Doctoral position (m/f/d, 4 yrs) "Eelgrass Seascape Genomics"

at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, one of 
the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine 
research. The doctoral project will be carreid out in the research group 
"Marine Evolutionary Ecology" 
(https://www.geomar.de/en/researchgroup-treusch).

Background and Project Description - The position is embedded into the 
German ANK ("Nature Based Solutions") funded project ZOBLUC - Zostera as 
Blue Carbon Ecosystem. The successful candidate will work within a 
consortium coordinated by GEOMAR that also comprises groups at Kiel 
University and at the State Agency for Environment of Schleswig Holstein 
(LfU). The primary goal of ZOBLUC is to upscale mapping, monitoring, 
restoration techniques and stakeholder involvement for eelgrass (Zostera 
marina) conservation and restoration in the south-western Baltic Sea.

The specific aim of the advertised position is to characterize regional 
eelgrass (Zostera marina) populations in a seascape genomics approach. 
Among the specific tasks are (i) characterizing populations using full 
genome resequencing (ii) combine population genomic data with available 
ocean dispersal models (iii) correlate genetic structure with 
environmental parameters in an environmental association study (iv) 
project the effects of future environmental change on local eelgrass 
survival using genomic offset analyses. The successful candidate will 
closely collaborate with a postdoctoral fellow addressing "Seagrass 
Assisted Evolution" within the same project, as well as with two other 
doctoral students working on eelgrass conservation. Our team comprises a 
scientific diving group that will assist in obtaining samples. Access to 
infrastructure required to conduct large-scale omics analyses such as 
sequencing and high-performance computing is available, as well as 
state-of-the art experimental facilities with running seawater.

Requirements for a successful application are:

* MSc-degree (or equivalent) in biology, genetics, ecology, marine
   sciences, or in a related subject
* experience in population genetics and genomics
* knowledge in evolutionary biology
* experience with omic approaches including bioinformatic scripting
* proficiency in English (written and spoken)

Desirable qualifications would be:
* scientific publications based on the MSc thesis
* experience in landscape or seascape genomics
* experience in seagrass ecology and evolution
* knowledge in marine nature conservation regulation and management
* scientific diving license

The position is for four years at the E13 pay scale equivalent to 75%
of a full contract (approx.  euro 3000 gross), the desired starting date is
1 May 2025. The position offers the possibility to attain a doctoral
degree in natural sciences.

Please submit your application no later than 20 March 2025,
the link can be found along with further details here:
https://www.geomar.de/en/karriere/job-single-en/doktorandenstelle-m-w-d-seegras-seascape-genomik

Please include a one-page research outline how you would tackle the 
question of seascape genomics in eelgrass. For further informal 
inquiries, regarding the position and research unit please contact 
Prof. Thorsten Reusch (treusch(at)geomar.de).

Thorsten Reusch <treusch@geomar.de>

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