Post-doc position available on Phytoplankton community ecology in Saline lakes

We are seeking a post-doc for 2 years, to start in September 2022.

Applications are being accepted for EU- H2020, INFRIA funded AQUACOSM-PLUS Project at the Middle East Technical University, Limnology Laboratory and Ecosystem Research Centre (EKOSAM).

Global temperature and precipitation patterns have already been changing as a result of climate change, and the change in the semi-arid and Mediterranean climate zones are predicted to be particularly dramatic. Moreover, the land in drought is expected to double from 2000 to 2100. The magnitude of these changes and a consequent increase in salinity poses a major threat to the functioning and biodiversity of especially shallow lakes. Knowledge on the effect of warming on saline lakes is fragmented and far from at the level achieved for freshwater lakes.

The focus of the post-doc research is to quantify changes in species and trait diversity of phytoplankton especially focusing on relationships between functional traits, diversity and ecosystem function in saline standing waters subjected to salinization and eutrophication using especially mesocosms-experiments, snap-shot sampling of large number of lakes as well as monitoring data.

Minimum requirements:

• PhD degree in ecology, freshwater ecology, community ecology.

• Knowledge in phytoplankton identification

• Knowledge and interest in furthering data analyses.

• Good collaboration skills.

• Strong motivation for carrying out research projects/experiments to completion.

• Problem-solving and do-it-yourself capacity.

Application:

Send a letter of interest, a recent CV and contact information for two referees to Dr. Meryem Beklioğlu via email (meryem@metu.edu.tr).

Application closure date: August 15, 2022.

Start date: September 15, 2022

Position Length: 2 years.