Job Description

Beginn der Ausschreibung 01.09.2025

Ende der Ausschreibung 12.10.2025

Institut bzw. Bereich Institut für Küstensysteme - Analyse und Modellierung

Standort Geesthacht


The department Ecosystem Modeling identifies key mechanisms of the human-driven transformation of marine ecosystems (www.hereon.de/ecomod). Within the collaborative JPI-Ocean research project “Impacts of artificial light at night on pelagic ecosystems in European seas” (ALANIS), we examine how changing lightscapes through artificial light at night or coastal darkening (increases in light attenuation) impact marine food-webs and ecosystem functioning. By bringing together field observations and mechanistic models, the candidate should specifically investigate how changing lightscapes affect visual predation by fish and vertical mobility patterns of fish and plankton, and how the effects propagate down to the base of the food-web. Identified relationships should then be extrapolated to different ecosystems in European seas, also in support of management efforts.



Our team is internationally renowned in the field of trait-based marine modeling. Within our research institute and the project ALANIS, your work will be tightly embedded into an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional network. As a postdoctoral researcher in coupled hydrodynamic-ecological modeling (24 months, 100%), you will fill a central position to reach important objectives of the project.



Equal opportunity is an important part of our personnel policy. We would therefore strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the position. The position is full-time (39 hours/week).


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Your tasks

Incorporate visual predation and vertical migration into an existing trait-based ecosystem model; Couple the model to a 1D physical model (GOTM) through the FABM framework; Validate the coupled model using published and newly gathered observational data; Conduct numerical experiments to understand responses to changing lightscapes and to unravel future pathways across European seas; Publish joint studies on the role of light in bottom-up and top-down control of ecosystem dynamics.



Content-related enquiries can be directed to


Prof. Dr. Kai Wirtz


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Your profile

MSc and PhD in environmental sciences, physics or related disciplines with experience in programming languages (e.g., Fortran, R) in Linux environments; demonstrated experience in communicating scientific results in high-quality publications.


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We offer you

an exciting and varied job in a research centre with around 1,000 employees from more than 60 nations a well-connected research campus (public transport bus) and best networking opportunities individual opportunities for further training social benefits according to the collective agreement of the public service and remuneration up to pay group 13 according to TV EntgO Bund an excellent technical infrastructure and modern workplace equipment 6 weeks holiday per year; company holidays between Christmas and New Year's Day very good compatibility of private and professional life; offers of mobile and flexible work family-friendly company policy with childcare facilities, e.g. nursery close to the company free assistance program for employees (EAP) corporate benefits a varied offer in the canteen on campus
Severely disabled persons and those equaling severely disabled persons who are equally suitable for the position will be considered preferentially within the framework of legal requirements.




Interested?

Then we are looking forward to receiving your comprehensive application documents (cover letter, CV, transcripts, certificates, etc.) indicating the reference number 2025/KS 4 until October 12th, 2025.