Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) is one of the largest universities in Germany. Thanks to its location in the Rhine-Main science region, the university can unfold to its full potential and showcase its innovative power and dynamism. Its status as a comprehensive university allows for multidisciplinary learning and teaching and has great potential for internationally renowned, interdisciplinary research. Almost all of its institutes are located on a single campus close to the Mainz city center – creating a lively academic culture for researchers, teaching staff, and students from every continent.

Faculty 10: Biology / Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution / Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

2 Positions as Scientific Researcher

full-time (100%)

We (kokkonuts.org) are interested in strengthening our research team that works on life history evolution in a broad sense, including the evolution of ageing, sexual reproduction, and evolutionary conflicts. We are therefore offering two postdoctoral positions.
 

Both positions are offered for 3 years, ideally starting in January 2025 (with considerable flexibility). You will join a research group that will offer collaboration prospects within the group, with other researchers at JGU, as well as elsewhere via Prof. Kokko’s international network. Short- and long-term visitors, from workshops to sabbatical-length visits, bring in excellent prospects for collaboration and idea exchange between the postdoc and other theoreticians/empiricists as well.
 

The precise topic of position (1) will be developed together with the postdoc (see application procedure below), while the postdoc of position (2) will take part in a new collaboration between Prof. Kokko, Prof. Bouwhuis (https://sites.google.com/site/drsandrabouwhuis/) and Dr. Vedder (https://ifv-vogelwarte.de/en/home-ifv/staff/dr-oscar-vedder). This collaboration has a focus on life history theory, but also offers opportunities for field- and experimental work on common terns and/or captive quails, respectively.

Your tasks:

• we primarily focus on collaboration in research as well as independent academic work and further training
• presentation of own research results at conferences and workshops
• participation in the development and elaboration of ideas for research projects
• teaching expectation during semester times (4h/week) - The teaching language can be arranged flexibly in either English or German.
• supervision of seminar papers and assistance with examinations

Your profile:

In addition to the general requirements according to public services law, applicants must meet the recruitment requirements stipulated in § 57 of the Hochschulgesetz of Rhineland-Palatinate.

• A successfully completed scientific university degree in a suitable field (biology, physics, mathematics)
• A successfully completed doctorate (PhD degree) in a suitable field (biology, physics, mathematics) by the time of recruitment
• Skills in theoretical evolutionary ecology with a proven capability of producing publishable research in this field
• An interest in working in a ‘theory hub’ with full-time junior researchers as well as short-term visitors
• An interest in developing one’s teaching skills
• Proficiency in written and spoken English

What we have to offer:

• A chance to work within a newly established hub in theoretical evolutionary ecology
• Internal and external training opportunities
• Jobticket, optional for the entire Rhine-Main area
• Extensive human resources development offer
• Flexible working time arrangements

The position is paid according to EG 13 TV-L and to be filled on 01.01.2025. The position is limited to three years.
 

JGU is diverse and welcomes qualified applications from people with varied backgrounds.
 

We aim to increase the number of women in the field of research and teaching and therefore encourage female researchers to apply.
 

Candidates with severe disabilities and appropriate qualifications will be given priority.

Are you ready for a new challenge and interested in this varied and responsible position? Then submit your complete application (see list below), by 12 November 2024, preferably via the „Apply now“ button.
 

• CV + publication list
• Proof of your doctorate or a documentation of the stage of the doctorate, should completion be imminent
• A one-page motivation letter, that also indicates the position of primary interest (‘bird’ or ‘non-bird’)
• Some comments on one paper, chosen either from the journal club list of kokkonuts.org (section ‘journal club’), or from Prof. Kokko’s Google scholar profile. This part of the application should list the comments that the applicant would plan to give in a journal club if this paper was discussed there. The length of this document is not prescribed: concise expression, but with enough detail so that a reader can follow the logic, is ideal.
• Two names and email addresses of references

For questions and further information please contact Prof. Hanna Kokko, e-mail: hkokko@uni-mainz.de

Data protection information

Apply now