Researcher (PostDoc) in Soil Ecology (Emmy Noether Project)

Researcher (PostDoc) in Soil Ecology (Emmy Noether Project)

SGN - Senckenberg Nature Research Society

Görlitz, Germany

This position aims to describe differences in structure and functions of soil food webs in forests dominated by different mycorrhiza types (ecto- and arbuscular myсorrhiza). The position is linked to the Emmy Noether project “Soil food web control of the carbon cycle in forests across climates and mycorrhiza types”. The work is done in collaboration with other team members based on already existing and new experimental datasets. The candidate will be able to co-design laboratory or field experiments to test project hypotheses about the connection between soil food webs and soil functioning.

Your Tasks

• Co-designing and implementing laboratory and field experiments;
• Identification of soil invertebrates (e.g. mites, springtails, insects) using modern and classical techniques;
• Laboratory analyses of soil properties;
• Statistical analysis of complex ecological datasets;
• Presentation of project results at international scientific conferences;
• Curation and publishing of data collected in the framework of the project;
• Supervision of students and research assistants in project-related tasks.

Your Profile

• Doctorate (PhD) in Ecology, Soil Ecology, or a closely related discipline;
• Expertise in identifying soil invertebrates;
• Experience with the analysis of food webs or trophic interactions;
• Excellent skills in statistical modelling, preferably using R;
• Proven track record of publishing in international peer-reviewed journals as first author;
• Willingness to conduct fieldwork and participate in international scientific exchange;
• Excellent written and spoken English skills;
• Team spirit.

Desirable skills

• Experience in working in collaborative research projects;
• Experience in designing and implementing laboratory/field experiments with soil invertebrates;
• Written and spoken German skills.

Apply NowDeadline 14 July