PostDoc: Biodiversity of dynamic ecosystems

Berchtesgaden National Park is Germany's only national park in the Alps. It offers unique opportunities for research on mountain landscapes and their natural dynamics. Particularly relevant research topics include species conservation, ecosystem dynamics, long-term ecological monitoring across trophic levels, and learning from protected areas for ecosystem management. Research and monitoring in Berchtesgaden National Park is led by Prof. Rupert Seidl, Chair of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management in Mountain Landscapes at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). In cooperation between the Berchtesgaden National Park and TUM the following position is available:

Scientific Assistant with PhD (PostDoc) (m/f/d) in the field of biodiversity of dynamic ecosystems, full-time, available immediately until filled.

Your tasks

You will conduct research on the effects of climate change on biodiversity, with a focus on arthropods, plants or fungi. You will analyse existing data on these topics and coordinate respective monitoring programs running at Berchtesgaden National Park.

Specifically, task include:

- Investigation of climate change effects on mountain ecosystems with a special focus on trophic interactions between species groups
- Analysis of existing long-term monitoring data on individual species groups.
- Grant acquisition, management and implementation of projects on biodiversity in dynamically changing ecosystems
- Support and further development of existing monitoring concepts for long-term monitoring of different species groups using new technologies (e.g. automated evaluation of photo traps or acoustic sensors using machine learning; use of DNA sequencing)
- Contribution to evidence-based protected area management
- Supervision of students (e.g., in the context of university theses)
- Teaching BSc and MSc students at TUM (Weihenstephan campus and Berchtesgaden National Park)
- Publication of scientific papers in international journals
- Active participation in national and international collaborative projects and research networks
- Science communication of research findings

Your profile

- Completed, outstanding PhD in the field of ecology, entomology, botany, mycology, or related fields
- International publication activity
- Very good communication skills, also in the context of politically and socially sensitive topics
- Ability to work in a team
- Experience in managing and conducting research projects is desirable
- Experience in managing staff is desirable
- German language skills are desirable (communication with local stakeholders)
- Driving license category B is desirable

Our offer

- Participation in shaping research in Germany's only National Park in the Alps
- Opportunity to develop your own research agenda in a motivated, interdisciplinary team with a large
international network
- University teaching at the Technical University of Munich, possibility of Habilitation (expected for the track
as civil servant)
- Full-time position (temporary) according to remuneration group TV-L E13 or, if the requirements for
appointment are fulfilled, as “Akademischer Rat” (A13 a.Z.) in a temporary civil service relationship for an
initial period of three years
- The place of employment is the National Park Administration in Berchtesgaden
- Severely handicapped persons will be given preference in case of essentially equal qualification
- The TUM aims to increase the proportion of women in its staff; applications from women are therefore
expressly welcomed 

Contact

Please send your application with relevant documents by 03.03.2023 at the latest to: 

Technical University of Munich
Chair of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management in Mountain Landscapes 
attn. Violeta Aramayo
Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
85354 Freising
Email: violeta.aramayo@tum.de

For technical questions about the position, please contact Prof. Rupert Seidl, rupert.seidl@tum.de. In case of an online application (preferred) we ask you to send the documents collected in a single pdf file. In case of a written application, we ask you to send us copies only, as we are unfortunately unable to return your application documents once the procedure has been completed.

As part of your application for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will be submitting personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung/ regarding the collection and processing of personal data as part of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of TUM's data protection information.