The Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology at the University of Würzburg seeks applicants for an open PhD position for 36 months starting this year (salary: TV-L 65%). Highly motivated candidates (m/f/d) with a strong interest in wild bees and hoverflies, the consequences of land-use change and applied conservation are welcome to apply no later than 16 June 2024.
Project
The aim of the Dorfbienen project is to enhance the value of villages as pollinator habitats with a variety of measures, to evaluate the success of these measures, and to develop recommendations for local decision-makers, villagers and practitioners. The project takes place in cooperation with the Rhön Biodiversity Center (RBR).
Tasks
- Recording, collecting and identifying wild bees and hoverflies in villages around Würzburg and the RBR;
- Experiments on pollination services and yields of fruits and vegetables in gardens, and on plant preferences of pollinators, including nectar and pollen analyses;
- Mapping of flowering plants, nesting sites and landscape elements;
- Statistical analyses and scientific writing;
- Creating brochures on pollinator protection and conducting workshops for decision-makers.
Your profile
- University degree (MSc, Diploma) in Ecology, Zoology or similar;
- Experience in fieldwork and statistical data analysis (in R);
- Very good scientific writing skills;
- Knowledge in the identification of insects and plants;
- Knowledge of the use of GIS is advantageous;
- Goal-oriented and independent working style;
- Very good communication skills and enjoy working in a team;
- Driving licence;
- German language skills are advantageous.
Severely disabled applicants will be given preference if they are otherwise equally qualified. The University of Würzburg aims to increase the proportion of women and is therefore expressly interested in receiving applications from suitably qualified women.
How to apply
Please send your application with a brief description of your research interests and reasons for motivation, as well as contact details of two references by 16 June 2024, preferably by email in exactly one pdf document to ingolf.steffan@uni-wuerzburg.de and andrea.holzschuh@uni-wuerzburg.de. The interviews will likely take place on June 24, 2024.