At the Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, Experimental Plant Ecology Group, which belongs to the University of Greifswald’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, there is a job vacancy, subject to the allocation of funds, expected to be available beginning 01 September 2025, for a part-time position (65 %) as

Research Assistant

The contract is limited to 30 June 2028 (with the option of extension to 31 August 2028). Payment will be made in accordance with pay group 13 TV-L Wissenschaft. 

The Experimental Plant Ecology working group at the University of Greifswald’s Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology works on various topics of peatland research and wet land use. We combine basic with applied research and practical relevance. Our strength lies in the breadth and integration of research with the implementation of rewetting and peatland restoration. 
The aims of the MoorPower research project are to comprehensively investigate the technical, ecological and socio-economic effects and legal issues of the combination of peatland rewetting and photovoltaics (peatland PV) for the first time and to derive recommendations for the specific implementation of peatland PV in Germany. The University of Greifswald is coordinating the research project at the Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology; the Institute of Microbiology, the Institute of Geography and Geology, the Zoological Institute and Museum and the Institute for Energy, Environmental and Maritime Law (IfEUS) are also involved. Collaborating partners are the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the University of Hohenheim, the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute and practice partners. 
The position advertised here will investigate the peat formation potential and floristic biodiversity of rewetted fens with and without photovoltaic systems. In fens, peat is mainly formed from the roots of higher plants. Their production and (limited) decomposition controls the formation of new peat. This project will quantify the floristic diversity, primary production and decomposition of plant biomass in field studies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The methodology used will combine vegetation surveys, litterbags and ingrowth cores to gain a comprehensive understanding of the creation and decomposition of plant biomass. The position is suitable for a doctoral thesis.

Tasks:

• Data sampling in field sites and their evaluation
• Publication of the obtained results in scientific journals
• Objective is to produce a cumulative doctorate on the topic

Required:

• M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in biology, ecology, geoecology or another related discipline by the time employment starts
• Solid background in plant ecology, peatland science background helpful
• Plant identification skills, in particular for grassland and wetland plants
• Experience with statistical analysis of research data, preferably in R
• Excellent English language skills
• Motivation to join an interdisciplinary and international research and training environment
• Ability to work independently with a hands-on mentality, team spirit, helpfulness and reliability

This vacancy is open to all persons, irrespective of gender. Severely disabled applicants with the same qualifications will be considered with preference.

In accordance with § 68(3) PersVG M-V, the Staff Council will only be involved in staff matters of the academic or artistic staff on request.

Unfortunately, application costs (e.g. travel expenses for interviews) will not be reimbursed by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 

Please note that by submitting your application, you provide your consent pursuant to data protection law for our processing of your application data. Further information about the legal bases and the use of your data can be found here.

Applications comprising all usual documents must be sent with reference to the job advertisement number 25/Wi19 by 7 July 2025, preferably via email (one PDF file), to:

Universität Greifswald
Institut für Botanik und Landschaftsökologie
Herrn Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kreyling
Soldmannstr. 15
17489 Greifswald

juergen.kreylinguni-greifswaldde