Stellenangebote / Job offers

Understanding and modeling the response of marine plankton to natural or anthropogenic changes defines a key research challenge. The position is expected to investigate dominant dependencies of plankton food-webs and related biogeochemical cycling on multiple external drivers and how these dependencies are mediated by adaptive processes in plankton populations or communities. The envisaged research will make use of observed anomalies in physical and ecological states and will pinpoint key system dependencies of coastal plankton on stressors by means of numerical experiments. The PostDoc will run 3D simulations of the coastal oceans using a modular data and model system (MOSSCO/GCOAST) including a trait-based plankton model and a hydrodynamic model with an unstructured grid (SCHISM). The study aims at generating insights on the response of coastal-marine ecosystems to major anthropogenic stressors such as changes in eutrophication or construction of offshore windfarms.

Applicants with a degree in environmental or related sciences and a more specific background in modelling, oceanography, and ecology or biogeochemistry are encouraged to apply. The candidate should demonstrate programming experience (e.g., Fortran at Linux/Unix) and strong writing skills.

==> Closing date for applications is December 16th, 2018

==> Further details for this job offer code-no.2018/KS13

Understanding and modeling the response of marine plankton to natural or anthropogenic changes defines a key research challenge. The PhD project is expected to investigate dominant dependencies of plankton food-webs and related biogeochemical cycling on multiple external drivers. One idea of the envisaged research is to make use of observed anomalies in physical and ecological states to pinpoint key system dependencies of coastal plankton on stressors by means of numerical experiments. The PhD student will use a model to reconstruct observed stressor responses and unravel how these dependencies are mediated by adaptive processes and system feed-backs. The study aims at generating scenarios for the response of coastal ecosystems to major anthropogenic stressors such as changes in eutrophication or construction of offshore windfarms.

Applicants with a degree in environmental, physical, or related sciences and a background in modelling and biology are encouraged to apply. The candidate should demonstrate programming experience (e.g., Matlab or Fortran at Linux/Unix) and strong writing skills. She/ He will benefit from related graduate activities and programs in Geesthacht and at the Universities of Hamburg and Kiel.