The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Senckenberg conducts biodiversity and Earth System research with more than 800 employees and research institutions and research museums in seven federal states. As part of our strategic development, we launched an ambitious long-term research program to address “Anthropocene Biodiversity Loss”. As part of this program, the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBi K-F) invites applications for a
Data Scientist in Ecological Statistics and Modelling
(tenure-track, full time / part time options available)
SBi K-F investigates the interactions and feedbacks between biodiversity and climate in the past, present and future. In our research, we integrate approaches from biosciences and geosciences and combine data from natural history collections with empirical research and modeling in ecological, evolutionary and ecosystem sciences. A core, innovative element of our research program is the development of cutting-edge numerical methods for the analyses of collection-based, organismal trait data to gain a functional understanding of the consequences of biodiversity loss.

Your tasks

• Conduct internationally outstanding trait-based research with plants and/or animals, ideally also addressing ecosystem-level processes

• Develop cutting-edge concepts and methods for the analyses and modelling of trait data

• Contribute to a mechanistic understanding of how climate and other environmental drivers shape biodiversity

• Contribute to establishing digital collections as a hub for trait-based research globally

• Publish results of your research in prestigious, international scientific journals

• Secure external third-party funding

• Contribute to the supervision of early-career researchers

• Provide support and training on novel statistical and machine learning/AI approaches to Senckenberg scientists

Your profile
Essential criteria

• Doctoral degree in biology, bioinformatics, environmental or geosciences, or a related field

• Excellent knowledge in cutting-edge statistical methods, e.g., Bayesian statistics and/or mechanistic/process-based ecological modelling

• Experience in the application of machine learning/AI

• Expertise working with functional traits of different taxa (e.g., plants and animals) and/or with trait-based ecosystem models

• Outstanding publication record and an internationally visible research profile given the career stage, e.g., related to one or several of these subject areas: functional ecology, global change biology, paleoecology, or evolutionary ecology

• Strong interest in biodiversity research in relation to climate change

• Willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams across the different Senckenberg institutes

• Fluency in spoken and written English

• Proven success in obtaining third-party funding given the career stage

Additional desirable criteria

• Curiosity to identify mechanisms linking different levels of biological organization (e.g., from genes to traits to ecosystems)

• Teaching and supervision experience

What can you expect?

• A vibrant, international team of scientists focused on curiosity-driven research to understand and protect Earth’s biodiversity

• Excellent infrastructures and collaboration opportunities, e.g. in ecology, ecosystem sciences, global change biology, molecular ecology and genomics

• An attractive and challenging position in a research institution of international standing

• Opportunities to participate in teaching and outreach activities, e.g. in our museum and with collaborating universities

• A salary that reflects the responsibilities of the position and the experience of the candidate, based on the collective agreement for public service in the state of Hesse

• Life in a vibrant, internationally-minded city (population 750.000), a global hub for transport and culture

• Flexible working hours – mobile office – annual special payment – company pension scheme – 30 days holidays – strong support for work/life balance (certified by “audit berufundfamilie”)

• Secure employment that is robust to economic or health crises

Place of employment: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Working hours: Full-time (40 hours/week), part time options are available
Type of contract: The position is initially limited; the type of time limitation depends on individual profile and legal framework (maximum 3+3 years). A later permanent employment is planned after a positive evaluation. Ideally, the contract should start in March 2025.
Salary: According to the German collective agreement of the State of Hesse (pay grade E 13, TV-H)
Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Women are particularly encouraged to apply, as they are underrepresented in the field of this position; in the case of equal qualifications and suitability they will be given preference. Applicants with disabilities (“Schwerbehinderung”) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.
How to apply?
Please send us your application documents containing:

• a letter of motivation

• a CV with publication list

• a research concept taking reference to the research program of SBi K-F

• copies of certificates and diplomas

in electronic form (as a single PDF file) by December 15th, 2024 to recruiting@senckenberg.de referring to the reference number Ref. #11-24008 or apply directly on our homepage using the online application form.
Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt a.M.
E-Mail: recruiting@senckenberg.de
For more information, please contact PD Dr. Matthias Schleuning matthias.schleuning@senckenberg.de, PD Dr. Eike Lena Neuschulz eike-lena.neuschulz@senckenberg.de and/or Prof. Dr. Thomas Hickler (Thomas.hickler@senckenberg.de)
Further information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung can be found at www.senckenberg.de.