Doctoral student in Environmental pollutants in wild animals and their food chains

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research at the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (Leibniz-IZW) is seeking a doctoral student to engage in the “Beyond Life Apex” project to analyse the exposure of selected top predators to organic and inorganic anthropogenic pollutants recognised as priority, as well as the development of evaluation methods for the prioritisation of chemicals and their mixtures as well as on the interpretation of the exposure data in peak predators in cooperation with the Federal Environment Agency

Your tasks:

  • As part of the doctoral project, you are working on the sampling and evaluation of monitoring and effect data from top predators in Germany. This includes:
  • carrying out routine work in the toxicological laboratory,
  • Support for sampling in the field and sampling during the wildlife section,
  • Preparation of the study of the environment and animal samples for toxins
  • sample preparation, management and archiving,
  • They support the further development of the evaluation and regulation of chemicals and their mixtures to minimise negative influences through the combined exposure of pollutants to the environment,
  • Technical and conceptual work on the processing, use, statistical analysis and interpretation of data on environmental exposure (biomonitoring in food chains, and modelled environmental concentrations) under REACH and other regulatory areas (see above). This includes data on sources, contamination patterns and environmental behaviour of organic pollutants,
  • Use statistical analysis of available data on ecotoxicological effects
  • Preparation and summary of the collected knowledge in the form of publications and reports, as well as presentation of the results to a national and international professional audience,
  • Willingness to work for several months in the partner laboratory in Leipzig.

Your profile:

  • Successful university studies in biology (focus on toxicology), biochemistry or related course of study
  • previous knowledge and experience in the field of toxicology, especially analytics, such as liquid chromatography with mass spectrometer (LC-MS) and/or mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS),
  • Very good knowledge of German and English in Word and font,
  • Initial experience in risk assessment of chemicals,
  • In-depth knowledge of the ecology and ecotoxicology of wildlife,
  • Statistics and working with R and modelling (GLMs),
  • High motivation, creativity, resilience, organizational and team skills,
  • Reliable knowledge in dealing with common computer programs (MS Office),
  • You appreciate teamwork, are open to new things and want to engage in the interests of leading international research institutions in your daily work.

The position is to be occupied preferably on 01.10.2025 and is limited to 3 years

Our Offer:

  • An interesting and responsible activity with scope for design in an internationally shaped and dynamic scientific working environment in the most beautiful location, directly at the Zoo Berlin-Friedrichsfelde.
  • A comprehensive training and a functioning team that will be happy to support you.
  • Work on an equal footing between all involved and a respectful cooperation in the team.
  • A working relationship with 25.35 hours (part-time with 65%) in flexitime.
  • A remuneration according to the public tariff right TVöD (Bund), with a special annual payment.
  • Commercial pension schemes (VBL) and the subsidy of capital-generating benefits (economics).
  • Flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile work to reconcile work and family life.
  • 30 days’ holiday per calendar year for a 5-day week.
  • Excellent public transport connections: Friedrichsfelde (U5), Friedrichsfelde-Ost (S5, S7, S75) and three tram lines and several bus lines.
  • Job ticket.
  • Free admission to the zoo (current agreement between Leibniz-IZW and Tierpark Berlin) from Monday to Friday.

Application

Apply via the recruitment platform: https://www.izw-berlin.de/de/order offers with the usual documents (letter of motivation, indication of your earliest possible starting date, CV, vocational qualification and all other relevant working and final certificates/letters of recommendation as well as existing further training certificates).

Deadline: 31.08.2025

More information: https://leibniz-institutfuerzoo-undwildtierforschung.softgarden.io/job/57389128/Doktorand-in-w-m-div-?jobDbPVId=229538023&l=de