Postdoctoral Researcher; f​/m​/x, No

Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecosystem

With more than 40,000 students, UDE is one of the largest universities in Germany and has established water research as one of its central research profiles, bundled in the Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU) and the Collaborative Research Centre 1439 RESIST on river ecosystems under multiple stressors. The Aquatic Ecosystem Research group (Prof. Dr. Florian Leese) is a dynamic, international molecular biodiversity group.

We develop and apply environmental DNA (eDNA) methods – from DNA metabarcoding to metagenomics – for biodiversity monitoring, operate our own Genomics Core Facility and contribute to the European and international standardisation of these methods.

The position is part of the project TrendDNA 2.0, funded by the German Environment Agency (UBA) for four years. Using archived samples of the German Environmental Specimen Bank, the project extends unique eDNA time series of German rivers and soils, which already span up to two decades, by more than 1,800 new samples (DNA metabarcoding with several markers and metagenomics). As postdoctoral researcher, you are responsible for leading the statistical core of the project: a reproducible statistical toolbox for DNA-based biodiversity time series, a set of validated genetic indicators, and two case studies on spatio-temporal biodiversity trends in rivers and soils and on a DNA-based indicator for the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS).

You will work closely with the TrendDNA experts as well as with leading experts in ecological time-series analysis (Prof. Dr. Peter Haase and Dr. James Sinclair, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research), and with the partners of a parallel UBA project on One Health indicators.

as soon as possible

until 30 September 2030 (end of project)

39 hours 50 Min. (100%) (part-time employment is possible)

• You develop a modular, reproducible statistical toolbox (R and/or Python) for DNA metabarcoding and metagenomic time series – from alpha and beta diversity and community analyses to non-linear and hierarchical trend models, change-point detection and the integration of environmental variables.
• You analyse spatio-temporal biodiversity trends in rivers and soils based on the curated project data set.
• You develop and validate new genetic indicators (taxonomic, structural and functional), define reference states and thresholds, and test their robustness, sensitivity and uncertainty.
• You lead the development of a DNA-based climate indicator (e.g. a community temperature index) for the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change and validate it against temperature, precipitation and extreme events.
• You derive statistical requirements for robust trend detection (e.g. time-series length, sampling frequency) and translate your results into guidance and reporting standards for environmental authorities.
• You carry out analyses independently, publish your results in international peer-reviewed journals, present data sets and results at conferences and to the project’s advisory board, and make your code openly available.
• You co-supervise the doctoral researcher and Master’s students in the project.
• As the position is partly funded from the University’s budget, you support teaching in the Faculty of Biology to a small extent (e.g. 1 weekly teaching hour per semester and supervision of Bachelor’s or Master’s theses).

You will be given the opportunity to pursue further academic qualification as part of this role.

• A completed university degree (Master’s or equivalent) and a doctorate in biology, environmental sciences, bioinformatics, statistics or a related field.
• Expert knowledge and proven…