Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 060/2026
Closing date: 2026-03-29

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 (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig 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 Helm-holtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ. More information about iDiv: www.idiv.de. In the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, we are looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in trait-based community ecology and modelling

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 (EcoNetLab - 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 EcoNetLab 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 “DynaCom” funded by the German Research Foundation DFG. This project focusses on island community assembly across tropic 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 DynaCom research unit.

Your responsibilities:

• 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 em-pirical analyses and mechanistic modelling, and contribute to scientific synthesis across different projects in the DynaCom 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

Your profile:

• 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).

We offer:

• An intellectually stimulating, independent and varied scientific activity with exciting creative oppor-tunities
• 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 grad-uate 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 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 a maximum of 2 years.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week). A reduced working time with a minimum of 80% (32 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 29.03.2026 using our online form.

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