Research Scientist (Post Doc) (*gn)

The Department Biological Oceanography of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) is offering a full-time (40 hrs/week) position of a

Research Scientist (Post Doc) (*gn)

The fixed term position will start 11/1/2020 and continue until 10/31/2023. Remuneration is paid in accordance with the TV-L salary scale at level EG 13 monthly gross salary. Part-time work is possible with at least 30 hours/week.

The IOW is an independent institute of the Leibniz Association, engaged in system analysis of coastal and marginal seas, with special focus on the Baltic Sea. The scientists of the four departments (Physical Oceanography and Instrumentation, Marine Chemistry, Biological Oceanography and Marine Geology) cooperate within the framework of a joint research program.

The MeNARP Project (Metabolism of Nitrogen in the Amazon River Plume and Tropical North Atlantic) studies the impact of riverine nitrogen on the cycling and turnover of nitrogen and carbon and functional biodiversity of higher trophic levels. Estuaries critically control how much of allochthonous nutrients from rivers reach the open ocean and how much carbon dioxide can be sequestered in the river plume. The outflow of the Amazon River supports different plankton communities whose food sources have not yet been defined. In particular, the role of allochthonous nutrients for the production along the plume is still unclear.

Specifically, the project will (1) determine the functional biodiversity in different planktonic compartments in the habitats along the plume using bulk and amino acid nitrogen and carbon stable isotope proxies (CSIA); (2) quantify the turnover of new and regenerated nitrogen species at the bulk and amino acid specific levels; (3) empirically link trophic structure and nitrogen metabolism to potential abiotic driving mechanisms that allow an implementation into current biogeochemical models.

Job description

You will be responsible for combined de novo bulk and amino acid synthesis rates from consecutive 15NO3-, 15NH4+, and 15N2 assays combined with 13C-bicarbonate assays under simulated in situ conditions during nitrogen (NH4+, NO3-, N2, AAmix) and CO2-fixation during the project’s research cruise on FS METEOR (M174) to the ARP in April/May 2021. You also use large volume filtrations to generate material for CSIA analysis of two different size fractions of particulate organic matter (POM: 0.2-3.0 µm and 3.0-50 µm) to identify differences in POM quality and in functional biodiversity related to particle-attached and free-living microorganisms along the ARP.

Qualifications

You have a PhD in marine biology, marine chemistry or similar fields and you have demonstrable experience with setting up complex biological experiments. Fitness for working at sea and willingness to participate in sea-going research expeditions are also a prerequisite. Experience with stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ecology is a plus. Knowledge on cycling of matter in the ocean and in nitrogen in particular is helpful. You have very good oral and written communication skills in English, good interpersonal skills, and are comfortable working in a team. Scientists who have recently completed a PhD thesis with excellent results and meet the requirements listed above are particularly encouraged to apply. In this case, the quality of the publications submitted to fulfill the PhD thesis requirements will be evaluated as one of the criteria during the selection process. Finally, you have a strong interest in the interdisciplinary collaboration with physical oceanographers and marine chemists.

Applicants are kindly asked to send their complete applications (Cover letter, CV, copies of certificates, references and description of relevant experiences, list of publications) quoting the code Bio 07/2020 until August 20th 2020to bewerbung.biologie(at)io-warnemuende.de or

Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde

Dept. Human Resources

Seestraße 15

D-18119 Rostock

Germany

The interviews are expected to be in the first or second week of September 2020.

Applications of disabled persons with same professional and personal qualification will be treated preferentially. Please indicate a handicap in the cover letter and enclose the relevant certificate.

The job advertisement is aiming at all persons regardless of their gender (* gender neutral). The IOW promotes equal opportunities and has been awarded for the third time in a row the Total Equality Certificate in 2019. An overview of our equal opportunities measures and to improve the compatibility of work and family can be found at https://www.io-warnemuende.de/equal-opportunity.html .

Applications of female candidates are expressly encouraged and will be treated preferentially in case of equal qualifications and suitability, as the posts to be filled belong to structural unit in which women are underrepresented.

The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research offers a varied work in the immediate vicinity of the Baltic Sea. Interdisciplinary research topics on the Baltic Sea ecosystem, broad in-house expertise in physical, chemical and biological oceanography, and marine geology, state-of-the-art-laboratory equipment and infrastructure together with modern facilities provide an excellent framework for best research conditions.

Application and travel costs cannot be reimbursed.

For further Information, please contact Dr. Natalie Loick-Wilde, natalie.loick-wilde(at)io-warnemuende.de or visit our website www.io-warnemuende.de.