STIFTUNG ALFRED-WEGENER INSTITUT FÜR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNG (AWI)
IN DER HELMHOLTZ-GEMEINSCHAFT
The plankton ecology of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is seeking for a
highly motivated
PhD student
in a DFG funded project „Physical and Physiological Growth Constraints of Key, North Sea Gelatinous
Zooplankton“.
The candidate will start establishing scyphozoan polyp as well as ctenophore cultures, which will be used for a
series of experiments investigating the feeding ecology of various life stages of these organisms. The candidate
will focus on experiments elucidating the role of prey quality and quantity as well as temperature on gelatinous
zooplankton growth. The experimental data will be used to establish growth models of the organisms.
We offer a position within a dynamic and active group working on current topics in plankton ecology, in particular
ecological stoichiometry and trophic interactions. Further we offer state-of-the-art experimental and analytical
infrastructure which allows properly addressing current ecological questions. For the first 2 years the position is
located at the Plankton Ecology Group of Prof. Boersma at the Biological Station on the Island of Helgoland, AWI.
In the third year the candidate will work at the Institute for Hydrobiology, University of Hamburg, under the
supervision of Prof. Myron Peck.
We are searching for highly motivated candidates having an excellent diploma or master degree in biology,
ecology, environmental science or marine science. We expect a strong interest in general ecological questions
and great enthusiasm for scientific work. We also expect some experience in culturing organisms and in the
conduction and analysis of ecological experiments including general statistics. We require very good mastering of
English reading and writing.
Request for more information should be directed to: Dr. A Malzahn Arne.Mahlzahn@awi.de, Prof. Dr.
Maarten.Boersma@aw.de or Prof. Dr. Myron.Peck@uni-hamburg.de.
The position is limited to three years, salary group 13/2 TVöD. A salary increase has been requested. Starting
date is February 1, 2011.
Disabled applicants with essentially identical technical and personal suitability will be preferentially selected,
please see our notification on our homepage under job offers / jobs.
The AWI supports balanced work-life career development via a variety of alternatives.
Applications including CV and list of publications/presentations by 31. Dezember 2010, quoting the reference
number 72/D-H to: Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Personalabteilung (human
resources), Postfach 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven / Germany, (http://www.awi.de)