The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), in Bremerhaven, is a member of the Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren.
PhD students, within the BMBF/EU Project MarinERA
MarinERA (MarinERA) is a project funded by the ERA-Net Scheme of the EU FP6 (2004-2008). It is a partnership of the leading Marine RTD Funding Organisations in 13 European Member States (coordinated by IFREMER and managed by the Marine Board -ESF). The MarinERA project main objectives are to:
• Map European marine RTD programmes and specialised infrastructures, facilitating the creation of an internal market and quantifying the existing European marine research capacity.
• Facilitate the networking of Marine RTD funding agencies in the European Union, leading to a more cost effective and efficient use of Member State resources.
• Contribute to the development of a European marine research policy, by identifying future scientific challenges.
• Provide a basis for the sharing of available resources to address priority issues which are beyond the capacities of individual Member States.
Within this project, the division of Biosciences at the Alfred-Wegener-Institut for Polar- and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven, Member of the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (HGF) is looking for two highly motivated
Ph.D. students (13/2 TVöD).
The positions are based in the Department Shelf Seas Systems Ecology at the Biological Station Helgoland on the Island of Helgoland (North Sea). The station provides excellent facilities for marine field- and laboratory research. We offer a highly dynamic working environment.
Position 1: Code 28/Bio-H
Background: The projects aims to analyse the impact of climate change on the adaptability and changes in the feeding behaviour of littoral fish populations at their northern and southern distribution limits (cold- and warm-adapted species). The climate-related distribution and adaptation patterns of fish key species in the littoral zones along the costs of Western Europe will be assessed Within the part project „Trophic Ecology“ changes in the trophic levels, the niche width and their adaptability to potential changes in prey spectra in relation to climate warming should be analysed along latitudinal gradients. The project will include extensive field studies as well as laboratory experiments on the adaptive potential of fish species and changes in the metabolic pathways under elevated temperature conditions.
Tasks: Within this project extensive field studies on the trophic ecology of key fish species along latitudinal gradients should be carried out (Western European shoreline from Portugal to Norway). In addition, laboratory experiments with different littoral fish species from different origin will be conducted. Based on stable isotope and fatty acid analyses the trophic position and the niche width of key fish species will be analysed. In addition, laboratory experiments will be conducted in order to analyse changes in fatty acid metabolisms and stable isotope fractionation under elevated temperature regimes.
Requirements: A profound knowledge in experimental ecology and fish taxonomy is required. Successful candidates have a diploma or master degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, marine science or fisheries science. We expect a strong interest in general ecological questions and great enthusiasm for scientific work. We also expect some experience in carrying out and analyzing ecological experiments including general statistics. Fluency in English is a must.
Request for more information should be addressed to: Dr. Nicole Aberle-Malzahn (Nicole.Aberle-Malzahn@awi.de; +49 4725 8193236) or Dr. Arne Malzahn (Arne.Malzahn@awi.de; +49 4725 8193236)
Position 2: Code 29/Bio-H
Background: The ecosystem North Sea has undergone severe change in the last decades, but we still know fairly little on the effect of global and regional change on the pelagic component of the ecosystem. Changes in the phytoplankton and the zooplankton at the base of the food web might have strong consequences for production of higher trophic levels. This project aims to elucidate the changes in interactions that have taken place in the pelagic ecosystem of the North Sea. To this end, several long-time series will be combined and analysed.
Tasks: Within this project the first task will be to collect the data available for the North Sea and store them in a common format and database. Some of these data will need to be quality controlled, before they can be used for analysis. Using state-of-the-art analytical techniques the successful candidate will then concentrate on the changes that have taken place in the phytoplankton-zooplankton interface.
Requirements: Successful candidates have a diploma or master degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, marine science or statistics. We require a strong background in the quantitative analysis of complex interactions. We further expect a strong interest in general ecological questions and great enthusiasm for scientific work. Fluency in English is a must.
Requests for more information should be addressed to: Prof. Dr. Maarten Boersma (maarten.boersma@awi.de; +49 4725 8193350) or Dr. Arne Malzahn (Arne.Malzahn@awi.de; +49 4725 8193236)
For both positions:
The positions are open from May 1st 2009, restricted to 3 years and should lead to a successful dissertation.
Severely disabled applicants with essentially identical technical and personal suitability will be preferentially selected, please see our notification on our homepage under job offers/jobs.
AWI supports balanced work-life career development via a variety of alternatives.
Applications, including the usual documents, by April 10th 2009 under reference number to: Alfred-Wegener-Institut for Polar- and Marine Research, Personal Department, Postfach 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven (http://www.awi.de).
