReDiLEEP doctoral network. The selection committee will include diverse expertise and an international perspective while taking gender balance and conflicts of interest into account.

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit their application in English as a single PDF file by 30 September 2026 to Professor Helmut Hillebrand via email Application email: helmut.hillebrand@uol.de The application should include a cover letter explaining the candidate’s motivation, relevant experience, and suitability for the DC3 project. Candidates should also provide a curriculum vitae including publications, copies of degree certificates and transcripts, and a short statement confirming their eligibility under the MSCA mobility rule for Germany.

Applicants should additionally provide the contact details of two referees who may be contacted for references. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in English. According to the stated recruitment timeline, eligibility screening is planned through 10 October 2026, with interviews and final selection scheduled for mid-October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the University of Oldenburg PhD position about?

The PhD project focuses on experimental marine ecology, specifically how response diversity affects the stability and resilience of marine plankton communities under environmental change.

Is this a fully funded PhD position?

The vacancy is funded through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP and provides a 100% TV-L E13 gross salary under the applicable employment conditions.

How long is the PhD position?

The appointment is for 36 months, or three years, on a full-time basis.

Where is the PhD located?

The primary place of work is Wilhelmshaven, Germany, at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment at the University of Oldenburg.

What degree is required?

Applicants need a Master’s degree or equivalent in ecology, marine or aquatic environmental science, biology, or a related field.

Do applicants need experience with phytoplankton?

Experience with wet-lab methods is required, while experience with phytoplankton cultivation and microscopy is preferred.

Is knowledge of R required?

Applicants should have experience with general statistics, with experience using R being particularly desirable.

Can someone who already has a PhD apply?

No. Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment under the stated MSCA eligibility requirements.

What is the MSCA mobility rule?

Applicants must generally not have lived or carried out their main activity, such as employment or studies, in Germany for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding recruitment. Specific exceptions are listed in the vacancy.

What international research opportunities are included?

The project includes five months of planned secondments: two months at Trinity College Dublin and three months at the University of Zürich.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 30 September 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Berlin time.

How should candidates apply?

Applicants should submit a single PDF application in English by email to Professor Helmut Hillebrand at helmut.hillebrand@uol.de.