The Geography Department at Humboldt-University Berlin seeks highly qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD Position on the Impacts of Land-Use Change on Mammals in the Gran Chaco
One funded PhD position (TV-L HU 13, 60%) for three years. Starting date: from 1st October 2015. Application deadline: 16 July 2015 Reference number: DR/097/15 The successful applicant will study the impacts of land-use change on mammals in the South American Chaco. The Chaco ecoregion, stretching into parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, is a global hotspot of agricultural expansion and intensification. Understanding how these land-use changes impact biodiversity is important to identify effective conservation strategies. In this context, the successful candidate will focus on assessing how recent land-use change affects the habitats and populations of mammals of conservation concern. To do so, the applicant will use wildlife data, if necessary acquired in the field, to assess habitat selection, habitat distribution and connectivity, and spatial population structure of the focal species. The position will contribute to a broader research project focusing on understanding recent land-use changes and their effects on biodiversity in the Chaco, which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The applicant will work very closely with local partners, specifically the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) in Buenos Aires and Salta, the Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, and the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (all in Argentina). At the Geography Department, the applicant will join the Biogeography & Conservation Biology Lab (https://www.geographie.hu- berlin.de/en/professorships/biogeography), which seeks to better understand dynamics in coupled human-natural systems, and how these dynamics affect biodiversity – from landscape to global scales. Our research has the overall goal to help identify pathways to balance human resource use with the conservation of biodiversity, and is strongly motivated by providing solutions to conservation problems. We develop and apply approaches grounded in spatial ecology, spatial statistics, geographic analyses, and remote sensing. The group works in collaboration with researchers and science institutions worldwide and is an active contributor to science networks such as the Global Land Project and Diversitas. The working language of the group is English. We seek a candidate with an above-average MSc (or equivalent degree) in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Conservation Science, or related fields. We expect a strong interest in conservation issues, land system science, and sustainability problems. Required skills include a sound background in ecology and conservation biology, experience with field ecological methods, and advanced knowledge of geographic information systems and spatial statistics. Experience in R and Spanish language skills are highly welcome. We also expect an excellent command of the English language, good communication skills, and willingness to work in international research teams. We offer a position in an international, young and dynamic team with an excellent scientific record. Payment will be according to EGr. 13 TV-L HU (60% position), i.e., an annual gross salary of about 22,000-25,000 EUR, depending on prior research experience. Employment at Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin offers all benefits of the German public service, including health insurance. Funding for participation in scientific conferences and relevant workshops is available. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is located in the Berlin-Brandenburg research area and closely linked to neighboring institutions like the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) or the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). HU Berlin hosts one of Germany’s leading Geography Departments, with research foci in Land System Science, Sustainability Science, and Metropolitan Studies. Berlin is Germany’s largest city with an inspiring metropolitan flair and great scientific networking opportunities. HU Berlin is a certified family-friendly university. We seek to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, and specifically encourage qualified female scientists/researchers to apply. Applicants with disabilities with equivalent qualifications will be given preferential consideration. Non-German Citizens are specifically encouraged to apply. Please refer to https://www.personalabteilung.hu- berlin.de/stellenausschreibungen where you find the legally binding German version of the job announcement. Applicants should include (1) a letter of motivation, (2) a full CV, (3) a writing example (e.g., a publication, a part of a thesis), and (4) contact details for two references. Please send the application electronically in a single PDF file to Ms. Dagmar Wörister ([email protected]). Please include the reference number in the content line of your email. Application deadline: 16 July 2015 For further information please contact Prof. Tobias Kuemmerle ([email protected]).
