As part of the French-German collaborative project ‘BLIC - Phytoplankton Blooms "Like It Colorful"’, jointly funded by The French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; German Research Foundation), the research group ‘Theoretical Ecology’ at the Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology of IGB invites applications for a 1.5 years Postdoc position on modelling phytoplankton bloom dynamics with the option of a prolongation for another 1.5 years at our partner institution, Université de Bretagne Occidentale Brest, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM/UBO), France.
You are interested in ecological theory, in trait-based ecology and the role of biodiversity in shaping community dynamics? You are familiar with ecological modelling techniques? You like close interaction between empiricists and theoreticians? Then join our international and interdisciplinary team of plankton ecologists. Your main task will be the development and analysis of trait-based dynamic models to provide predictions on the likelihood of bloom formation and its dependence on phytoplankton diversity considering trait-based differences in intra- and inter-trophic biotic interactions. The project not only bridges theory and empiry, but also links freshwater and marine biology. It involves excellent collaborative partners at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität Munich, Germany as well as the Université de Bretagne Occidentale Brest, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, France. Scientific exchange within the project will be fostered by regular project meetings as well as by participation in the preparation and conduction of mesocosm experiments at both partner institutions. The experimental results will allow a comparison with theoretical predictions and thereby the validation of underlying assumptions. Your primary working place will be located at the shore of Lake Stechlin 80km North of Berlin.