Postdoc in Ecology

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

**Qualifications**:
**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.

**Application**:
Applications for the postdoc position should include:

- curriculum vitae (name, address, degree(s) with transcript(s) of grades, research experience, educational and employment history, etc.)
- list of publications
- motivation letter
- vacancy number of this position.

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

**Information**:
For information you can contact:

- prof. dr. ir. Chris Smit, c.smit rug.nl

**Additional information**:

- the research group of Prof. C. Smit