Technische Universität Berlin offers an open position:
4 Positions – Research Assistant – PhD candidate – 0.5 part time
Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L Berliner Hochschulen
Faculty VI -Department of Ecology
Reference Number: VI-369/14
(to be filled as soon as possible for a period of 4 years – with an additional 5th year after successful evaluation/
closing date for applications 17.10.2014)
Working field: The research group RuralFutures – financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) focuses on South American native grasslands as heavily used socio-ecological systems.
These grasslands are currently subject to expanding land use changes by afforestation and by agro-industrial soya
bean cultivation for the globalized market. Transnational forest industry and local small-scale forestry are planting mainly non-native species. Although afforestations are being established at high rates, effects on ecosystems are controversially debated and scientific studies are scarce. At the same time, only negligible parts of the region have a nature protection status. The Rural Futures project applies the conceptual framework of ́Multifunctional Productive Landscapes ́ to silvi- and agriculturally modified grasslands of Uruguay and defines steps towards sustainable rural landscapes, which incorporate biodiversity targets and enhance ecosystem services.
The positions are assigned to thematically specific research modules (see below). The results for each PhD thesis will be achieved in specificres earch module tasks.
Requirements: Successful candidates must have completed a university degree (Master, Diplom or equivalent)
in biology, geography, ecology or similar with good knowledge of landscape ecology. Practical experience in research module specific skills and techniques, good knowledge of written and spoken Spanish and English is an advantage.
Candidates must be dynamic and motivated for field work in Uruguay as well as for laboratory and office work in an international team in Berlin, Germany.
– PhD Position Biodiversity Module (good knowledge of South American flora and fauna, experimental ecology and field work experience, multivariate analysis)
– PhD Position Grazing Module (good knowledge of South American flora and fauna, experimental ecology and field work experience, multivariate analysis)
– PhD Position Native Forest Module (good knowledge of South American flora and fauna, experimental ecology and field work experience, multivariate analysis) and
– PhD Position Modelling Module (good knowledge of GIS, data bank management and modelling, multivariate analysis)
Please send your application by email as a single document (pdf) with the reference number and with the subject
line „PhD RuralFutures“ (cover letter including a short statement of research interests, CV, contact details for
references and a concise description of your master work) to Ms Dr. Säumel (ina.saeumel@tu-berlin.de) or in writing to
Technische Universität Berlin
Der Präsident
Fakultät VI, Nachwuchsforschungsgruppe RuralFutures
Frau Dr. Säumel, Sekr.BH 9-1
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1
10587 Berlin
To ensure equal opportunities between women and men, applications by women with the required qualifications are
explicitly desired. Handicapped applicants with equal qualifications will be favoured. Please send copies only. Original documents will not be returned.
The vacancies are also available on the internet at http://www.personalabteilung.tu-berlin.de/menue/jobs/.