Postdoctoral Researcher in trait- community ecology and modelling

Vacancy /2026. Closing date:

commencing on 15 May 2026 or at the earliest opportunity thereafter.

We offer a full‑time position (40 hours per week) on a fixed‑term basis for 2 years. A reduced working time with a minimum of 80% (32 hours per week) is also possible.
Workplace will be at iDiv in Leipzig.

The position will be part of the research groups “Biodiversity in the Anthropocene (BinA)” and “Ecological Networks Lab (Eco Net Lab  – Theory in Biodiversity Science)”. Our research focusses on large‑scale biodiversity patterns of vertebrate species and higher taxa in time and space in the BinA group; the Eco Net Lab  investigates ecological networks comprising species and their trait‑based interactions, and how these networks are linked in space by animal movement.

We integrate datasets and approaches from macroe‑cology, theoretical modelling, macroevolution, biogeography, and movement ecology.

The position will represent the synthesis project “Functional Island Biogeography Across Trophic Levels” as part of the research unit “Dyna Com” funded by the German Research Foundation DFG. This project focusses on island community assembly across trophic levels based on empirical data for plant and bird assemblages, and on mechanistic modelling to predict assemblage composition based on species’ traits, interactions, and movement.

As part of a dynamic and international team in Leipzig and in cooperation with project partners in Göttingen, Würzburg, and Oldenburg, you will play a vital role in developing macroecological research that links empirical community ecology and island biogeography with trait‑based modelling, which will form a key contribution to the synthesis phase of the Dyna Com research unit.

• You develop a research agenda based on the project proposal funded by the German Research Foundation DFG.
• You complement the work programme of the proposal with your own ideas on how to combine empirical analyses and mechanistic modelling, and contribute to scientific synthesis across different projects in the Dyna Com research unit.
• You work with ecological databases across many species and their traits, and with computer code to run statistical analyses and mechanistic simulation models (e.g. in R).
• You publish scientific papers in international peer‑reviewed journals.
• You present your research at national and international meetings and conferences.

• PhD degree in biology, ecology, or a similar discipline.
• Professional knowledge of ecological concepts and systems, e.g. community ecology, island biogeography, mechanistic models of species interactions and/or movement, animal and plant traits.
• Proficiency in a programming language (e.g. R), and strong quantitative and statistical expertise.
• Experience in the scientific publication process is ideal.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Are you hesitating because you don't meet one or some of our requirements? Please do not hesitate to apply and give us a chance to get to know you.

You are welcome to contact Prof. Susanne Fritz () or Prof. Ulrich Brose () in case of questions. The project team will also include Prof. Christian Hof (University of Würzburg) and Prof. Holger Kreft (University of Göttingen).

• An intellectually stimulating, independent and varied scientific activity with exciting creative opportunities.
• An international, English‑speaking research environment with regular integrative group activities and a collaborative atmosphere, embedded in a broad scientific network which offers ample opportunities for collaborations within iDiv and beyond.
• The opportunity to participate in our targeted iDiv postdoc program and the University of Jena graduate academy, which offer workshops, coaching, mentoring and networking events on career development for postdocs.
• A modern, family‑friendly working environment, attractive working conditions (flexible working hours, mobile work), and an employer pension scheme.
• Remuneration based on the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Sector of the Federal States (TV‑L) up to…