11 PhD Positions in forestry, biology & statisticsPhD - Individual Supervisor

The Research Training Group (RTG) 2300 ‘Enrichment of European beech forests with conifers: impacts of functional traits on ecosystem functioning’(EnriCo) at the Georg-August-University Göttingen in Germany, is currently inviting applications for

11 PhD Positions (f, m, d)

starting on October 1, 2023. The salary is based on TV-L E13 and amounts 65 % of a full position for PhD candidates in life science and associated topics and 75 % in statistics. The positions are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for 3 years.

The interdisciplinary Research Training Group 2300 was established in 2017. The PhD students enrolled in this program investigate ecological challenges and societal demands on forests in a changing climate. The program focuses on European temperate forests. A central goal is to uncover the impact of mixed compared to monospecific forests on ecosystem functions and processes with a special focus on the importance of functional traits. Our research approaches involve field studies in European beech, Norway spruce and Douglas fir forests and their mixtures, experimental studies to uncover cause-effect relationships, and statistical as well as economic analyses. We hypothesize that mixtures of European beech with conifers show higher functional diversity than pure European beech stands, resulting in higher resilience and providing multiple ecosystem services.

The RTG2300 offers a vibrant academic environment, joint supervision of PhD candidates by thesis committees, and a structured study program with many opportunities to improve scientific and personal skills. The following research groups are offering PhD projects: silviculture, tree physiology (mycorrhiza), plant ecology, soil sciences, animal ecology, wildlife sciences, forest nature conservation, forest modelling, forest economics, and spatial forest structures as well as applied statistics. You can find detailed information on the individual positions online at www.uni-goettingen.de/de/623417.html . General information on the RTG2300 and the different projects are available at www.uni-goettingen.de/grk2300 .

We are seeking highly motivated candidates, who wish to conduct their PhD training in an interdisciplinary environment. Successful candidates

• will have completed their MSc or equivalent university degree in a subject area relevant for the RTG 2300 program (see details for the different positions on our website)
• are fluent in English (IELTS min. 6.0 or equivalent) and motivated to learn some German
• are eager to conduct field work
• are keen to collaborate and share data with their PhD colleagues

Your application must include (compiled as one pdf document, in the order mentioned below!):

• curriculum vitae including information on posters, presentations, awards and publication list, if applicable
• motivation letter for the preferred project(s) (maximum 1 page). You can list up to three projects
• certificates of studies (if a degree is not yet completed you may also provide a document listing your current grades)
• two references (name and contact information of two senior researchers)
• summary of your MA thesis and if applicable one publication
• if applicable, additional documents

Please be aware that the application procedure consists of two steps:

The closing date for applications is May 14, 2023. We also encourage advanced Master candidates to apply but successful completion of the MSc or equivalent university degree is mandatory prior to employment.

If you have any questions, please contact the RTG’s coordinator Dr. Serena Müller ([email protected] , +49-551-3921217) or the potential supervisor for subject specific questions.

The University of Göttingen is an equal opportunities employer and places particular emphasis on fostering career opportunities for women. Qualified women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as they are underrepresented in the field. The university has committed itself to being a family-friendly institution and supports their employees in balancing work and family life. The mission of the University is to employ a greater number of severely disabled persons. Applications from severely disabled persons with equivalent qualifications will be given preference.

Please note:

With submission of your application, you accept the processing of your applicant data in accordance with the data-protection law. Further information on the applicable law and data usage is provided in the Hinweisblatt zur Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) (www.uni-goettingen.de/hinweisdsgvo ).