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Postdoctoral (m/f/d) on Atlantic deep-sea food webs in the context of marine conservation

GEOMAR

Posted on Sep 24, 2026

Postdoctoral (m/f/d) on Atlantic deep-sea food webs in the context of marine conservation

Deadline: 14th October 2026

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

The Deep-Sea Biology Working Group of the research unit Marine Evolutionary Ecology of the research division Marine Ecology is offering a

Postdoctoral (m/f/d)

on Atlantic deep-sea food webs in the context of marine conservation

The employment is for 2 years. Starting date is flexible, but preferred March 1, 2027. Participation in a cruise to the NACES from 27^th August to 14^th of September 2027 is needed.

Background and Project Description

The position is embedded in the EU project OceanSOS. Oceanic food webs provide vital ecosystem services to humankind including food, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. However, we understand little about how existing and emerging human activities threaten food web health and integrity. OceanSOS will assess emerging threats to some of the most dynamic and productive marine ecosystems on Earth by generating essential data on the impacts that existing and emerging threats will have on bentho-pelagic coupling, the biological carbon pump and food web energy flow, and how those impacts will be compounded by climate change.

The advertised position will be dedicated to documentation and quantification of species diversity, biomass and food web interactions from low to high trophic levels from Atlantic deep seas, and to generate and integrate data in food web modelling with focus on the mesopelagic zone. The regional focus is the NACES marine protected area. The successful candidate will work in a consortium in collaboration with the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Imperial College in London, as well as researchers at GEOMAR. The work will involve seagoing expeditions in the Atlantic to apply net sampling and optical underwater observations of pelagic fauna (>1cm) such as midwater invertebrates and fishes. The first cruise to the NACES region will take place from 27^th August to 14^th of September 2027. Additionally, food web interactions will be investigated by stomach content analysis using visual means, stable isotope analysis and DNA metabarcoding in the laboratories of GEOMAR. The candidate will create a database of Atlantic mesopelagic fauna and their interactions in the NACES and wider Atlantic, and contribute to food web modelling efforts in the OceanSOS consortium. Finally, the successful candidate is expected to write publications as well as contribute to funding and ship time proposals.

Required qualifications:

PhD in Marine Science or similar
Experience, willingness and ability to participate in ocean scientific expeditions
Proven experience in quantitative and/or food web ecology
Publication record with first author publications
Very good written and spoken English

Desirable qualifications:

experience with processing net samples and/or video analysis
experience with molecular lab work and/or sequence analysis
experience with food web modelling
experience with identification of mesopelagic taxa
Proficiency in programming (e.g. Python or R)

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a daycare center at the Kiel site
Support services for professional and personal life situations
An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
Exciting topics in an international environment
Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
Currently 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
Corporate Benefits for employees
Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is available for a funding period of 24 months. The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class E13 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. This is a full-time position, (but 75% of a full-time equivalent is also possible). The position cannot be split.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your application for this post, including a motivation letter, curriculum vitae (CV) and certificates not later than 14^th October 2026 under the following link:

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation.

For further information regarding the position and research unit please contact Dr. Henk- Jan Hoving (hhoving(at)geomar.de) and Dr. Marco Scotti (mscotti(at)geomar.de).

We will answer all your questions if you send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “OceanSOS”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.

See more open positions at GEOMAR