The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.
Background Salt marshes in the Wadden Sea are increasingly threatened by biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, necessitating sustainable management strategies. The project TRICMA² brings together universities and research institutes from the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark to study the impacts of these different stressors on Wadden Sea salt marshes and adjacent habitats. The research team, comprising several PhD students and postdocs, and their supervisors, aims to explore the effects of these stressors on ecological networks, ecological connectivity, and ecosystem functions in the salt marshes of the trilateral Wadden Sea. The project combines a comprehensive field approach representing different biodiversity scenarios with field experiments and mesocosms to manipulate biodiversity, climate, and pollution. Additionally, ecological connectivity will be investigated by assessing movement patterns and habitat use of associated species such as birds. Emphasizing strong stakeholder engagement from sectors such as nature conservation, coastal protection, agriculture, and tourism, the project will integrate stakeholder knowledge and new scientific insights to develop guidelines for the sustainable management of salt marshes.
The topic of this PhD vacancy focuses on the role of the macrobenthic community in Wadden Sea salt marshes. You will be responsible for gathering and processing macrobenthos samples and analyzing the data that will be used 1) to assess community composition and interactions with different organism groups across diverse biodiversity scenarios, 2) tp examine the impacts of experimental manipulations of temperature, flooding, pollution, and the density of non-native common cordgrass (Spartina anglica) on salt marsh ecosystems, and 3) to evaluate ecological connectivity among habitats through i.e. the feeding behavior of benthivorous coastal birds. Additionally, you are expected to engage in social-ecological learning and science-society interactions by attending multi-stakeholder workshops and science-society meetings across the trilateral Wadden Sea.
You will be exposed to the interdisciplinary work environment at the Wadden Sea Station Sylt of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, collaborating closely with companion projects focusing on Wadden Sea salt marshes and contributing to the vibrant network of TRICMA² PhD students and postdocs.
Tasks - Coordinate and collaborate with a diverse international research team
- Sample and quantify macrobenthic communities in the field and during experiments
- Perform data analysis using R or similar programs
- Publish and present research outcomes in peer-reviewed journals, at conferences, and in data repositories.
Requirements - A Master of Science (MSc.) degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences or a related discipline
- Motivation to work in an international, interdisciplinary team
- Willingness to conduct field, lab and experimental work, in salt marshes and adjacent habitats in various regions of the Wadden Sea
- Experience in intertidal environments and knowledge of salt marsh ecosystems, including key plant and invertebrate species, are assets
- Experience with data collection and analysis in both lab and field settings
- Strong organizational skills
- Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written
- Knowledge of Danish, Dutch, or German is advantageous
Additional skills and knowledge - A valid driver’s license is beneficial for this position.
Further Information For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr Andreas Waser (andreas.waser@awi.de; +49(4651)956-4225)
This position is limited to 3 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Sylt.
All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI's postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training