Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 197/2024
Closing date: 2024-10-03

Friedrich Schiller University is a traditional university with a strong research profile rooted in the heart of Germany. As a university covering all disciplines, it offers a wide range of subjects. Its research is focused on the areas Light—Life—Liberty. It is closely networked with non-research institutions, research companies and renowned cultural institutions. With around 17.000 students and more than 10.000 employees, the university plays a major role in shaping Jena’s character as a cosmopolitan and future-oriented city.

The Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Faulty of Biological Sciences of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena seeks to fill the position of a

Scientific Employee in the field of
Plant Functional Biodiversity Research

commencing on 01 December, 2024.

We offer a part-time position (65%, 26 hours per week) for 3 years

Under current climate change, plant species respond to shifts in temperature via a shift in their phenology such as the timing of flowering or senescence or their distributional range. However, not all plant species are able to do so and it’s not quite clear, why that is. The general aim of this project, funded by the DFG, is to study the effect of frost resistance on plant species’ phenology and range and to elucidate, whether frost resistance is a key factor in explaining species-specific differences in their shifts due to climate change outside the tropics, where frost is an ecosystem driver. Assessing the contribution of frost resistance to the shifts in phenology and to the spatial extent of a species will help us to forecast species’ behaviour under further changes in climate and to fine-tune the predictions of plant community compositions and therefore biodiversity during further climate change in areas outside the tropics.
As our new doctoral candidate, you will conduct field experiments and data analysis in the DFG funded project “Frost resistance - a neglected driver of plant phenology and distribution?” both, on a local scale and in an international collaboration network monitoring phenology in botanical gardens in the local hemisphere.

Your responsibilities:

• Analyse patterns in phenology and their relationship with frost resistance with combining existing data with new measurements
• Conduct research within a network of Botanical gardens (Phen Obs)
• Conduct greenhouse experiments to study phenological shifts under controlled conditions.
• Supervise and support students in their scientific career development.
• Work on an own scientific qualification project (Ph D)

Your profile:

• A master’s degree in Botany, Geobotany, Ecology or related fields
• Knowledge in the areas of ecophysiology and functional trait research
• Experience in statistical analysis, preferably using R
• The willingness to conduct fieldwork abroad
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Preferably experience with writing scientific publication

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.

We offer:

• An exciting and important research opportunity in a dynamic and interdisciplinary team in the beautiful city of Jena
• Great networking opportunities with international networks, and researchers in Germany such as the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity research
• A comprehensive further and continuing education programme and individual qualification and development measures
• A Graduate Academy for doctoral candidates and postdocs;
• A family-friendly working environment with a variety of offers for families: University Family Office ‘JUni Familie’ and flexible childcare (‘JUni Kinder);
• University health promotion and a wide range of university sports activities;
• Attractive fringe benefits, e.g. capital formation benefits (VL) and an occupational pension (VBL)
• 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 a maximum of 3 years.

This is a part-time position with 65% of the working hours of a full-time employee (40 hours per week).

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 03.10.2024 using our online form.

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