Postdoc in “Resilience vs vulnerability of polar food webs to environmental stressors” (m/f/d/x)

Role: Postdoc in “Resilience vs vulnerability of polar food webs to environmental stressors” (m/f/d/x)
Organisation: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI), part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Location: Bremerhaven, Germany

Job Description
Background
Global warming is reshaping Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice habitats, with still uncertain consequences for complex marine food webs. Alongside these physical changes, anthropogenic pollutants — such as organohalogenated compounds and microplastics— add further stress to the system. Additional pressures include ocean warming, acidification, and rising levels of shipping and tourism. Together, these factors influence the structure, connectivity, and functioning of polar marine food webs.

In this role, your task is to model a range of plausible scenarios describing how polar food webs may evolve under these combined stressors. This work will incorporate field data generated by various PhD and student projects within the group, including studies on trophic interactions and the occurrence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and microplastics in Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. The outcomes will support projections of ecosystem health and functioning in future polar oceans characterised by reduced sea ice and increasing human activity, ultimately contributing to a knowledge base for the management and conservation of biological resources in these vulnerable ecosystems.

Key research questions include, but are not limited to:
- How might projected changes in sea-ice cover and other environmental variables affect the diet composition, availability, and distribution of commercially important fish species and their preferred prey?
- How could cumulative stressors — such as climate-driven dietary shifts that alter patterns of pollutant bioaccumulation and biomagnification — affect the feeding ecology of key ecological species and the functioning of entire ecosystems?
- Based on model output, what is concrete advice for stakeholders and decision-makers regarding the sustainability of potential future fishing activities in the central Arctic Ocean?

The position offers the opportunity to explore your own ideas in a dynamic, supportive, and creative working environment. The postdoc project will be strongly linked to two ongoing PhD projects investigating trophic dynamics and pollution burden in polar food webs. All projects are embedded in the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group Double-Trouble (Junior Research Group at AWI).

Responsibilities (Your Tasks)
- Simulate and model the results of various pressures on the current and future structure of polar ecosystems, including results from the two PhD projects in the working group, by using different ecosystem models, such as Ecopath.
- Formulate predictions on the resilience vs. vulnerability of polar ecosystems to cumulative stressors, e.g., warming, sea-ice loss, species migration, biodiversity loss, pollution, shipping, etc.
- Present research results to experts and non-experts (conferences, workshops, outreach).
- Publish your research in renowned peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Requirements and Qualifications (Your Profile)
- PhD degree (or equivalent) in marine ecology, marine ecotoxicology or a related field.
- Experience in ecosystem modelling.
- Understanding of polar marine food webs and the impact of climate change.
- Independent and creative working style.
- Goal-oriented and persistent working style.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C2).

What They Offer
- Excellent research environment with access to globally unique infrastructure, comprehensive datasets, and international expeditions.
- Opportunity to develop and pursue independent scientific ideas and innovative research approaches addressing societally relevant questions.
- Close scientific collaboration and interdisciplinary cooperation within the institute as well as with national and international partners.
- An international working environment with daily interaction with colleagues from around the world.
- Opportunities for professional and personal development.
- Flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working for up to 50% of regular working hours.
- Annual special payment in accordance with the German public sector collective agreement (TVöD Bund).
- Occupational health promotion and company fitness programme with Hansefit.
- Support services and an established culture promoting work–life balance, e.g. through our family office offering childcare services (e.g. holiday programmes) as well as advice on family and care responsibilities.
- Occupational pension scheme (VBL).
- Support for settling in through the Family Office and International Office.
- AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.