Job announcement
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Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Wilhelmshaven
Application deadline: 31.10.2009
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Job Advertisement Ref.# 02-09003
Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung has an international reputation in all fields of Natural History research. It runs six research institutes and two museums in Germany and is also custodian of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Messel.
The Senckenberg Research Institute, department �German Center for Marine Biodiversity Research is looking for a leading researcher for the following project:
Head of junior research group on molecular taxonomy of marine organisms
We are searching for a scientist with a high quality publication record in the fields of taxonomy, systematics and biodiversity of marine organisms using morphological and molecular methods. as the candidate should have skills in bioinformatic and biostatistics. The focus of the position is on taxonomy, in terms of characterization and discrimination of species and populations, further species distribution and biogeography. Mere phylogenetic or evolutionary reconstructions are explicitly not in the form of this position.
The successful candidate will be the head of a junior research group consisting of 2 postdoctoral fellows, 2 PhD students and a technician.
The aim of the research group is testing and developing methods for the identification of marine species using a molecular approach. Development of new methods is desired as well as designing a system for ensuring quality control of results. Final aim of the junior research group should be to develop methods to automatise species identifications.
During an initial period of three years, two case studies have to be conducted in order to test the efficiency and accuracy of molecular methods for rapid and certain identification of species. Both case studies should be carried out in the North Sea. Ship-time for sampling campaigns will be made available on the instituteŽs vessel. A list of potential case studies shall include for example the identification and quantification of marine zoo- and phytoplankton of the North Sea, the development of methods for molecular gut-content analysis of fish, analysis of benthic diversity using environmental samples, high resolution bentho-pelagic coupling: identifying and quantifying larvae of benthic macrofauna, etc.
The position is full time, salaried at the German governmental scale of BAT Ib for an initial term of 3 years. The contract will start as soon as possible. After a successful evaluation of the research group by an external panel, the contract can be extended for 3 more years. Final external evaluation after this period can recommend the permanent employment of the group leader.
Equally qualified handicapped applicants will be given preference. The kind of handicap should not prevent work needed to conduct the research.
Applications should be written in English and should contain, in addition to a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and publication record, a no more than 5 pages summary, describing one potential case study to be developed and the methods that will be used to accomplish the goals.
Applications will be accepted only in electronic format and should be sent by email before 31th October 2009 to: recruiting@senckenberg.de, to the attention of Prof. Dr. P. Martínez Arbizu, with subject Ref.# 02-09003.
Senckenberg wishes to increase the share of women in areas where they are underrepresented, and strongly encourages women to apply. Senckenberg has an affirmative action policy for the disabled
