Scientific Position - Biodiversity Tipping Points and Ecosystem Resilience

Scientific Position - Biodiversity Tipping Points and Ecosystem Resilience

(PhD or Postdoctoral Level)

PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Potsdam, Germany

Background

The project The Role of the Ocean in Earth System Stability investigates how ocean heat and carbon uptake, circulation changes, and biosphere feedbacks may push the Earth system toward critical thresholds. Within this project, work package 1 focuses on the resilience of the marine sinks of heat and carbon, using Earth system and biogeochemical models, observational data, and scenario analysis to identify early-warning signals and tipping points relevant to the Planetary Boundaries framework. Complementing this, work package 2 addresses marine biodiversity, ecosystem health, and biosphere functioning by developing and testing indicators of ecosystem resilience and systemic risk, linking biological change to Earth system stability.

This position is one of several scientific positions within the project and will be embedded in a closely collaborating interdisciplinary team. Please keep your eyes open for related positions advertised in parallel to this one. If you see yourself to be qualified for more than one of them, please re-submit your application for each of the openings separately.

Key responsibilities

• conduct regional case studies on biodiversity resilience, degradation, and tipping dynamics;
• analyse large biodiversity, environmental, and pressure datasets (regional to global scale);
• contribute to the identification of vulnerable ecosystems and potential recovery pathways;
• support the development and testing of biodiversity indicators relevant to Earth system stability;
• contribute regional insights to project-wide synthesis activities and the Planetary Health Check;
• engage with science communication and outreach activities related to biodiversity and ocean resilience;
• Postdoctoral level: Provide scientific guidance within work package 2 and potentially co-supervise a PhD student;
• PhD level: Develop a focused doctoral project embedded within work package 2.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or PhD in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, marine Sciences or a related field;
• Ability to work with complex ecological or environmental datasets;
• Experience with data analysis is expected; familiarity with scientific programming environments (e.g. Python, R, or similar) is highly desirable;
• Interest in policy-relevant science and sustainability frameworks;
• Strong motivation to collaborate across disciplines.

PhD level:

• Strong interest in biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and Earth system science;
• Experience working with ecological or environmental datasets;
• Marine background desirable but not required.

Postdoctoral level:

• Experience with regional biodiversity assessments and quantitative analysis;
• Ability to link empirical results to broader Earth system or policy-relevant frameworks.

We expect

• the ability to work independently and on your own initiative;
• a methodical and systematic approach;
• structured and goal-oriented thinking;
• capacity to familiarise yourself quickly with new topics;
• creativity and openness to new approaches;
• a high level of competence in oral and written English;
• reliability, engagement, and a high level of motivation;
• capacity for teamwork.