Research Assistant - Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics 24/Wi42

Organisation/Company: University of Greifswald

Department: Human Resources

Research Field: Biological sciences » Botany

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions

Master Positions

Country: Germany

Application Deadline: 15 Oct 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin)

Type of Contract: Permanent

Job Status: Part-time

Hours Per Week: 26

Offer Starting Date: 1 Apr 2025

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Reference Number: 24/Wi42

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

At the Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, working group “Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics”, which is part of the University of Greifswald’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, we have a job vacancy, subject to the allocation of funds, expected to be available beginning 01 April 2025, for a part-time position (65 %) as

Research Assistant.

The fixed-term position is limited to a period of 45 months. Payment will be made in accordance with pay group 13 TV-L Wissenschaft.

We are seeking highly motivated candidates for the establishment of the new Collaborative Research Centre “WETSCAPES2.0”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). WETSCAPES2.0 combines expertise from the University of Greifswald, the University of Rostock, the IGB Berlin, GFZ Potsdam, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, the MPI for Biogeochemistry Jena, and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. WETSCAPES2.0 will focus on the functional understanding of rewetted fens, including coastal peatlands, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The rewetting of previously drained and often agriculturally used fens results in the development of novel ecosystems that differ from natural peatlands and are largely unexplored. The planned monitoring, experimental and modelling research place emphasis on biogeochemical, hydrological and biological processes, focusing on water and matter fluxes within and beyond the peat body and their associated microbiological and biological drivers. In addition to site-level studies, researchers will investigate the role of rewetted fens in the landscape on the whole.

Further details on the overarching research questions, the specific topics for subproject C2, the training programme and the contact persons can be found at http://www.uni-greifswald.de/wetscapes2.

Doctoral researchers will gain insights into multiple aspects of this interdisciplinary project, building comprehensive knowledge of WETSCAPES2.0's research themes and specialised expertise in their chosen topic. The integrated research training group (Graduiertenkolleg) “WETSKILLS” provides structured doctoral training, preparing participants for excellent career opportunities in academia and the industry.

The position is available at the University of Greifswald and will be part of the lab DendroGreif, which belongs to the working group “Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Dynamics”, led by Prof. Martin Wilmking, Ph.D.

• Spatio-temporal assessment of rewetting effects on tree growth on and beyond peatlands
• State-of-the art tree growth monitoring (dendrometers, sapflow sensors, tree cores)
• Assessments of the effect of extreme events, such as droughts and flooding, on forest productivity and C dynamics
• Publication of the obtained results in scientific journals
• The aim is a cumulative doctorate (Ph.D. thesis) on the topic

Required:

• Above-average master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area (e.g. forest sciences, ecology, biology, geography or similar)
• Solid knowledge base in ecology, statistics and R
• Experience in field work, dendroecology or modelling
• Very good to excellent English language skills (B2/C1)
• High motivation to work in an interdisciplinary and international research and training environment
• Good communication and organisational skills
• Driving licence

This vacancy is open to all persons, irrespective of gender. Severely disabled applicants with the same qualifications will be considered with preference.

In accordance with § 68(3) PersVG M-V, the Staff Council will only be involved in staff matters of the academic or artistic staff on request.

Unfortunately, application costs (e.g. travel expenses for interviews) will not be reimbursed by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Please note that by submitting your application, you provide your consent pursuant to data protection law for our processing of your application data. Further information about the legal bases and the use of your data can be found here.

Applications comprising all usual documents must be sent with reference to the job advertisement number 24/Wi42 by 15 January 2025, preferably via email (one PDF file), to:

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology

Country: Germany

City: Greifswald

Postal Code: 17489

Street: Soldmannstraße 15