Postdoctoral researcher Theoretical Ecology – Trait Based Metacommunity Modelling

About us

The ICBM is an interdisciplinary research institute for fundamental and applied marine science. The internationally renowned institute seeks to understand the functioning of marine environmental systems through close cooperation among its more than 20 research groups spanning chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematical modelling. 

The position is available in the Mathematical Modelling group of Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius and is part of the DFG - funded research unit DynaCom (Spatial community ecology in highly dynamic landscapes: from island biogeography to metaecosystems).

Your tasks

Join us in developing a unified, trait-based modelling framework that bridges land and sea. You will integrate plant and benthic communities across environmental stress gradients to understand how diversity and community structure emerge at different scales. Your specific goals will include:

• Exploring how sharp ecological boundaries arise within seemingly continuous environmental gradients,
• Extending local community models to include multitrophic interactions, and
• Scaling up from local processes to regional biodiversity patterns, contributing to a trait-based biogeography of coastal gradient systems.

Your models will be parameterized and validated using data from a unique long-term metacommunity experiment near the island of Spiekeroog. 

Your profile

Required is a Master or Diploma (not of a University of Applied Sciences) and a PhD in theoretical ecology, physics, applied mathematics, or a related discipline. Experience in mathematical modelling or theoretical ecology is essential. Familiarity with trait-based ecology or metacommunities is highly desirable. Applicants should be fluent in written and spoken English and show a strong interest in multidisciplinary teamwork.

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.

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