Postdoc in Island biogeography of mutualistic networks in the Anthropocene

We are looking for a highly-motivated and dynamic researcher for a 2 year postdoc position, commencing 1 January 2022.

The position will be based at the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen. Information on the department can be found at: www.globe.ku.dk

Our group and research
The successful candidate will be part of the Dalsgaard Group within the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the GLOBE Institute. CMEC is a center of excellence with a cross-disciplinary research program. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment addressing fundamental questions on the origin, maintenance, conservation and future of life and biological diversity on Earth. The 40+ researchers at CMEC currently represent 14 different nationalities and the working language is English. The center juxtaposes faculty staff scientists from the fields of macroecology, historical biogeography, oceanography, evolutionary biology, community ecology, population biology, climate change research, conservation biology and environmental economics.

Project description and your job
This project is novel in integrating island biogeography theory and theories on how climate and anthropogenic pressures influence mutualistic plant-pollinator and seed-disperser interactions. The project combines field work data collected in the Caribbean with network analysis and biogeographical modelling. Your tasks would be to work closely together with another postdoc to jointly lead data collection across numerous islands in the Caribbean. You should be prepared to collect data for approximately 4-5 months in both 2022 and 2023. You would be expected to first-author several papers in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition to the two postdoc positions, a cohort of MSc students will participate in the project. All project partners will gather once a year to run workshops with the aim of publishing review and synthesis papers. You would also be expected to assist in teaching and supervise MSc student thesis projects. The project is funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Principal supervisor isAssociate Professor Bo Dalsgaard, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute,[email protected], Direct Phone: +45 42324553.
Co-supervisors and project partners are Senior Lecturer Christopher Kaiser-Bunbury and Research Fellow Benno I Simmons (University of Exeter, UK) and Professor Mauro Galetti (University of Miami, USA).

Profile
We are looking for a highly-motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in ecology or a related field (from October 2016 or later)
• You have published first-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals
• You are highly experienced in conducting fieldwork focused on plant-pollinator (preferably with pollination experiments) and / or plant-frugivore interactions and natural history
• You have experience and interest in working remotely and in challenging field conditions
• You have an active interest in combining field work data with modelling
• You know a programming language e.g. R.
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken
• A valid driving licence.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in teaching and supervising undergraduate and MSc students
• Spanish and/or French knowledge
• Experience conducting network analyses in R (or other programming languages).

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Information on CMEC and the GLOBE Institute can be found at: http://macroecology.ku.dk/ and https://globe.ku.dk/

University of Copenhagen is the best university in the European Union according to ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019) and number 26 in the world. The city of Copenhagen is consistently rated among the most livable cities in the world; it is easy to navigate on a bike, yet international and diverse.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full-time and fixed-term position for 2 years. Starting date is 1 January 2022 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 34,899 DKK/ approx. 4,690 Euro (April 2021-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of December 2019.

Questions
For further information please contact Bo Dalsgaard on [email protected].

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

Application deadline: 1 August 2021, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 33 (16-20 August 2021).

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk