PhD student position AI-Powered Bioindicators for Arctic Marine Ecosystem Health

The Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg invites applications for a

PhD student position (m/f/d)
AI-Powered Bioindicators for Arctic Marine Ecosystem Health 

Salary according to E13 TV-L, 75% 

starting from January 2025 for a period of 3 years.

ICBM is an interdisciplinary research institute for fundamental and applied marine research. The internationally renowned institute aims at understanding the function of marine environmental systems through close cooperation of the various scientific disciplines (chemistry, biology, physics, mathematical modelling) of its more than 20 research groups. 

The position is available in the Mathematical Modelling group of Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius at the ICBM and is part of the BMBF-funded project INDIFUN-AI, a cooperation between ICBM, the University of Bremen, as well as the Helmholtz centres GEOMAR and AWI to integrate observational plankton data with experimental data on the functional characteristics of key marine plankton taxa.

Your tasks: The project aims to develop innovative bioindicators for monitoring and assessment of biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems, with a special focus on the functional diversity of plankton communities. Utilizing comprehensive datasets from the Arctic's pelagic zones, you will apply advanced data-science methods to reconstruct species’ functional traits and assess biodiversity dynamics. Your research will centre on understanding temporal changes and turnover in functional biodiversity, investigating the impact of environmental drivers, and designing AI-powered bioindicators capable of providing early detection of ecosystem changes.

Requirements: Master or Diploma (not of a University of Applied Sciences) in theoretical ecology, physics, applied mathematics, data science or a related field. Experience in mathematical modelling, time series analysis, or machine learning is essential. Familiarity with basic ecological concepts, marine ecology, especially plankton ecology, is highly desirable. Applicants should be fluent in written and spoken English and show a strong interest in multidisciplinary teamwork.

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increasing the percentage of women in science. Therefore, female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. In accordance with Lower Saxony legal regulations (NHG § 21), equally qualified female candidates will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities will be employed preferentially if equally qualified.

Contact:

For further information regarding this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius (bernd.blasius@uol.de).