The German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) is a world-leading place for integrative biodiversity research, and seeks a scientist for its rewilding work in Europe. It is located in the city of Leipzig, and is jointly hosted by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU), the University of Leipzig (UL), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). It is supported by the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Association, the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the Free State of Saxony. Its central mission is to promote theory-driven synthesis
and data-driven theory in biodiversity. The scope of iDiv encompasses the detection of biodiversity, understanding its emergence, exploring its consequences for ecosystem functions and services, and developing strategies to safeguard biodiversity under global change.
The candidate will integrate the project: “Promoting and shaping the EU restoration agenda, including TEN-G , through mobilisation of rewilding principles to create a coherent Ecological Network in Europe”. This is a collaborative research project lead by Rewilding Europe, with the participation of iDiv/MLU, WWF European Ofice, Birdlife International, and European Environmental Bureau. This project aims to demonstrate that the rewilding principles provide a good solution to develop the trans-european green infrastructure (TEN-G) and to achieve the 15% restoration target of the 2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy.
This project seeks to:
1. Engage stakeholders in the discussion of the restoration target;
2. Develop a Rewilding Scale to guide restoration;
3. Identify synergies of the restoration agenda with other policies;
4. Carry out a systematic literature review on rewilding principles following the conservation evidence approach. 5. Develop a map of Europe that identifies priority areas for restoration within a TEN-G.
Requirements of the candidate:
• We are looking for a highly motivated and collaborative person with a PhD degree in Ecology or related field
• Extensive experience in analyzing and modelling environmental information with GIS
• Publication record in scientific journals, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and/or rewilding
• Experience in project management
• Fluency in English is mandatory and team work in multidisciplinary projects is an advantage.
Tasks of the candidate:
• Carry out research on the development of the rewilding scale
• Conduct a systematic review of evidence on the extent to which rewilding principles support the recovery of EU priority species and
habitats
• Coordinate the development of the map of rewilding priorities for TEN-G in Europe
• Support the identification of experts in European countries working on rewilding and restoration.
• Prepare and organize workshops with experts, including through pre- and post-workshop interviews. Take minutes of the workshops.
Synthesize findings into briefing notes for circulation to the experts.
• Prepare relevant policy briefs and research articles
• Fulfilling reporting requirement according to contractual agreements
Severely disabled persons are encouraged to apply and will be given preference in the case of equal suitability. Women are strongly urged
to submit an application. The position is based at iDiv in Leipzig, Germany.
Apply by: February 17, 2017.
Work begins: April 1. 2017
Photo credit: Daniel Allen / Rewilding Europe