Tenure Track Group Leader Position Experimental Freshwater Ecologist

Tenure Track Group Leader Position Experimental Freshwater Ecologist

IGB - Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Berlin, Germany

For the Department of Community and Ecosystem Ecology at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin-Friedrichshagen we are inviting applications for the position of a tenure track group leader with expertise in experimental freshwater ecology.

The department conducts research aimed at understanding the response of freshwater communities and ecosystems to global change, partly based on a long-term monitoring program maintained in a shallow river-connected lake. We look forward to recruiting a creative and dedicated experimental ecologist with expertise in analyzing the impacts of global change on freshwater ecosystem functioning, community composition, food-web structure and biodiversity. Experiments investigating how benthic or planktonic primary producers and invertebrates interact with each other and respond to multiple stressors are of particular interest. The successful candidate is expected to combine experiments and field observations to allow upscaling of experimental results to the ecosystem level. The announced position should strengthen research to understand the structure and functioning of inland water ecosystems as a basis for their sustainable management.

This position is part of IGB’s strategic development to improve understanding of the structure and functioning of freshwater systems, to understand future distribution and abundance of organisms, and to use mechanistic insights to optimize the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems.

Your tasks

• Develop and lead an independent research group that tests ecological concepts through laboratory and field experiments;
• Study how planktonic and benthic primary producers and invertebrates interact and respond to multiple stressors, as well as their impact on lake ecosystem function;
• Participate in and further develop the long-term research and monitoring of Lake Müggelsee;
• Creatively integrate into the research of IGB, especially with groups working on plankton and benthos ecology, but also modelling, ecophysiology, genomics and evolution;
• Proactively use the regional research infrastructure, such as small-scale incubators, mid-sized mesocosms and large artificial stream and pond systems or IGB’s LakeLab;
• Interact with stakeholders.

Your profile

• Doctoral degree in biology or ecology, aquatic or environmental sciences, or related fields;
• Strong expertise in experimentally testing the impacts of global change on freshwater ecosystem functioning, community composition or food-web structure with a focus on benthic or planktonic primary producers and/or invertebrates;
• Strong knowledge in aquatic community ecology;
• Experience in experimental design and modern statistical approaches;
• Experience in the taxonomy of at least one group of freshwater primary producers or invertebrates, their genomics and/or ecophysiology would be a plus;
• Strong publication and funding acquisition track record commensurate with career stage;
• Experience of research supervision commensurate with career stage;
• Excellent English language skills for both oral and written communication; learning German for stakeholder interactions is expected;
• Enthusiasm to collaborate in a team of aquatic scientists from diverse backgrounds.