Postdoctoral Scientist Position "Seagrass Assisted Evolution"

Postdoctoral Scientist Position "Seagrass Assisted Evolution"

GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research

Kiel, Germany

Background and Project Description

The position is embedded into the German ANK ("Aktionsprogramm Natürlicher Klimaschutz") funded project ZOBLUC - Zostera as Blue Carbon Ecosystem. The successful candidate will work within a consortium coordinated by GEOMAR that also comprises groups at Kiel University and at the State Agency for Environment of Schleswig Holstein (LfU). The primary goal of ZOBLUC is to upscale mapping, monitoring, restoration techniques and stakeholder involvement for eelgrass (Zostera marina) conservation and restoration in the south-western Baltic Sea. The specific aim of the advertised position is to develop and test assisted evolution approaches to enhance the resilience of eelgrass restoration in the face of rapid ocean change. The successful applicant will establish and test diverse approaches that will encompass (i) breeding and artificial selection (ii) hybridization of different donor genotypes (iii) stress hardening /priming of seeds and juvenile plants. Field and tank experimentation will be combined with genomic approaches, in particular genome-wide association studies and tests for selection to determine the basis of adaptive responses. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with three other doctoral students working on related questions. Our team comprises a scientific diving group that assists in obtaining samples and executing underwater experimentation. Access to infrastructure required to conduct large-scale omics analyses such as next generation sequencing and high-performance computing is available, as well as state-of-the art experimental facilities with running seawater. The successful candidate will also keep and expand collaborative contacts to other international groups working on seagrass restoration and assisted evolution in Europe and beyond.

Your profile

Requirements for a successful application are:

• a PhD or doctoral degree in biology, genetics, ecology, marine sciences, plant breeding or in a related subject
• proficiency in evolutionary biology and genetics
• proficiency in omic approaches including fluency in bioinformatic scripting
• a very good track of scientific publications related to career stage
• proficiency in English (written and spoken)

Desirable qualifications would be:

• experience in seagrass ecology and evolution
• knowledge in marine nature conservation regulation and management
• experience with public outreach /media
• scientific diving license
• boating license

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