Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN), Frankfurt am Main

Job Announcement ref. #04-25008

For its Division River Ecology and Conservation in Gelnhausen, the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, is seeking to fill the following position

(full time / minimum 75%)

as soon as possible.

• Location: Gelnhausen
• Employment scope: full-time / minimum 75%
• Type of contract: limited to two years / an extension is possible
• Remuneration: collective agreement of the state Hesse, TV-H E13

Founded in 1817, Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) is one of the world’s leading research institutions in the field of biodiversity. At our twelve sites in Germany, scientists from over 40 nations conduct cutting-edge research on an international scale.

We are looking for an enthusiastic ecologist (m/f/d) with a background in community ecology, macroecology, metacommunities, and/or analysis of ecological time series. The applicant should have a strong track record of scientific publications.

The position is embedded in the EU-funded project Biodiversity Meets Data (BMD; bmd-project.eu/). The BMD project aims to provide a toolbox equipped with a suite of Virtual Research Environments (VREs) that are co-designed with the stakeholders to deliver biodiversity assessments, biodiversity trend analyses, identification of drivers of change, and projections to future climatic and land cover scenarios at local, regional, national and European scales across the terrestrial, freshwater and marine realms. For this, a suite of thematic VREs will be developed that allow an easy-to-use application of models on available and harmonized biodiversity and environmental data. The project provides access to a wide range of spatial and temporal biodiversity and environmental data and a fantastic opportunity to become part of European networks of established researchers, postdocs, and graduate students working with monitoring data.

Further, we provide an opportunity to contribute to the Synthesis Center on Freshwater Biodiversity Change in Europe, a new research topic within Senckenberg. The Synthesis Center has already compiled > 30,000 freshwater biodiversity time series across 30 European countries from rivers and lakes, covering invertebrates, fish, macrophytes, diatoms, and benthic algae, and established a large pan-European network of > 150 researchers. The large datasets from the Synthesis Center require careful quality assurance/quality control and data management, and provide a unique opportunity to address a broad variety of fundamental and applied ecological questions, including those related to community ecology, freshwater and terrestrial (invertebrate) ecology, time series analyses, multiple stressors responses, and conservation (see https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06400-1 for an example).

Your tasks

• Contributing scientifically to the BMD project, specifically through developing VREs and identifying available biodiversity and environmental data resources relevant for VREs
• Attending virtual and physical project meetings
• Managing big biodiversity datasets, including quality assurance/quality control and methods for automation
• Analyzing spatial and temporal biodiversity data, and accompanied environmental data, to elucidate spatial patterns and temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and drivers thereof
• Preparing project reports and scientific manuscripts
• Mentoring graduate students
• Giving oral presentations at national and international conferences

Your profile

• PhD in Ecology or a related field
• Solid background in (macro-) ecology and biodiversity research. Solid background in zoology preferred but not essential.
• Advanced skills in statistical analyses, using R
• Project management and report writing
• Strong track record of international scientific publications
• Excellent written and oral communication and project presentation skills in English

We offer

• access to an international network of scientists, policymakers and research organizations
• an attractive job within the inspired and dynamic working environment of an internationally recognized research institution
• flexible working hours – mobile working options – assistance with child care and care for family members ("audit berufundfamilie") – employee ID card with free admission to Senckenberg museums – annual special payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement – company pension plan (ZVK)

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. Applicants with a severe disability will be given special 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 your application (letter of motivation with a short description of your previous and current research foci, a CV, certificates of academic achievements, list of publications as well as letter(s) of recommendation) electronically (as a single PDF) to recruiting(at)senckenberg.de stating the reference #04-25008 by September 12, 2025 or apply online, using the application form on our website www.senckenberg.de/de/karriere/bewerbung/

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt a.M.

If you have any specific questions about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Peter Haase at peter.haase(at)senckenberg.de

For data protection information on the processing of personal data as part of the application and selection process, please refer to the privacy policy on our website at https://www.senckenberg.de/en/imprint/

Please visit our website at www.senckenberg.de for further information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung.