Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Food Web Ecology
Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Food Web Ecology
University of Helsinki - Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Helsinki, Finland
The postdoctoral project will contribute to developing a framework for predicting the rewiring of coastal food webs exposed to heatwaves. This will be achieved through a combination of approaches: mesocosm experiments, DNA sequencing, and food web modeling.
Mesocosm experiments are valuable because they can mimic the complexity of natural ecosystems, enabling us to unravel how these complex systems might respond to future environmental conditions. Metabarcoding, on the other hand, offers high taxonomic resolution in revealing who feeds on whom (both prokaryote and eukaryote) within a community. The modeling component of the project will integrate the metabarcoding outputs from the experiments into a bioenergetic food web model to quantify ecosystem functioning and stability.
Specifically, we aim to
- Quantify shifts in species dietary preferences under climate warming and resource availability scenarios
- Analyze trophic rewiring in mesocosm food webs under heatwave scenarios
- Assess the implications of these changes for coastal ecosystem functioning and stability
This novel methodological framework, which combines aquatic mesocosm experiments with metabarcoding and food web modeling, will provide a mechanistic understanding of how coastal ecosystems respond to rapidly intensifying heatwaves. The insights gained from this research are critical for managing and safeguarding our coastal marine ecosystems.
The focus of the specifics of the research questions and the experimental setup will be developed jointly with the candidate, largely driven by the candidate’s research profile and interest.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- A completed Ph.D. in Molecular Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, Experimental Community Ecology, Food Web Ecology, or a related field
- Demonstrated expertise in molecular community or environmental ecology (e.g., DNA/eDNA metabarcoding), experimental ecology, or preferably both
- Strong conceptual, analytical, and quantitative skills; Proficiency in programming (e.g., R or other relevant software) and statistical analysis
- Experience with interdisciplinary research (e.g., experimental and molecular ecology or molecular ecology and modeling) is advantageous, as is an aptitude for acquiring new skills
- Excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written
- Proven ability to conceive, execute, and complete complex research projects
- A creative mind-set, with the ability to work effectively and both independently and as part of a team
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