2 PhD candidates for African Biodiversity and Conservation Research

The Nees Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn, is
seeking two highly motivated PhD-candidates (fully funded, E13 TVL
[50%], limited until March 2010). The positions are part of the BMBF
financed BIOTA AFRICA programme, a cooperative, interdisciplinary and
integrative research project on the sustainable use and conservation of
biodiversity in Africa (www.biota-africa.org).
Within the BIOTA network, the working group at the Nees Institute is
interested in a better understanding of the spatial patterns of species
diversity, the mapping of current broad-scale biodiversity patterns as
well as projections of diversity shifts under climate- and land use
change, and the development of sustainable conservation strategies. The
work is based on a database of continent-wide plant species distributions.
The successful candidates have a diploma or M.Sc. in biology, geography,
bioinformatics or in a related field, and have experiences in one or
more of the following working fields: macroecology and geo-statistics,
ecological niche modelling and biodiversity mapping, Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing. Sound skills in working with
data bases and statistical packages are essential, knowledge in
programming is of further advantage.
Candidate A will work at a regional scale with a focus on West Africa.
In close cooperation with our cooperation partners within BIOTA West
Africa, she/he will analyse the current status of species' habitats in
terms of habitat conversion and -fragmentation. In this respect,
consequences for the distribution of species and the development of
conservation strategies will be evaluated.
Candidate B will work at a continental scale on the modelling of the
impact of multiple drivers of global change, such as land use changes
and climate change, on current patterns of biodiversity and its
implications for conservation and sustainable development.
The place of work will be Bonn, Germany.
The position needs to be filled soon. Therefore, the review of
applications will start at June 1. For further information on the
project and application details please contact Jan Henning Sommer,
hsommer@uni-bonn.de
The University of Bonn is interested in increasing the proportion of
female employees (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz). Applicants with severe
handicaps are considered with preference.


Prof. Wilhelm Barthlott
Head of department