Jobs for Scientists

On this page you find all open job positions at Senckenberg for scientists.

You may apply via mail or by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.

Jobs in Frankfurt

Ref. #11-24006 Scientific Coordination of the Senckenberg Synthesis and Solutions Labs (m/f/d) 

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the most important research institutions in the field of biodiversity. At its 13 locations throughout Germany, scientists from more than 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale. The Society’s headquarter is in the Main metropolis of Frankfurt in the heart of Germany. This is also where one of the best-known Senckenberg facilities, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, is located. The Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F) explores the interactions between biodiversity, climate, and society.

The Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre at the location in Frankfurt am Main is seeking to fill the following position as soon as possible.

Scientific Coordination of the Senckenberg Synthesis and Solutions Labs (m/f/d)

(Full-time / Part-time possible)

How can insect diversity be promoted? Which tree species belong in the “forest of the future”? What is needed for a conflict-free coexistence between humans and wolves? Answers to these and similar questions are to be developed in the future in so-called Solutions Labs. With a major programmatic expansion, Senckenberg, in collaboration with the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), is establishing inter- and transdisciplinary Synthesis and Solutions Labs (short: Solutions Labs). The Solutions Labs act as “interface hubs” between science and society. A wide range of actors—from science, politics, and business to the general public—come together to jointly develop action options for the protection and promotion of biodiversity. The scientific management of the Solutions Labs, together with its team, fosters transdisciplinary collaboration in knowledge generation between scientific and societal actors (co-design, co-production, co-dissemination).

Your tasks

  • Management, scientific conception, and coordination of the Solutions Labs
  • Establishment of working methods and impact mechanisms of the Solutions Labs
  • Internal consulting at Senckenberg regarding requirements, implementation paths, and expectations for emerging and ongoing Solutions Labs
  • Evaluation and monitoring of Solutions Labs activities
  • Networking with comparable national and international actors
  • Supporting professional and public dissemination through various channels (publications, social media)
  • Acquisition of third-party funding
  • Budget monitoring

Your profile

  • An academic degree (PhD or several years of professional experience in a research-related environment) with a focus on biodiversity-related topics (natural or social sciences)
  • Skills in networking science with actors from politics, administration, associations, businesses, and intermediaries – ideally in a national and international context
  • Experience in science management (particularly in coordination and communication, budget responsibility, acquisition of funding, organizational development)
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a structured manner
  • The ability to quickly familiarize yourself with the diverse topics of the specific Solutions Labs
  • Language proficiency in German and English

Additionally desired:

  • Proven scientific expertise in a relevant field
  • Experience in team leadership and personnel management
  • International experience, preferably in the Global South

What is awaiting you?

  • An attractive and challenging position in a motivated interdisciplinary context at Senckenberg, with personnel responsibility for the operational team of the Solutions Labs (2 postdocs, 1 assistant)
  • The opportunity to contribute scientifically to the Solutions Labs yourself
  • Independent work in an international and professional environment
  • Flexible working hours – leave of absence due to family reasons (audit “berufundfamilie”) – parent-child-office – annual special payment – company pension scheme – Senckenberg badge for free entry in museums in Frankfurt – leave of 30 days/year.

Place of employment:          Frankfurt
Working hours:                     Full-time (40 hrs/week); Part time close to full-time possible
Type of contract:                  Initially limited to two years; a permanent position is intended
Salary:                                   According to the collective agreement of the State of Hesse
                                                (TV-H E 13 or 14), depending on qualifications

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

You would like to apply?

Then please send us your complete and informative/significant application documents (cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae, certificates and references/CV, training and work references, letter of motivation) in electronic form (as one PDF file) by 01.12.2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de, quoting the reference number #11-24006, or apply directly on our homepage using the online application form.

E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

For more information please contac
Mr. Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller (thomas.mueller@senckenberg.de)
or Mrs. Dr. Kerstin Höntsch (kerstin.hoentsch@senckenberg.de).

www.senckenberg.de.

Ref. #12-24013 ERC-funded Postdoc Position in Comparative Genomics

ERC-funded Postdoc Position in Comparative Genomics

(full time / part-time options available)

The Hiller Lab at the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG) in Frankfurt, Germany has an opening for a Postdoc to work on our BATPROTECT project to investigate the genomic basis of long healthspans, disease resistance, and viral tolerance in bats.

BATPROTECT

is a 6-year funded ERC synergy grant project that will use bats as natural models of healthy aging and disease tolerance to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind bats’ exceptional longevity and resistance to viral and age-related diseases. BATPROTECT brings together a team of global leaders in bat biology and ageing (Emma Teeling, Dublin), bat immunology and virology (Linfa Wang, Singapore), evolution and genomics (Michael Hiller, Frankfurt), and ageing model organisms (Bjoern Schumacher, Cologne) that will jointly investigate aging and immune responses in bats from the wild and captive colonies, discover genes with evolutionary importance for longevity and disease resistance, and functionally validate longevity and immune regulators in stem and differentiated cells of bats and model organisms, with the ultimate goal to uncover new directions to improve human healthspan and disease outcome.

The Project

Our goal is to uncover the genomic basis of exceptional healthspans and disease tolerance in bats, understand the evolution of these traits, and identify key molecular targets for functional validation. To this end, we are generating ~150 new reference-quality bat genomes and transcriptomic datasets, and will analyze these data using our established methods repertoire (TOGA and others). Work includes comparative genomic screens to identify key adaptations in coding and non-coding genes as well as differences in gene expression patterns across the bat phylogeny, associating genomic and transcriptomics changes with longevity and viral reservoir traits, identifying novel bat genes, and investigating the evolutionary history of endogenized viral elements.

The postdoc will work closely with other members of the BATPROTECT team, the Hiller lab, and other Bat1K collaborators. We also offer exchanges with the other BATPROTECT labs and yearly retreats with all project members.

Your profile

  • PhD degree in genomics, bioinformatics/computational biology, or a related area
  • Research experience in comparative genomics
  • Excellent programming skills in a Linux environment, experience with shell scripts and Unix tools

 Our lab

The mission of our lab is to understand how nature’s fascinating phenotypic diversity has evolved and how it is encoded in the genome. Work in the lab includes sequencing and assembly of reference-quality genomes, genome alignment and gene annotation, development and application of comparative genomic methods to discover differences in genes and gene expression, and the use of statistical approaches to link phenotypic to genomic changes.

Our lab is part of TBG (https://tbg.senckenberg.de/) and the Senckenberg Research Society (https://www.senckenberg.de/en/), and is based near the city center of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. TBG provides access to cutting-edge computational (large HPC clusters, genome browser) and lab infrastructure to sequence and analyze genomes. English is the working language in our lab.

Senckenberg and TBG provide

  • Flexible working hours – opportunities for mobile working – leave of absence due to family reasons (certified by “auditberufundfamilie”) – parent-child office – annual special payment – company pension scheme – Senckenberg badge for free entry in museums in Frankfurt. – leave of 30 days/year
  • Frankfurt is a vibrant and highly international city at the heart of Europe that combines a skyscraper skyline with ample parks and green areas. The Economist 2022 index ranked Frankfurt among the top 10 most livable cities worldwide.

Place of employment:           Frankfurt am Main

Working hours:                     Full-time (40 hours/week) / part-time options are available

Type of contract:                   initially limited for 2 years; funding is available for 6 years

Start date:                              flexible, but ideally until early 2025

Salary and benefits:             according to the collective agreement of the State of Hesse (TV-H),  pay grade E13

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. LOEWE-TBG is a joint venture of Senckenberg with five partner institutes from the Federal State of Hesse, aiming to intensify biodiversity genomics in basic and applied research. We establish a new and taxonomically broad genome collection to study genomic and functional diversity across the tree of life and make genomic resources accessible for societal demand driven applied research.

How to apply

Please send us your application documents, as a single pdf, containing

  • a CV with a publication list and contact information for at least two references
  • a summary of previous research experience (max 1 page)
  • and copies of certificates, transcripts and grades

in electronic form by November 15th, 2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de quoting the reference number #12-24013, or apply through the online application form on our homepage.

For more information about the lab and the project, please contact

Prof. Dr. Michael Hiller (michael.hiller@senckenberg.de) or visit the lab webpage https://tbg.senckenberg.de/hillerlab/.

An overview of our publications is available here: https://tbg.senckenberg.de/hillerlab/publications/.

For more information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, please visit http://www.senckenberg.de.

 

Ref. #12-24001-1 ERC-funded Bioinformatician Position

ERC-funded Bioinformatician Position

The Hiller Lab at the LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG) in Frankfurt, Germany is looking for a Bioinformatician to work on the BATPROTECT project to investigate the genomic basis of long healthspans, disease resistance and viral tolerance in bats.

BATPROTECT

is a 6-year funded ERC synergy grant project that will use bats as natural models of healthy aging and disease tolerance to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind bat’s exceptional longevity and resistance to viral and age-related diseases. BATPROTECT brings together a team of global leaders in bat biology and ageing (Emma Teeling, Dublin), bat immunology and virology (Linfa Wang, Singapore), evolution and genomics (Michael Hiller, Frankfurt), and ageing model organisms (Bjoern Schumacher, Cologne) that will jointly investigate aging and immune responses in bats from the wild and captive colonies, discover genes with evolutionary importance for longevity and disease resistance, and functionally validate longevity and immune regulators in stem and differentiated cells of bats and model organisms, with the ultimate goal to uncover new directions to improve human healthspan and disease outcome.

The Project

The Bioinformatician will assemble reference-quality genomes of bat species, for which we are currently generating PacBio HiFi and HiC data. For a few focal species, we will also generate a complete T2T assembly. The Bioinformatician will also analyze transcriptomics data that we are sequencing in parallel for all target bat species, use this data and our homology-based methods (TOGA) to annotate the new genomes, generate whole genome alignments of bats and other mammals, and support the BATPROTECT project.

The Bioinformatician will work closely with other Bioinformaticians at TBG, other members of the BATPROTECT team, and the Hiller lab. We offer exchanges with the other BATPROTECT labs and yearly retreats with all project members.

Our lab

The mission of our group is to understand how nature’s fascinating phenotypic diversity has evolved and how it is encoded in the genome. Work in the lab includes sequencing and assembly of reference-quality genomes, genome alignment and gene annotation, development and application of comparative genomic methods to discover differences in genes and gene expression, and the use of statistical approaches to link phenotypic to genomic changes.

Our lab is part of TBG (https://tbg.senckenberg.de/) and Senckenberg Research Society, and is based near the city center of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. TBG provides access to cutting-edge computational (large HPC clusters, genome browser) and lab infrastructure to sequence genomes. English is the working language in our lab. Senckenberg and TBG provide flexible working hours, an annual special payment, a company pension scheme, the Senckenberg badge for free entry in museums, the zoo, botanical garden and Palmengarten, and a leave of 30 days per year. Frankfurt is a vibrant and highly-international city at the heart of Europe that combines a skyscraper skyline with ample park and green areas. The Economist 2022 index ranked Frankfurt among the top 10 most livable cities worldwide.

Your profile

  • A Master-level degree in bioinformatics / computational biology, genomics or a related area. A PhD degree is an advantage, but not required.
  • Experience in genome assembly, and ideally curating assemblies based on HiC maps.
  • Excellent programming skills in a Linux environment as well as experience with shell scripting and Unix tools.

Place of employment:           Frankfurt am Main
Working hours:                       Full time (40 hours/week) / part-time options are available
Type of contract:                     Limited for 2 years; an extension is planned
Start date:                                 Flexible, but ideally until early 2025.
Salary and benefits:              According to the collective agreement of the State of Hesse
                                                      (pay grade E13 100%)

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

How to apply

Please send us your application documents, as a single pdf, containing

  • a CV with publication list and contact information for at least two references
  • a summary of previous research experience (max 1 page)
  • and copies of certificates, transcripts and grades

in electronic form by November 22, 2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de quoting the reference number #12-24001-1, or apply through the online application form on our homepage.

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt a.M.
E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

For more information please contact Prof. Dr. Michael Hiller, michael.hiller@senckenberg.de or visit the lab webpage https://tbg.senckenberg.de/hillerlab/. For more information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, please visit www.senckenberg.de.

#01-24046 Research Associate in the project “Secret Service” (m/f/d)

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the most important research institutions around biological diversity. At its twelve sites throughout Germany, scientists from over 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale. The institution’s headquarter is in the Main metropolis of Frankfurt in the heart of Germany. This is also where one of Senckenberg’s best-known facilities, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, is located.

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, with its headquarter in Frankfurt am Main, is seeking to fill the position of

 

Research Associate in the project Secret Service – Women in Natural Science (m/f/d)

(full-time / part-time options available)

as soon as possible.

 

Do you have a passion for historic documents? Would you like to help illuminate the “lost” contributions of women in the history of science? The Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum is seeking a researcher with experience working with historic documents to investigate the history of women’s contributions to science and supporting activities across more than 200 years of activities at several Senckenberg locations.

“Secret Service” is a project funded by the BMBF (German Federal Ministry for Education and Research) under a special programme on women in science; our work will reveal the contributions of women in science, and critically examine the ways in which they have often been ignored by history. The Senckenberg Gesellschaft was founded over 200 years ago in Frankfurt, but now spans 12 sites in 7 German states including three museums (in Frankfurt, Dresden, and Görlitz). We will use Senckenberg history and archives as a case study to explore, uncover, and elevate the lost stories of women that shaped this institution. The project depends on a strong partnership and shared enthusiasm for this topic between Senckenberg and the History of Science Department at the Goethe University Frankfurt, as well as relevant archives.

We aim to compile profiles of over 50 women from the history of Senckenberg (also drawing on the 30 current female senior scientists and additional female technicians and female staff). These profiles and additional historical information will form the basis of digital and/or physical museum exhibits. The project also includes scholarly research in history of science in collaboration with historians from Goethe University, that will inform the exhibit and other outputs. This is an ambitious project that could be a role model for other projects for women and science and diversity and inclusion in research. “Secret Service” will reach a broad audience, public facing outputs in multiple German states with future possibility to mobilise our modular exhibit to new additional venues. Our aspiration is to use the unique position of Senckenberg as a research institute with a long history and a large public profile to increase visibility of women in science from history and today.

 

Your tasks:

  • The project scientist will work independently, in consultation with the project advisory board and other colleagues from across the institute, former staff, and other collaborators. The project researcher will first develop a “long list” of candidate profiles from past and present Senckenbergers, and then lead the investigation to draw up concise histories and engaging profiles of 50-80 women that cover different Senckenberg sites and time periods. Finally, during this project, the researcher will collaborate with the Museum team to develop public exhibition materials, with creative presentation in physical and digital media. You will also be responsible for supporting volunteers, interns and students contributing to the project.

 

Required skills:

  • Masters or PhD in a relevant field
  • fluency in both English and German
  • training or experience in archive-based research
  • experience in research relevant to the study of history of science

 

Desirable skills:

  • training or experience in collecting oral history
  • formal qualification in history of science
  • experience or interest in gender studies
  • International experience in teaching or research, and a strong interest in interdisciplinary topics are desirable

 

What to expect:

  • An interesting and challenging task in a dynamic and stimulating team in the diverse Senckenberg project team
  • The opportunity to be at the forefront of a new movement with scientists, and communicators dedicated to explore, protect and inspire awe for biodiversity
  • Excellent benefits and work/life balance: Flexible working hours – dual career service – leave of absence due to family reasons – parent-child-office – annual bonus payment – company pension scheme – Senckenberg badge for free entry in museums in Frankfurt – 30 days annual leave

 

Place of employment:       Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Working hours:                  Full time (40 hours/week) / Part time options are available

Type of contract:                 Limited for the duration of the project until 31 October 2027

Salary:                                     According to the German collective agreement TV-H (pay grade E 13) depending on your qualifications and previous experience.

 

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position and will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

You would like to apply?

Please submit:

  • a motivation letter addressing your fit to the advertised position as described above,
  • a CV, including details of your relevant experience
  • please combine these two documents into a single pdf file. Submit it via email, with the reference of this job offer ( #01-24046) in the subject line before November 10, 2024 by e-mail to: recruiting@senckenberg.de or use the online form on our website

 

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt a.M.

E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

 

For more information, please contact the project PI: Prof. Dr Julia Sigwart ( julia.sigwart@senckenberg.de).

For further information on Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, please visit our website www.senckenberg.de.

 

Ref. #11-24008 Data Scientist in Ecological Statistics and Modelling (m/f/d)

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Senckenberg conducts biodiversity and Earth System research with more than 800 employees and research institutions and research museums in seven federal states. As part of our strategic development, we launched an ambitious long-term research program to address “Anthropocene Biodiversity Loss”. As part of this program, the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F) invites applications for a 

Data Scientist in Ecological Statistics and Modelling

(tenure-track, full time / part time options available)

SBiK-F investigates the interactions and feedbacks between biodiversity and climate in the past, present and future. In our research, we integrate approaches from biosciences and geosciences and combine data from natural history collections with empirical research and modeling in ecological, evolutionary and ecosystem sciences. A core, innovative element of our research program is the development of cutting-edge numerical methods for the analyses of collection-based, organismal trait data to gain a functional understanding of the consequences of biodiversity loss.

 Your tasks

  • Conduct internationally outstanding trait-based research with plants and/or animals, ideally also addressing ecosystem-level processes
  • Develop cutting-edge concepts and methods for the analyses and modelling of trait data
  • Contribute to a mechanistic understanding of how climate and other environmental drivers shape biodiversity
  • Contribute to establishing digital collections as a hub for trait-based research globally
  • Publish results of your research in prestigious, international scientific journals
  • Secure external third-party funding
  • Contribute to the supervision of early-career researchers
  • Provide support and training on novel statistical and machine learning/AI approaches to Senckenberg scientists

 Your profile

Essential criteria

  • Doctoral degree in biology, bioinformatics, environmental or geosciences, or a related field
  • Excellent knowledge in cutting-edge statistical methods, e.g., Bayesian statistics and/or mechanistic/process-based ecological modelling
  • Experience in the application of machine learning/AI
  • Expertise working with functional traits of different taxa (e.g., plants and animals) and/or with trait-based ecosystem models
  • Outstanding publication record and an internationally visible research profile given the career stage, e.g., related to one or several of these subject areas: functional ecology, global change biology, paleoecology, or evolutionary ecology
  • Strong interest in biodiversity research in relation to climate change
  • Willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams across the different Senckenberg institutes
  • Fluency in spoken and written English
  • Proven success in obtaining third-party funding given the career stage

Additional desirable criteria

  • Curiosity to identify mechanisms linking different levels of biological organization (e.g., from genes to traits to ecosystems)
  • Teaching and supervision experience

What can you expect?

  • A vibrant, international team of scientists focused on curiosity-driven research to understand and protect Earth’s biodiversity
    Excellent infrastructures and collaboration opportunities, e.g., in ecology, ecosystem sciences, global change biology, molecular ecology and genomics
  • An attractive and challenging position in a research institution of international standing
    Opportunities to participate in teaching and outreach activities, e.g., in our museum and with collaborating universities
  • A salary that reflects the responsibilities of the position and the experience of the candidate, based on the collective agreement for public service in the state of Hesse
    Life in a vibrant, internationally-minded city (population 750.000), a global hub for transport and culture
  • Flexible working hours – mobile office – annual special payment – company pension scheme – 30 days holidays – strong support for work/life balance (certified by “Audit Berufundfamilie”)
  • Secure employment that is robust to economic or health crises

Place of employment:  Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Working hours:  Full-time (40 hours/week), part time options are available

Type of contract: The position is initially limited; the type of time limitation depends on individual profile and legal framework (maximum 3+3 years). A later permanent employment is planned after a positive evaluation.  Ideally, the contract should start in March 2025.

Salary: According to the German collective agreement of the State of Hesse  (pay grade E 13, TV-H)

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

How to apply?
Please send us your application documents containing:

  • a letter of motivation
  • a CV with publication list
  • a research concept taking reference to the research program of SBiK-F
  • copies of certificates and diplomas

in electronic form (as a single PDF file) by December 08th,.2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de referring to the reference number Ref. #11-24008 or apply directly on our homepage using the online application form.

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt a.M.
E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

For more information, please contact PD Dr. Matthias Schleuning matthias.schleuning@senckenberg.de and Prof. Dr. Thomas Hickler thomas.hickler@senckenberg.de

Further information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung can be found at www.senckenberg.de.

 

Jobs in Wilhelmshaven

Ref.#02-24002-1 Post Doc Position in Geosciences

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung headquartered in Frankfurt am Main invites applications for a BMBF and NWO funded project at its site Senckenberg am Meer, Meeresforschung section Actuopalaeontology, in Wilhelmshaven starting as soon as possible.

 

PostDoc position in Geosciences
(full time / part-time options available)

 

 

The trilateral collaborative project WADWAD (WAD was? WAD can we do?) is funded by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and the NWO (Dutch Research Council) to the sum of € 2.3 million, and is conducted in collaboration with partner institutions in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Over a four-year period, a transdisciplinary approach will be employed to develop solutions for a trilateral action plan to identify innovative, climate-resilient and ecosystem-based land-sea transition zones. The development of this trilateral action plan will be informed by the insights of various scientific disciplines, the expertise of decision-makers from political, administrative and managerial backgrounds, and the perspectives of local coastal communities. The focus will be on the generation of knowledge about the regional implications of the intricate interactions between sediment dynamics, climate change and ecosystem losses. This will enable the development of ecosystem-based adaptation scenarios, which will provide specific, local solutions to the challenges posed by sea-level rise and climate change.

 

Senckenberg am Meer is focusing its efforts within the WADWAD network on the decoupling of sedimentary processes through the construction of dikes and other coastal protection measures, as well as the loss of the immediate land-sea transition zone, which is known as the “Wadden Sea squeeze”.

 

Your tasks
  • Evaluation of the current data set of Holocene coastal sequences
  • Extensive GIS and borehole database analysis in close collaboration with the geoinformatics staff of our local partner institute, NIhK (Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research)
  • Development of data-specific GIS concepts (e.g. heat maps)
  • Participation at stakeholder workshops to present and disseminate geoscientific knowledge
  • Writing scientific publications in international, peer-reviewed journals
  • Participation in project and network coordination tasks (e.g. for online meetings, site inspections, writing workshops)
    • Preparing interim and final reports
    • Supervising bachelor and master students / candidates

  

Essential skills and qualifications
  • A completed PhD in geosciences, with a particular focus on coastal geology, sedimentology, and morphodynamics
  • Extensive knowledge of coastal geological processes
  • Extensive experience with GIS software and geodata bases
  • Experience in knowledge transfer, communication with stakeholders, and willingness to engage in transdisciplinary collaboration
  • Proficiency in English (in speech and writing)

 

Desirable skills
  • (German) driving licence (class B)
  • German language skills (in speech and writing)
  • Willingness to travel occasionally (two-days / three-days journeys) to our partners in the Netherlands and Denmark

 

We offer
  • an attractive and interesting job in a globally recognized research institution
  • independent work in an international, motivated and professional environment
  • flexible working hours – support with childcare or caring for family members (certified by the “audit berufundfamilie”) – a company badge – a collectively agreed special annual payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement – company pension plan

 

 

Place of employment:  Wilhelmshaven

Working hours:  Full time / part time options are available (minimum 75%)

Type of contract:  Start is ideally as soon as possible. You will receive a fixed-term contract until 31 May 2028.

Salary: According to the collective agreement of the State of Hesse (pay grade E 13, TV-H)

 

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

 

You would like to apply?

Then please send your complete and informative application documents (as a single PDF-file):

  • a cover letter detailing research interests and experience (max. one page)
  • a detailed CV
  • copy of your transcripts / academic certification
  • contact details of two potential academic referees
  • copies of up to two representative publications 

by September 30th, 2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de, quoting the reference number #02-24002-1, or please apply directly on our homepage using the online application form:

Apply Online | Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt am Main

E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

 

For specific questions regarding this role please contact Dr. Achim Wehrmann (section lead), achim.wehrmann@senckenberg.de.

For more information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung please go to: www.senckenberg.de.

 

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the most important research institutions around biological diversity. At the eleven locations throughout Germany, scientists from over 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale. Senckenberg am Meer in the port city of Wilhelmshaven is the northernmost institute. It cooperates with important research institutions in German marine research as well as colleges and universities. Located directly on the North Sea, the Wilhelmshaven site also offers local recreation in unspoiled nature as well as a wide range of cultural activities.

Jobs in Jena

Ref. #13-24004 Scientist in Functional Ecology and Curator of Vascular Plants (m/w/d)

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the most important research institutions in the field of biodiversity. At its twelve locations throughout Germany, scientists from almost 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale. In April 2024, the Senckenberg Institute for Plant Form and Function Jena (SIP) was newly founded in cooperation with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena around the Herbarium Haussknecht. Jena is a research city with state-of-the-art scientific facilities. In SIP, the four departments Functional Plant Biodiversity, Integrative Plant Taxonomy, Ecology and Evolution of Bryophytes and Digital Collectomics work together to analyse Anthropocene Biodiversity Change using modern and innovative methods in large temporal depth and on broad spatial scale.

As of 01. January 2025, our new Senckenberg Institute for Plant Form and Function at our location in Jena, is looking for a

Scientist in Functional Ecology and Curator of Vascular Plants  (m/w/d)

(tenure-track, full time / part time options available)

The position will include curatorial responsibility for the vascular plant collection of the Herbarium Haussknecht (JE), including the development and maintenance of associated online data bases and portals as well as the development and application of novel methods to extract trait information from specimen.

Your tasks

  • Conduct collection-based research in the broad field of vascular plants, utilizing integrative techniques to extract information from specimen, with a special focus on understanding the Anthropocene Biodiversity Change using functional approaches
  • Curation and development of the vascular plants collections and associated resources of the Herbarium Haussknecht
  • Develop and apply methods to extract trait information from specimens (e.g., digital microscopy, near infrared spectroscopy)
  • Secure external research funds
  • Publish results of your research in international scientific journals
  • Participate in academic teaching and mentoring of students and graduates at Friedrich Schiller University Jena
  • Foster visibility of our collection-based research (publications, communications with different stakeholder)

Your profile

  • Doctoral degree in botany, plant ecology or a related field
  • A research plan to implement innovative research methods in the context of vascular plant collections
  • Experience in using research collections
  • Floristic knowledge
  • Experience in curating and knowledge on botanical nomenclature would be a plus
  • Experiences in modern programming languages (e.g., R, Phython) would be a plus
  • Excellent academic track record adequate to your career stage
  • Very good knowledge of the German and English language
  • Very good communication and teamwork skills
  • Motivation and commitment to build new and maintain existing scientific networks, willingness to engage in self-administration

What can you expect?

  • A vibrant, international team of scientists with collection-based research programs, focussed on understanding the Anthropocene Biodiversity Change
  • Excellent infrastructures and collaborations opportunities at SIP, e. g. in Functional Biodiversity Research, Integrative Plant Taxonomy, Digital Collectomics, and Ecology and Evolution of Bryophytes, embedded in a lively research environment in Senckenberg and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena as well as in Central Germany with the German Centre of Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig and the Michael Stifel Centre for Data driven and Simulation Science Jena (MSCJ).
  • An attractive and challenging position in a research institution of international standing
  • Opportunities to participate in teaching and outreach activities, e.g. at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Natural History Museums of Senckenberg.
  • A salary that reflects the responsibilities of the position and the experience of the candidate, based on the collective agreement for public service in the state of Thuringia
  • Flexible working hours, annual special payment, company pension scheme. 30 days holidays, strong support for work/life balance (certified by “audit berufundfamilie“)
  • Secure employment that is robust to economic or health crises

Place of employment:          Jena, Germany
Working hours:                     Full-time (40 hours/week), part time options are available (minimum 75%) 
Type of contract:                  The position is initially limited; the type of time limitation depends on individual profile and legal framework
                                                    (maximum 3+3 years).

                                                    A later permanent employment is planned after a positive evaluation.
Salary:                                     According to the German collective agreement (TV-L E 13)

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

How to apply?

Please send us your application documents containing

  • A letter of motivation
  • A CV with publication list and academic achievements
  • Copies of certificates and diplomas
  • A research concept for collection-based research including trait-extraction

in electronic form (as a single PDF file) by 24th of November to recruiting@senckenberg.de referring to the reference number Ref. #13-24004 or apply directly on our homepage using the online application form Online bewerben | Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung.

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt a.M.
E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Christine Römermann: Christine.Roemermann@senckenberg.de

Further information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung can be found at www.senckenberg.de.

Jobs in Gelnhausen

Ref.#04-24003 Two Postdoctoral Researchers (Ecologists) (m/f/d)

For over 200 years the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) represents one of the most relevant institutions investigating nature and its diversity. Currently, scientists from more than 40 countries across 12 locations in Germany conduct research in the fields of biodiversity, Earth system analysis and climate change.

 

Following its mission to “analyze and document biodiversity in Earth system dynamics – to serve science and society” Senckenberg stands for curiosity-driven and application-oriented collections-based research.

 

The Department of River Ecology and Conservation at Senckenberg in cooperation with the Faculty of Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen jointly invite applications for

 

2 Postdoctoral Researchers (Ecologists) (m/f/d)

(full
time or part-time (at least 75%); 2 years with option for extension)

 

We are looking for enthusiastic ecologists (m/f/d) with a background in community ecology, macroecology, metacommunities, and/or analysis of ecological time series. The applicant should have a strong track record of scientific publications.

 

Over the past years, we have compiled one of the most comprehensive marine and freshwater biodiversity time series across Europe including macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, algae, fish and plankton from approx. 25,000 sampling locations and 25 European countries. We also host a large data set of > 30,000 terrestrial insect species. Additionally, we have access to accompanying environmental data. These data sets provide a unique opportunity to address a broad variety of fundamental and applied ecological questions in fields like metacommunity theory, time series analyses, multiple stressors responses, invasive species, ecological communities or conservation depending on candidate interests (see 10.1038/s41586-023-06400-1 for an example). We encourage applications from ecologists with backgrounds in freshwater, marine or terrestrial ecosystems.

 

The position is partly embedded in two large EU funded projects, namely the MARCO-BOLO project: MARine COastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations (https://marcobolo-project.eu/) and the new Biodiversity Meets Data (BMD) project which will start on March 1st, 2025. The BMD project will provide a toolbox, which is equipped with a suite of Virtual Research Environments (VREs) that are co-designed with the stakeholders to deliver biodiversity assessments, biodiversity trend analyses, identification of drivers of change, and projections to future climatic and land cover scenarios at local, regional, national and European scales. For this, we will develop a suite of thematic VREs that allow an easy-to-use application of models on available and harmonized biodiversity and environmental data. Both projects provide access to a wide range of spatial and temporal biodiversity and environmental data and a fantastic opportunity to become part of European networks of established researchers, postdocs, and graduate students working with monitoring data.

 

Your potential tasks:

  • Analyzing spatial and temporal biodiversity and accompanied environmental data to elucidate spatial patterns and temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and drivers thereof
  • Contribute to the research of the MARCO-BOLO and BMD projects and conduct research on global change impacts on biodiversity within the framework of other projects in the department (i.e. restoration ecology, multiple stressor analyses, long-term ecological research)
  • Development of VREs
  • Data analysis, preparation of manuscripts and reports
  • Mentoring graduate students

 

Your profile:

  • PhD in Ecology or a related field
  • Solid background in (macro-) ecology and zoology (preferably invertebrates or fish)
  • Advanced skills in statistical analyses, preferably using R
  • Strong track record of international publications
  • Excellent written and oral communication and project presentation skills

 

Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-H E13, 100%; part-time (at least 75%)). The contract should ideally start around December 1st, 2024 and will initially be restricted to 2 years with a possible extension.

 

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with a severe disability will be given special consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

 

Please send your application until September, 15th 2024, preferably by e-mail (attachment in a single pdf document), mentioning the reference of this position (Ref. #04-24003) and include

  • a letter outlining your suitability for the post,
  • a detailed CV,
  • contact details of 2 references,
  • a list of publications and acquired funding to:

 

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt

E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

 

Applications can also be submitted via our online application tool:

 

For scientific enquiries please get in contact with Prof. Dr. Peter Haase.

E-Mail: peter.haase@senckenberg.de

Jobs in Tübingen

Ref.#10-24002-1 Postdoc (m/f/d) in experimental biogeochemistry of aDNA in archaeological deposits

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the most important research institutions around biological diversity. At its twelve sites throughout Germany, scientists from over 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale. At the site in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironmant (SHEP) is located in a lively university town with historical flair and numerous local recreational opportunities.

 

The Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (SHEP) at the University of Tübingen is seeking to fill a

 

Postdoctoral Position in experimental biogeochemistry of aDNA in archaeological deposits

 

(full-time position, part time options available)

The position will start as soon as possible and will be primarily hosted in the Geo-Biosphere Interactions working group within the University of Tübingen. The project is nested within the Leibniz Science Campus “Geogenomic Archaeology Campus Tübingen” (GACT). GACT brings together experts from the fields of archaeology, genetics, geosciences, ecology, and microbiology to examine the evolutionary relationship between humans and ecosystem biodiversity through the multidisciplinary analysis of sedimentary cave archives containing ancient DNA.

Your tasks
  • Develop and conduct experiments that test the effect of phosphorous and other elements on the mobility of (ancient) DNA in cave sediments.
  • Apply stable and radioactive isotopes combined with geochemical analysis.
  • Work with trace amounts of radioactive phosphorous within state-of-the-art radionuclide facilities.
  • Analysis and interpretation of geoarchaeological samples from Pleistocene cave deposits.

 

Your profile
  • Doctorate in archaeological sciences, geoarchaeology, geosciences/geology, soil science, paleogenetics, biology, bioinformatics or a related field.
  • The ideal applicant (f/m/d) will have knowledge in biogeochemical cycles in soils and/or sediments, and a genuine interest in the human past and linking their data with biomolecular analysis.
  • Previous experience in experimental applications of isotopic tracers, and soil and/or sediment geochemical analysis is recommended.
  • Good communication skills in order to work in a highly collaborative and international environment.
  • Very good command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of German is appreciated but is not a requirement.

 

 

We offer
  • a varied and interesting job in a globally recognized research institution
  • independent action in an international and professional environment
  • flexible working hours – possibility of mobile working – support with childcare or caring for family members (certified by the “audit berufundfamilie”) – Senckenberg badge in combination with free admission to numerous municipal museums – a collectively agreed annual special payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement – company pension plan

 

Place of employment:            Tübingen (Baden-Württemberg)

Working hours:                       Full-time (39,5 hours/week), part time options are available

Type of contract:                    2 years with possibility of extension

Pay:                                        according to the public collective agreement TV-L E13

 

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with a severe disability (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given special consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

  You would like to be part of our team?

Please submit your complete an meaningful application including a letter of motivation, a CV, scans of academic transcripts, and contact details of two potential academic referees as a single PDF file. Applications should be submitted electronically no later than the 01st of December 2024 and addressed to recruiting@senckenberg.de quoting the reference number 10-24002-1.

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt a.M.

E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de

 

For scientific inquiries regarding the position please contact the GACT Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Gerlinde Bigga, E-Mail: gerlinde.bigga@senckenberg.de.

 

For more information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung please go to www.senckenberg.de.