Open PhD position in Socio-Cultural Dynamics of Ecosystem Services

Job offer ref. #11-17007

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (SGN) is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. SGN conducts natural history research with almost 800 employees and research institutions in six federal states. Within SGN, the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) explores the interactions between biodiversity, climate, and society.

Senckenberg BiK-F invites applications for a

PhD position in “Socio-Cultural Dynamics of Ecosystem Services”

(50 %)

We seek a doctoral researcher (m/f) (PhD candidate) to work in an interdisciplinary team on a project which will investigate the social and cultural dynamics of ecosystem services. The project is a collaborative effort between natural and social scientists from the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (Institute for Sociology), ISOE –Institute for Social-Ecological Research Frankfurt am Main, and the large-scale and long-term German science foundation (DFG) funded Biodiversity Exploratories project. The PhD candidate will investigate the relationships between land-use, biodiversity and ecosystem services and how these are altered by the perceptions and use of different stakeholder groups within the Biodiversity Exploratories, Germany.

Your profile:

  • You hold a Master’s degree in sociology, or a related field
  • Strong quantitative and qualitative skills in social research, including interview and survey

methods are required

  • Research interest in interdisciplinary working environments
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and German
  • Background in environmental sociology and thorough knowledge of the ecosystem services

framework, literature, and statistical programming skills (preferably R) are beneficial Salary and benefits are according to a public service position in Germany (TV-H E 13, 50%). The position will be for 3 years. The Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre supports equal opportunity of men and women and therefore strongly invites women to apply. Equally qualified handicapped applicants will be given preference. The place of work is in Frankfurt am Main with attendance time at the Goethe University, Department of Social Sciences, as well as at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre BiK-F.

Please include the reference to this position (ref. #11-17007) in the subject line and include a cover letter describing your motivation to apply, a detailed CV, relevant credentials and certificates, and contact details of 2 potential referees.

Please submit your application before 5th March 2017 via e-mail as a single PDF file to:

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung

Senckenberganlage 25

60325 Frankfurt am Main

E-Mail: recruiting [at] senckenberg [dot] de

For enquiries regarding the position please contact Prof. Dr. Birgit Blättel-Mink (b.blaettelmink@

soz.uni-frankfurt.de), or Dr. Marion Mehring (Mehring [at] isoe [dot] de).

Further information:

Biodiversity Exploratories: http://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de/1/home/

ISOE: http://www.isoe.de/en/home/

BiK-F: http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=57

Institute of Sociology: http://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/46130897/sociology

Advisory/Collaborator team:

Dr. Marion Mehring: http://www.isoe.de/en/isoe/team/staff/marion-mehring/

Dr. Peter Manning http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=1051

Prof. Dr. Birgit Blaettel-Mink: http://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/50126929/bblaettel-mink

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller: http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=774

5 post-doc positions to study climate change at ICTA-Barcelona

ICTA – Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals

ICTA, the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) offers 5 two year post-doc fellowships for research on climate change within the ICTA-UAB Unit of Excellence ‘María de Maeztu’.

Minimum requirements are a Ph.D. degree obtained before the beginning of the contract, with a maximum of seven years since completion of the PhD (not including maternity leaves or other health-related breaks of career). Only very strong candidates with a very promising research trajectory and excellent capabilities will be considered. The successful applicants will become core members of the ‘Unit of Excellence’ funding programme (which will include research supervisors, 19 PhD students, the 5 postdoctoral researchers, and a research manager). They will have full freedom to develop their research agenda, a competitive salary for Spanish standards (minimum 30.100 Euros gross per annum, varying depending on experience) and a travel budget with possibility for visiting research stays.

The call is open to candidates from all disciplines including the natural and social sciences, humanities and engineering. Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their academic record and the strength of their research agenda.

The application includes:

  • A single doc file containing
  • A statement on research interests (1500 characters – not counting spaces – maximum), followed by a list of up to 5 of the applicant’s most relevant publications.
  • A proposal (3000 characters maximum) concerning the research to be conducted.
  • The names, affiliations and emails of two referees, that will be contacted if necessary and who should be willing to provide a letter within a two-weeks’ notice.
  • A single .pdf file (up to 4 Mb) containing the candidate’s CV in English.
  • A pdf of the best academic article where the applicant is the lead (or sole) author-published, in press, or submitted and under revision.

Deadline for applications is 8 pm (CET) on 17th April 2017: contracts should start during 2017. Please write to pr [dot] mdm [dot] icta [at] uab [dot] cat for further information or to apply for the positions.
About ICTA‐UAB María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence:

The Institute of Environmental Science and Technology was accredited as ‘María de Maeztu’ Unit of Excellence 2015 (MDM-2015-0552) by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO). The award is the highest institutional recognition of scientific research in Spain. ICTA-UAB is confirmed as a leading research institute on environmental science and global change.

ICTA-UAB is implementing a Strategic Research Programme (2016-2019) intended to consolidate its scientific capabilities on the field of climate change, contribute to the leadership of Spanish research and act as an international pole of attraction for talent. The plan addresses major global environmental and sustainability challenges related to anthropogenic climate change, focusing on establishing the current state of knowledge on climate change and its socio-economic impacts, and on putting forward transformative solutions at the local and regional levels. ICTA researchers follow a trans-disciplinary approach that ranges from the natural sciences to engineering and social sciences.

http://ictaweb.uab.cat/MdM_opportunities.php

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„Buch der Wildnis“ liefert Überblick über Österreichs letzte unberührte Naturräume

Gebäude, Straßen, Menschenmassen, Schmutz und Lärm – je hektischer unsere Welt wird, desto mehr wächst die Sehnsucht der Menschen nach ruhigen, naturbelassenen Rückzugsräumen. „Die Begriffe „Unverfälschte Natur“ oder „Wildnis“ erzeugen allerhand Bilder im Kopfkino, aber was sich dahinter konkret verbirgt, wissen wohl die wenigsten“, sagt Karin Enzenhofer vom WWF. „Wir wollen das ändern und einem besonderen Naturschatz ein Gesicht verleihen: der heimischen Wildnis. Das „Buch der Wildnis“ portraitiert 50 besonders naturnahe, kaum erschlossene Gebiete Österreichs. Leserinnen und Lesern erhalten Einblick in die Schönheit, den Wert und die Verletzlichkeit dieser einzigartigen Landschaften. Das Buch ist zum kostenfreien Download auf  www.wwf.at/wildnis erhältlich. Studie zeigt: Viel wilde Natur in den Alpen

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