PhD in Landscape-dependent pesticide exposure risks on bumble bees at UFZ

The UFZ in Leipzig is looking for a PhD Researcher in Landscape-dependent pesticide and other chemical exposure risks on bumble bees.

The job

Within the new PhD cohort SafePol (Safeguarding Pollinators facing multiple stressors in multifunctional landscapes) at UFZ they aim to unravel the impact of heat stress and pesticide exposure in multifunctional landscapes on bumble bees. Therefore, Position 1) will investigate the link between external and internal exposure of bumble bees to pesticides and other chemicals, Position 2) will explore the effect of multiple stressors on bumble bee health and behaviour using proteomics and metabolomics, Position 3) will monitor bumble bee colonies in agricultural landscapes and identify their collected pollen, and finally Position 4) will simulate bumble bee populations facing multiple stressors. Position 1) will be filled in the Department of Exposure Science.

Your tasks

The successful candidate will

  • Quantify pesticide and other chemical exposure in bumble bees and collected pollen and nectar in land use gradients using high-resolution mass spectrometry.
  • Assess toxicokinetics of chemical mixtures in bumble bees and identify relevant metabolites of these chemicals.
  • Identify the role of toxicokinetics of chemical mixtures on the foraging abilities of bumble bees under chemical exposure and heat stress.

Your profile

  • A master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, or any related discipline
  • Experience in organic micropollutant analysis in environmental or biological matrices
  • Knowledge of statistical methods and data handling, preferably using R
  • Excellent teamwork capabilities in a multidisciplinary, international team.
  • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
  • Commitment to field and laboratory work
  • Knowledge of toxicokinetic modelling would be beneficial

They offer

  • Excellent supervision and optimal professional and interdisciplinary qualification through our HIGRADE graduate programme
  • The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
  • The opportunity to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a wide range of perspectives
  • First class integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
  • Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
  • A wide range of options for balancing care responsibilities and work through our family office
  • Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the ‘International Office’
  • Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Deutschland-Job-Ticket
  • A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity

Application details

Application deadline: 31.01.2025. For more application details you can go to the recruiting app.