Academic Staff Member (f/m/d) Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/Chair of Landscape Ecology

Academic Staff Member (f/m/d) Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/Chair of Landscape Ecology

Job Announcement

The University of Potsdam was founded in 1991 and has firmly established itself within the scientific landscape and developed into an outstanding economic factor and growth engine for the region. The university excels in acquiring third-party funds, has received multiple teaching awards, has a very service-oriented administration, and has been honored several times for its family -friendly culture. About 20,000 students and 3,000 employees study and work at three campuses – Am Neuen Palais, Griebnitzsee and Golm – at one of Germany’s most scenic institutions of higher education.

The University of Potsdam, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/Chair of Land- scape Ecology, invites applications for the following position limited to three years to be filled as soon as possible:

Academic Staff Member (f/m/d) Postdoctoral Researcher ID no. 345/2026

The successful candidate will work 40 hours per week (100 %). The position is classified within remuneration group 13 of the collective wage agreement among the German federal states (“Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder” – TV-L). The fixed term of employment is in accordance with Section 2 subsection 1 of the German Act on Fixed -Term Employment Contracts in Science and Academia (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz or WissZeitVG). If nec- essary, an extension is possible if personal and legal requirements are met.

Your Field of Work: The Landscape Ecology group at the University of Potsdam works at the interface of biodiver- sity science, trait-based ecology, spatial modelling, and human-modified ecosystems. Our re- search aims to understand and predict biodiversity patterns across spatial scales by integrating ecological theory with rigorous quantitative approaches, with a strong emphasis on reproduci- ble and conceptually grounded science. Our work combines three main research areas: biodiversity and community assembly in hu- man-modified landscapes, trait-based and functional ecological theory, and spatial ecological modelling and ecological forecasting. We place particular emphasis on high -quality scientific publications and collaborative research within an internationally oriented environment. As a growing group, we offer intellectual freedom and the opportunity to actively contribute to and shape our scientific direction from an early stage. The specific research focus will be developed together with the successful candidate and may build on ongoing projects in biodiversity change, ecological forecasting, spatial ecology, and functional approaches to understanding communities in changing landscapes. Teaching activities are carried out in the BSc Geoökologie and MSc CLEWS programmes, with a focus on integrating field-based learning, quantitative environmental data analysis, and modelling approaches to better understand complex geoecological and biodive rsity-related processes.

The Scope of Your Responsibilities: • Independent research in biodiversity science with a focus on spatial community ecology, functional ecology, biodiversity patterns and/or landscape ecology , including the develop- ment of research proposals and scientific publications

• Teaching: contribution to field courses, exercises and selected lectures in existing modules in the BSc Geoökologie and MSc CLEWS programmes, supervision of BSc and MSc theses
• Assistance in the organisation of courses and in the general organisation of the working group

Further academic qualification (post-doctoral thesis (Habilitation)) is possible. At least one - third of working hours is available for in-depth academic work.

The teaching load is based on the requirements of the Teaching Obligations Ordinance (LehrVV) of the State of Brandenburg, as amended, and the Regulation for Calculating Teach- ing Load that was passed by the Senate of the University of Potsdam. This position is assigned to the group of academic employees, with qualification opportunities.

Your Qualifications:

• Master’s and PhD (or PhD thesis submitted) in ecology, environmental science, biodiversity science, or a related field
• Proven experience in independent research and scientific publications
• Experience in academic teaching at Bachelor's and Master's level
• Strong quantitative skills in ecological data analysis, including experience with reproducible workflows in R and/or Python
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary and international environment, and to communicate in English

We are also looking for the following competences:

• Strong conceptual thinking in ecology
• Experience in spatial, landscape, or community ecology
• Background in trait-based ecology, macroecology, or functional ecology
• Experience in ecological modelling or predictive approaches
• Ability to teach in German (at Bachelor level) is an advantage

What We Offer: As a university, we combine the strong potential for development of a teaching and research institution with the attractive working conditions of the public sector. The University of Potsdam is a reliable employer that supports its employees with a variety of offers and benefits:

• Make the most of the various continuing education and networking opportunities offered by the University of Potsdam to refine your subject-specific and interdisciplinary competencies for professional as well as personal growth.
• All campuses have good transport connections. You can receive a monthly subsidy for the public transport job ticket and use our campus bicycles.
• Benefit from a company pension scheme, a special annual payment, and capital -forming benefits.
• Take advantage of the various offers from our Occupational Health Management unit as well as the Academic Sports Center.
• To improve employees’ work -life balance, the University of Potsdam offers family-friendly flexible working hours and a defined share of remote working hours (e.g. work from home).
• You have 30 vacation days per year (with a 5-day week) and are also exempt from work on December 24 and 31.

You can find more information about working at the University of Potsdam at https://www.uni- potsdam.de/en/arbeiten-an-der-up/employer-up/overview

For further information on the advertised position, please contact Prof. Fournier by e-mail: ber-

Your Application: Please send us your application including the ID no. 345/2026 by September 18, 2026, by email to Please submit a single PDF file containing a cover letter, curriculum vitae, publication list, a brief statement of research interests (maximum two pages), and the contact details of two referees.

If you completed higher education qualifications outside the EU, please submit a German translation and the assessment of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen – ZAB) . Alternatively, please send us a PDF file from the data- base for the recognition and assessment of foreign higher education certificates (ANABIN).

The University of Potsdam values the diversity of its community and pursues the goals of equal opportunity regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation and identity. Applications from abroad and from persons with a migration background are expressly encouraged. The university strives for a balanced gender ratio in all employment groups; in areas where women are underrepresented, women are given preference in case of equal suitability (Section 7 paragraph 4 of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act). People with disabilities are given preferential consideration in case of equal suitability. In aptitude tests and selection interviews, individual compensation measures for disadvantages are granted, taking the specific disability into consideration. If a person with a disability would like to make use of individual compensation measures, please state this in the application letter.

Potsdam, August 10, 2026