The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), division of “Biosciences”, section “Integrative Ecophysiology” is seeking to appoint within the framework of the BMBF funded ‘Verbundprojekt’ BIOACID phase II, consortium 4, a PhD candidate (f/m) with focus on early life stages/ ecophysiology.
Description: Located within the framework of BIOACID II (Biological Impacts of Ocean ACIDification, www.bioacid.de), consortium 4 (‘Effects of ocean acidification in a warming climate on species interactions at distribution boundaries: mechanisms and consequences at ecosystem level’) will investigate how the combined effects of ocean acidification and warming will affect different life stages of the interacting fish species Gadus morhua and Boreogadus saida and their prey. Several intertwined work packages will allow a thorough analysis of shifting species interactions and their implications at ecosystem and socioeconomic levels by an integrative approach across levels of biological organisation, from the genome to the ecosystem.
We seek a candidate for work package 4.4 ‘Effects of Ocean Acidification on the early life stages of cod: from fertilization to hatching larvae’. The work will include:
• Experiments to measure sperm motility, fertilization success and embryonic development
• Experiments to measure embryonic performance, e.g. metabolic rates, developmental time, mortality, hatching success
• Land based, field campaigns to conduct experiments and build up an brood stock for further laboratory experiments and measurements
• Data processing and data analysis, allocation of data sets for modelling
The successful candidate will be based at the AWI in Bremerhaven and will obtain the opportunity to subscribe to the Helmholtz graduate school for Polar and Marine Research ‘POLMAR’ (www.polmar.awi.de).
Requirements: Diploma/MSc degree in biology/marine biology. The candidate should have general experience in laboratory work. Good knowledge of statistical data analysis, as well as in written and spoken English is expected. The candidate should be prepared to participate in land based, field expeditions and to perform animal experiments. Previous experience in ecophysiology of early life stages of fish, preferably fertilization and embryonic development, is desirable.
The position is limited to 3 years, the salary will be in accordance with the German Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst (TVöD Bund): salary group E13 (50% minimum). Official starting date for this position is September 1st, 2012, subject to final approval of funding by the BMBF.
Handicapped applicants with comparable qualifications receive preferential status. Please see the notification on our homepage under job_offers/jobs. AWI supports balanced work-life career development via a variety of schemes. In Bremerhaven, it operates its own nursery.
To apply for the position, please cite the code 62/D/Bio and send your application by July 25th, 2012, to:
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar- and Marine Research, Personnel Department, P.O. Box 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven, Germany or by email (all documents merged into one PDF file) to: Petra.Breyer(at)awi.de
Questions regarding the project should be directed to Daniela.Storch(at)awi.de
