The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) invites applications for a group leader position with a focus on ecosystem-climate feedbacks. The position is based at the Department of Plankton and Microbial Ecology located at Lake Stechlin, north of Berlin, with strong opportunities for collaborations across IGB departments. The position will strengthen IGB research on climate change impacts by quantifying ecosystem-climate interactions, with an emphasis on how freshwater ecosystems affect climate, how this feedback is influenced by global change, and what roles freshwater communities play in these interactions. Feedbacks can involve changes in greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon sequestration. Drivers may include eutrophication, ecosystem state shifts, climate and land-use change, recreational activities, or changes in ecosystem connectivity. The research approach integrates numerical modelling (including data-driven modelling) with empirical studies, linking abiotic and biotic processes to ecosystem-climate feedbacks. Strong interconnections with other research lines at IGB are encouraged to contribute to the institute’s goal of establishing a leading predictive ecology research program. IGB offers excellent laboratory and field facilities, including large-scale experimental platforms and long-term data sets.
Group Leader - Freshwater Ecosystem-Climate Feedback Modeller (f/m/x)
Your tasks
- Develop an innovative research program that connects ecosystem modelling with empirical data on biodiversity and biogeochemical processes
- Develop models that integrate biological, biogeochemical and geophysical processes to quantify ecosystem-climate feedbacks
- Assess the role of ecosystem structure and functioning for fresh-water ecosystem-climate feedbacks, e.g. CH4 & CO2 emissions
- Apply long-term and high-frequency monitoring and experimental data for model calibration, validation and projections
- Act as a scientific integrator, connecting between complementary models and diverse datasets, including long-term biological and environmental time series and experiments at multiple scales, especially at IGB’s large enclosure facility
Your profile
- Doctoral degree in quantitative ecology, environmental sciences, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated expertise in process-based ecosystem modelling
- Experience in designing and conducting field sampling and/or experiments in freshwater ecosystems
- Additional skills that would be advantageous are:
- Experience in integrating biological, biogeochemical and geophysical processes
- Experience of integration and statistical analysis of multiple data streams from ecological and environmental datasets
- Evidence of scientific productivity, including publications and research grants – appropriate to career stage
- Competence to lead a collaborative and innovative research team
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (English)
Our offer
We offer a position with a long-term perspective according to IGB`s tenure-track guidelines in a dynamic international scientific environment and with access to substantial technical resources. Flat hierarchies provide a high degree of individual freedom, allowing scientists to develop creative research programs to the best of their abilities. We foster career development by providing training and development opportunities and actively support the reconciliation of work and family life. The working language at IGB is English.
Intended as a full-time tenure-track position, the position is also suited in principle to job sharing or part-time work, with at least 31 hours per week. Salary is paid according to the German public sector pay scale (TVöD Bund E14).
IGB is committed to diversity. We welcome all qualified applications, regardless of sex and gender, origin, nationality, religion, belief, health and disabilities, age, or sexual orientation. Reflecting IGB’s commitment to increase the representation of female scientists, applications by women are particularly welcome. Supportive measures for gender equality are especially targeted towards female tenure-track and tenured researchers. Severely disabled applicants with equal qualification and aptitude will be given preferential consideration.
Are you interested?
We look forward to receiving your application by 31 May 2026. Please include the following documents: a letter of motivation; a full CV; a statement outlining your research vision (max. 3 pages, including potential links to other IGB research groups); a statement on how you would foster diversity and gender equality in your team (max. 1 page); a publication list; copies of relevant degrees; and the contact details of three references. Please apply exclusively via our recruitment platform at www.igb-berlin.de/en/jobs, stating job reference number 07/2026. Queries can be directed to Sabine Wollrab (sabine.wollrab@igb-berlin.de) and Hans-Peter Grossart (hanspeter.grossart@igb-berlin.de).
"Research for the future of our freshwaters" is the mission of IGB – Germany’s largest and one of the leading international centres for freshwater research. To investigate different aspects of freshwater ecosystems, their biota and societal relevance, we unite a wide range of disciplines. Research is seen as a joint effort. With more than 400 employees and guests from all over the world, we conduct research at five locations in Berlin and at Lake Stechlin 80 km north. IGB is a member of the German Leibniz Association and the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (www.igb-berlin.de). Close links are maintained with all three universities in the German capital.
