Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 243/2026
Closing date: 2026-10-01

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.

The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig – iDiv is a world-leading centre for biodiversity science and focuses on understanding biodiversity on our planet. Founded in 2012 with funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), iDiv has since grown to over 300 employees and 170 members. iDiv is largely funded by the three central German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony. Their three universities in Halle, Jena and Leipzig operate the research centre in cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ. More information about iDiv: .

In the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, we are looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in Macroevolution and Macroecology

commencing on December 1, 2026.

We offer a full-time position (40 hours per week) on a fixed-term basis for 3 years. A reduced working time with a minimum of 75% (30 hours per week) is also possible. Workplace will be at iDiv in Leipzig.

The position will be part of the research group “Biodiversity in the Anthropocene (BinA)”. Our research focusses on large-scale biodiversity patterns of vertebrates in time and space. We integrate datasets and approaches from macroecology, macroevolution, biogeography, and palaeontology, and aim to understand how biodiversity is distributed across the world today, how it has originated and changed through geological history, and how we can predict future biodiversity patterns under global change.
As part of a dynamic and international team in Leipzig, you will be responsible for developing macroevolutionary or macroecological research that investigates how the evolutionary history of species, their traits, and their environmental context influence present-day large-scale biodiversity patterns, focussing on birds or mammals. Your research will link large comparative datasets on spatial occurrence, species traits, and phylogenies to address key research questions on diversification of species and higher taxa, biogeography, trait evolution, or trait-based ecology.

Your responsibilities:

• You develop your own research profile in the field of macroevolution and macroecology, focussing on birds or mammals
• You contribute macroevolutionary expertise to ongoing research in the “Biodiversity in the Anthropocene” team
• You support teaching and thesis supervision in the BSc and MSc degree programmes of the Faculty of Biological Sciences
• You publish scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals
• You present your research at national and international meetings and conferences

Your profile:

• You have successfully graduated from a university with a Master degree or Diploma in biology, zoology, ecology, or a similar discipline and you hold a PhD degree in biology, zoology, ecology, or a similar discipline
• Alternatively, you have successfully graduated from a university with a Bachelor degree in biology, zoology, ecology, or a similar discipline and you hold a PhD degree (gained through a fast-track procedure) in biology, zoology, ecology, or a similar discipline
• You possess professional knowledge of macroevolutionary patterns and processes and experience in commonly utilized methods in the field, particularly regarding application to birds or mammals; additional knowledge and experience of patterns, processes, and methods in macroecology are an advantage
• You are proficient in a programming language (e.g. R) and have strong quantitative and statistical expertise, e.g. phylogenetic comparative methods, macroevolutionary analyses of speciation / extinction / trait evolution, or quantification of phylogenetic or functional diversity
• Experience in the scientific publication process is necessary; an excellent publication list (relative to the personal duration of experience in the academic system) is desirable
• Ideally, you have experience in teaching in BSc or MSc programmes
• You possess excellent oral and written communication skills in English; knowledge of German is of advantage (teaching is generally expected to take place in English; the ability to cover courses in German is welcomed)

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 () in case of questions.

We offer:

• 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 in Jena, in the iDiv network Halle-Jena-Leipzig, and beyond
• The opportunity to participate in our targeted iDiv Postdoc Programme 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) at salary scale E13 — depending on the candidate’s personal qualifications—, including a special annual payment in accordance with the collective agreement
• 30 days of vacation per calendar year plus two days off on December 24 and 31

The advertised position is offered as a fixed-term position for 3 years. This is a full-time position (40 hours per week). A reduced working time with a minimum of 75% (30 hours per week) is also possible.

Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.

Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by 30.09.2026 using our online form. Please upload a single PDF file containing your motivation letter (max. 2 pages), your CV, your ideas for the position as a short research proposal (1 page), the contact details of two persons who are willing to be contacted for a reference, and your relevant certificates. If you cannot supply a certificate for your PhD degree yet, please provide i) a letter from your degree program or your PhD supervisor, indicating the date of thesis submission and the likelihood of obtaining the degree, ii) an official certificate or letter showing date of admission to the PhD program at a university. Please note that we do not expect you to upload a photo in the online form.

For further information for applicants and the information on the collection of personal data, please refer to