Our team and research
You will be part of a cross-disciplinary research-team working with citizen science, monitoring of biodiversity and nature restoration. We aim to conduct cutting edge science at a high international standard, but also involve with conservation practitioners, NGOs and individuals conducting restoration or participating in participatory monitoring of biodiversity. Hereby we aim to bridge the science-practice interface to improve conservation outcomes on the ground. We combine primary field based research, scientific reviews and analyses of existing data. We emphasize teamwork and collaborations both inside UCP and with a global network of collaborators. We strive to maintain a supportive and inclusive group where the experiences and skills of everyone help to build a productive, synergetic, and friendly culture and working environment.

CMEC is a center of excellence with a cross-disciplinary research program. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment addressing fundamental questions on the origin, maintenance, conservation, and future of life and biological diversity on Earth. The 40+ researchers at CMEC currently represent 14 different nationalities and the working language is English. The center juxtaposes faculty staff scientists from the fields of macroecology, historical biogeography, conservation science, oceanography, evolutionary biology, community ecology, population biology, climate change research, and environmental economics.

NHMD is the national museum for nature and contains more than 14 million objects of preserved animals, plants, fossils and minerals. We are currently building a new Danish national museum for nature. One big museum site in the Botanical Garden at the center of Copenhagen will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. The Science & Society section is one of four research sections at the NHMD leading Citizen Science research and working across the traditional research areas of botany, geology and zoology.

Your job
The position is part of a project lead by Bird Life Denmark and involving the two research groups at UCPH mentioned above. The position will be shared between CMEC, under supervision by Professors Carsten Rahbek and Kasper Thorup and Assoc. prof. Jacob Heilmann-Clausen and NHMD under supervision by Assoc. Prof Anders P. Tøttrup. From Bird Life Denmark, Head of Nature Dep, Jacob Jensen will be the contact person. Collaboration between the three involved institutions will be secured though joint supervision meetings.

The overall project aim is to investigate how citizen scientists can contribute to the monitoring of bird diversity in habitat restoration projects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The project involve analysis of time-series data on bird occurrences in restoration projects including both forest and freshwater habitats. In addition new data sampling projects will be conducted involving volunteers from Bird Life Denmark. This work will be coordinated by professional project partners from Bird Life Denmark, but active participation in both the design and implementation phase is expected from you, as well as a lead role in data analysis and scientific writing. This work should explore ecological as well as methodological issues, but could even address the learning outcome and incentive structures of participating volunteers. Finally, a review or perspective paper investigating the relevance of birds as indicators of success in nature restoration projects is expected.

You will have the main responsibility for conducting the research described above, in collaboration with your supervisors and Bird Life Denmark. Within the overall frames of the project scope, and depending on data availability, you will have the opportunity to shape your own research projects. You are expected to lead the development of at least four papers for publication in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, participation in collaborative projects with other lead authors is participated. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience in teaching and supervise MSc and BSc student thesis projects.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• A Ph D in conservation science, biology, or other environmental sciences.
• First-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals
• Good understanding of Danish birds and their habitat associations
• Good understanding of ecosystem dynamics and restoration ecology in temperate terrestrial ecosystems
• Experience with monitoring of biodiversity involving volunteers
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in teaching and supervising undergraduate and MSc students
• Experience in statistical analysis (for example Mixed-Effects models and/or time series data).
• Experience with systematic reviews or perspective papers on habitat restoration
• Experience with remote sensing and GIS

Place of employment
The place of employment is shared between the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (2 years), and the Natural History Museum, Faculty of science (1 year) at the University of Copenhagen.