Postdoc in Ecology & Conservation of Salt Marshes

Job description

Facing the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, Wadden Sea salt marshes are under increasing pressure. Sustainable management scenarios are urgently needed to strengthen their role for safeguarding the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Wadden Sea. In this project TRICMA², we combine a well-designed field approach representing ‘biodiversity scenarios’ with field experiments and mesocosms, where climate, biodiversity, and pollution are manipulated. Ecological connectivity is investigated by studying movement patterns and habitat use of birds. TRICMA² includes a strong societal component by including stakeholders from several socio-economic sectors, including nature conservation, coastal protection, agriculture, and tourism. This project is a collaboration between Dutch, German and Danish research institutes, among which: University of Hamburg, University of Munster, Kiel University, Alfred Wegner Institute, University of Groningen and Deltares/Delft University of Technology, and of four well connected Workpackages (WP’s): a) Social-Ecological Learning & Science-Society Interactions (WP1), b) Ecological Networks (WP2), c) Ecological Connectivity (WP3), and d) Ecosystem Functioning. This position belongs to WP2.

The main objective of WP2 is to assess how the triple crisis affects ecological networks in Wadden Sea salt marshes and adjacent habitats. We will use a combination of descriptive and experimental approaches in shared salt marsh sites in all regions (DK, GER-SH, GER-LS, NL). WP2 tasks include: i) determination of community composition of microbes, benthos/soil fauna, plants, birds, ii) assessment of species interactions (spatial species associations microbes-plants), feeding behaviour (benthos/soil fauna-birds; bird faecal sampling (eDNA), iii) assessment of environmental conditions (hydrodynamics, micro-topography, micro-climate, soils, iv) manipulation of single and combined pressures, e.g. flooding frequency (mimicking SLR), pollution (nutrient loads), and increased temperatures to study impacts on networks (benthos/soil fauna, microbes, plants), v) assessing impact of different warming scenarios (1.5°C and 3°C), hydrodynamics and density of non-native Spartina anglica on benthos/soil fauna, microbes, plants, vi) multifactor lab experiments, studying impacts of single and combined pressures on plant / benthic communities, interactions and performance, vii) long-term manipulation management regimes (small & large herbivore grazing/mowing/abandonment) assessing feedbacks between grazing, soil fauna, microbial, and plant communities under different environmental conditions (elevational gradient, affecting flooding frequency).

Organisation

Founded in 1614, the University of Groningen enjoys an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative institution of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 35,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. As one of the best research universities in Europe, the University of Groningen has joined forces with other top universities and networks worldwide to become a truly global centre of knowledge. Within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, a 42 months (0.8 FTE) postdoc position is available at the Conservation Ecology Group of the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), in the research group of Prof. C. Smit.

Qualifications

The Postdoc is expected to contribute to the organization of the project in terms of field-work coordination (3 parallel PhD positions), organization of meetings, communication between project partners and stakeholders, and to the analysis and writing of the shared output. For the Postdoc position, we are looking for a motivated candidate with a PhD degree in the field(s) of ecology or equivalent, and with a strong background and interest in conservation. The ideal candidate is able to work independently, and has proven experience with managing running field experiments, statistical data analyses, and scientific writing. Knowledge of the study system (salt marshes) is beneficial. Good proficiency of the English language is required. Also, good organizational and communication skills are required for this position. The candidate will be based in the group of Prof. C. Smit, for a period of 42 months (0.8 FTE). The candidate is expected to start before 1 November 2024 (preferably 1 Sept or 1 Oct 2024).

Organisation

Conditions of employment

The University of Groningen offers, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities

• a salary of € 3,877 gross per month (scale 10, step 4) in the first year to a maximum of € 4,185 gross per month (scale 10, step 6) (salary scale Dutch Universities), based on a full-time position (1.0 FTE) depending of relevant work experience after attaining PhD (the position is 0.8 FTE)
• a gross holiday allowance of 8%
• a gross 8.3% year-end bonus
• a position for a period of 42 months.