Senckenberg Research Institute Job offer ref. # 11-19001 The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. SGN conducts natural history research with almost 800 employees and research institutions in six federal states. Within SGN, the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F) explores the interactions between biodiversity, climate, and society.
Senckenberg BiK-F invites applications for a PostDoc position (m/f/d) "Human-carnivore coexistence across borders" (full time). The transfer of evidence-based information to society is essential for human-carnivore coexistence, because knowledge is a key factor in conservation debates. In the context of the project “Transfer of evidence-based and co-produced Knowledge for Human-Wolf Coexistence – KnowWolf”, funded by the Leibniz Association, we plan to tackle three challenges in science communication to society: i) media literacy, ii) science literacy and iii) emotional barriers. The aim of the postdoctoral position is to overcome these barriers by developing models of social-ecological sustainability that will be implemented in a modular tablet application as an innovative, immersive and adaptive interface between science and society, focused on human-wolf coexistence. In collaboration with a diverse team of scientists and communication experts of the KnowWolf project, the candidate will actively contribute to the design, the development and the implementation of the application, by i) designing interactive analyses of social survey implemented in the application, ii)developing choice experiments related to wolf management in different countries and iii) developing models of social-ecological suitability in different human-wolf coexistence contexts. With data collected during the project, the candidate will examine questions related to public perceptions and emotions towards wolves in different contexts of coexistence, identify potential drivers of human-wolf coexistence, and evaluate the performance of adaptive information content for knowledge transfer focused on the wolf topic. Your tasks: • Develop adaptive social-ecological models of suitability for human-wolf coexistence in different contexts (i.e. within and outside Europe) • Collaborate with KnowWolf team to design choice experiments related to wolf management • Extend KnowWolf’s network of collaborators to document management options in the countries where the DTT will be implemented, to optimize management choice experiments • Cooperate with a Digital Agency to implement the social-ecological models, choice experiments and games in the DTT • Contribute to KnowWolf project management: strategic planning, meetings, promotion, implementation, reporting • Analyse results of the social surveys across contexts of coexistence and evaluate the performance of the knowledge transfer in relation to the adaptive information content • Publish research results in international journals in cooperation with the project team Your profile: • A PhD degree in ecological modelling, ecology, interdisciplinary environmental science, environmental management, sustainability, social ecology, conservation, psychology or another relevant field • Interest in carnivore ecology and human-wildlife conflicts • Programming skills (R, Matlab, Phython or similar) with abilities to develop statistical models are required • Familiarity with Shiny R, JavaScript or equivalent tools for designing web applications of statistical analyses is advantageous • Experience in developing or applying social-ecological models, population models, choice experiments is advantageous • Excellent publication record • Excellent English language skills • German language skills are advantageous • Experience in working in an interdisciplinary environment What is awaiting you? • An interesting task in a dynamic team of researchers in an international research group • The possibility to build and extend your network with scientists at an international level and to attend national and international conferences • Flexible working hours – annual special payment – company pension scheme – Senckenberg ID card for free entry in museums in Frankfurt Salary and benefits are according to a full time public service position in Germany (TV-H E 13, 100 %). The position is a 2-year fixed-term post (with a possible extension of another year), starting as soon as possible. This project takes place in the group of Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller (thomas.muel...@senckenberg.de). For scientific enquiries, please contact Dr. Ugo Arbieu (ugo.arb...@senckenberg.de). The Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre supports equal opportunity of men and women and therefore strongly invites women to apply. Equally qualified handicapped applicants will be given preference. The place of work is in Frankfurt am Main at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F). The employer is the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Natur-forschung. Please send your application, mentioning the reference of this job offer (ref. #11-19001) before February 17th, 2019 (deadline) by e-mail (attachment in a single pdf document) and including a cover letter describing your motivation to apply, a detailed CV, relevant credentials and certificates, two relevant publications, and contact details of two potential references to: Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung Senckenberganlage 25 60325 Frankfurt am Main E-Mail: recruit...@senckenberg.de Link to original job announcement: http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/stellenausschreibungen/ref11-19001_postdoc_position_knowledge_transfer.pdf Link to Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F): http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=75 Link to Movement Ecology Group: http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=1077
