Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecological Spatial Modelling of Coastal Metacommunities

About us

The ICBM is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to fundamental and applied marine science. More than 20 research groups - spanning chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematical modelling - collaborate to understand the functioning environmental systems. The position is based in the Mathematical Modelling research group led by Prof. Dr. Bernd Blasius and is embedded within the UTOPIA project (Understanding Trait composition Of coastal meta-communities: Processes and Interactions Across organism groups). A joint initiative between the ICBM at the University of Oldenburg and the University of Groningen, the project closely integrates empirical data analysis in Groningen with mathematical modelling of spatial ecological systems in Oldenburg.

Your tasks

You will investigate the mechanisms driving mismatches between environmentally expected and observed community composition. Specifically, you will develop and analyse numerical models of spatially structured ecosystems to evaluate how spatial connectivity, dispersal, directional transport, and temporal disturbances shape metacommunity dynamics. A central goal is quantifying community–environment lags and determining how rapidly communities respond to environmental change, with an empirical focus on Wadden Sea metacommunities in close collaboration with our project partners in Groningen

Your profile

• Qualifying academic university degree (Master or Diploma (not of a University of Applied Sciences)) and a PhD in in theoretical ecology, physics, applied mathematics, data science, or a related field.
• Experience in mathematical modelling of spatial systems and time-series analysis is essential.
• Knowledge of ecological concepts and marine ecology, particularly plankton ecology, is desirable.
• Applicants should be fluent in written and spoken English, have strong programming skills (e.g., Python, Julia, Matlab) and show a strong interest in multidisciplinary teamwork.

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.