PhD Project Quantification of land use impact on floodplain biodiversity and functions and evaluation of the potential for ecological restoration

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Potsdam, BRANDENBURG
Deadline: 20 Dec 2021

In October 2015, the DFG Research Training Group “Natural Hazards and Risks in a Changing World” (http://natriskchange.de ) was established at the University of Potsdam, in cooperation with the Freie Universität of Berlin, the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). NatRiskChange aims to develop methods that improve hazard and risk analyses and quantifications based on the transient, non-stationary nature of hazards and risks in response to changing natural and anthropogenically altered components of the earth system. Key scientific aims are the development, testing and pilot application of studies on the identification, quantification and prediction of transient natural hazards and associated risks. Earthquakes, floods, and mass movements are of major research interest.

Funded by the Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the NatRiskChange Research Training Group now offers a full DAAD PhD scholarship at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Geography of the University of Potsdam, Germany for a period of three years (or up to four years for candidates from developing or emerging countries). The related PhD project is entitled “Quantification of land use impact on floodplain biodiversity and functions and evaluation of the potential for ecological restoration”. Further subject-specific information can be obtained from Prof. Bertrand Fournier ([email protected])

The scholarship includes
• a monthly scholarship of € 1,200
• travel support and potential support for studies and research
• combined insurance (health, accident, liability)
• a research allowance of currently € 460 per year for scholarship holders from emerging countries, or € 230 per year for scholarship holders from industrialized countries
• under certain circumstances, grant holders may receive the following additional benefits: potential support for rent, family allowance (about € 200 child allowance per child and about € 275 marriage allowance)
• full funding for a German language course in Germany of up to 6 months preceding the scholarship
• a material supervision allowance of currently € 1,000 per year, upon application to the host institution.

The selected candidate will be fully integrated in the activities and the teaching curriculum of the NatRiskChange Research Training Group, and enjoy the vibrant international research environment in the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Potsdam.

The candidates are required to have
- an excellent Master’s degree in ecology, geoecology, ecosystem sciences or closely related fields (obtained no longer than six years ago)
- a proven background in data processing, GIS-technology, ecological modelling, biodiversity analysis
- good programming skills in R, other programming languages are an asset
- experience with ecosystems and land use analyses and modelling and if possible floodplain systems
- good English language skills
- upon nomination, applicants must not have resided in Germany for more than 15 months

Application
Applications should include the following components: a detailed CV, a letter of motivation, a brief research concept (ca. 2 pages) for the PhD project (focussing on a plan on how to include land use and multi-scale ecological processes in floodplain restoration and management), a record of studies, master and bachelor certificates including a transcript of records, an English synopsis of the Master thesis, a list of publications, oral and/or poster presentations at conferences, and two letters of recommendation. Applications can only be submitted through https://www.geo-x.net/daad-gssp/ in one single PDF document (< 10 MB).

Deadline for applications is 20th of Dec. 2021.

Based on the applications, the University of Potsdam will, in a first stage, nominate two to four candidates. These nominated candidates will be required to submit a full application to the DAAD which will then, in a second stage, be evaluated by DAAD. Candidates will be informed in detail about the second stage in case they are nominated after the first stage. The actual scholarship and the related PhD study are envisaged to start in October 2022. A (funded) German language course between 3 and 6 months duration might precede the actual scientific scholarship.
Handicapped applicants will be given preference in case of equal suitability. The NatRiskChange consortium strives to increase the proportion of women in research and specifically encourages females to apply for these positions.



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