Doctoral candidate (f/m/d)

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains a research station with further locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The DFG-funded Research Training Group “BioMove” links innovative individual research projects that overcome the apparent gap between movement ecology and biodiversity research, employing a joint conceptual framework. It strategically combines empirical, experimental and modelling approaches to advance our mechanistic understanding of how biodiversity patterns emerge and how they feed back on the active and passive movement of organisms (for more details see www. bio-move.org).

Within 11 different projects which cover different groups of organisms (fungi, plankton, plants, insects, birds, animals), ZALF offers a project on the distribution and community composition of phytopathogenic fungi in heterogeneous agricultural landscapes. We are comparing the Fusarium and Alternaria community in different agricultural wheat fields surrounded by heterogeneous or homogeneous landscape elements to assess spatially effective barriers in landscapes. The structure and (dis-)similarity of these fungal communities may be related to the dispersal ability of the individual members of these communities.

We are offering

a part-time position (26 hours per week, 65%)
temporarily limited from October 1st, 2021 to September 30th, 2024

at our location in Müncheberg as

Doctoral candidate (f/m/d)

Your tasks:

• develop the design and sampling strategy and integrate them in the framework of BioMove
• collect data from field experiment measurements and analyse them by different microbiological and molecularbiological lab methods
• improve and expand the field observations by climate chamber studies
• draw consequences for land use management and minimizing fungal plant diseases
• collaborate with the other PhD students and senior researchers in the project
• publish your research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Your qualifications:

• A very good M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in Ecology, Microbiology, Mycology, Plant Pathology, Phytomedicine or related natural sciences. Candidates that have not yet finished their Master thesis can submit a current and informative study record.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is expected: experimental field and laboratory studies, molecular ecology, statistical and analytical skills (preferentially sound knowledge in R)
• Very good English skills
• A strong interest in interdisciplinary research and the willingness to engage in scientific exchange with other disciplines is essential for applicants

We offer:

• An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• Classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L 13, 65%) (including special annual payment). Contracts are time-limited according to the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Law (WissZeitVG).
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Doctoral candidates will also strongly profit from a unique BioMove specific qualification program specifically tailored to bridge between state-of-the-art concepts and methods in movement ecology and biodiversity research, supplemented by a broad range of soft skill workshops.

Detailed information on the application process and the research topic of the project P10 with the specific tasks are available at www.bio-move.org. Candidates are required to indicate up to three preferred projects and explain their motivation for choosing them. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an online or hybrid application symposium on 10. and 11. June in Potsdam.

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. Please send your application stating the registrations number 323/2021-4 in electronic form by May 14, 2021 to the RTG coordination office(biomove-rtg@uni-potsdam.de). Applicants should follow the information and instructions given at www.bio-move.org

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Marina Müller, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-420 or mmueller@zalf.de .

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.

You can find further information at: www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/Pages/Datenschutzerklaerung.aspx