Postdoctoral Position in Ecotoxicology

The University of Oldenburg is seeking to fill a 4 year Postdoctoral Position in Ecotoxicology. One research focus of the Environmental Biochemistry Group is ecotoxicological studies on birds and corals. Studies on birds focus on an over 20 yearlong timeseries of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs, mercury, chlorobenzenes, DDT, and chlordane along the North Sea. 

Your tasks

You will contribute to ongoing scientific efforts with a focus on the analyses of bird eggs to continue the over 20 yearlong timeseries of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  The candidate will be joining team members working on the ecotoxicology of corals, chemical and microbial ecologists, chemists and microbiologist at the ICBM in Wilhelmshaven. 

The successful candidate will extract and analyze bird eggs from various locations along the North Sea. By applying and developing various GC-MS and LC-MS methods for the detection and quantification of various pollutants, you will optimize current procedures. 

In addition, the candidate could potentially support team members in the development of an ecotoxicological test for corals and/or studies on the ecological role of secondary metabolites from marine macro- and microorganisms. A current focus is the search for novel coral larvae settlement cues and investigations on the function of already known settlement cues in the tropical coral reef environment. 

Your profile

You are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to carry out ecotoxicological projects on birds for up to 4 years. You should be highly motivated, with a strong background and extensive experience in ecotoxicological studies. Especially in running and maintaining high resolution gas chromatography – mass spectrometers. 

Required Qualifications:

  • PhD in Chemistry, Biology, Marine Environmental Science or related field
  • Completed academic university degree (master or equivalent)
  • Extensive experience in running and maintaining analytical equipment such as gas-chromatography mass spectrometers (GC-MS)
  • Efficient self-organization and laboratory management skills
  • Experience in analytical methods (extractions of various matrixes/samples) for ecotoxicological studies using GC-MS and LC-MS
  • Excellent English speaking and writing/publication skills are essential
  • Candidate should be inquisitive and critical thinking, problem solving and team-leading

Additional Qualifications desirable:

  • Experience is ecotoxicological data processing and analyses
  • Strong background and experience in metabolomics and marine natural products research. i.e., extraction, dereplication, isolation (preparative HPLC), structure elucidation via MS, MS/MS and NMR
  • Experience with metabolomic studies (i.e., targeted and untargeted metabolomics)

Further information

The working place is the ICBM in Wilhelmshaven. Additional information about the group can be found under http://www.icbm.de/umweltbiochemie/. Additional information about the position can be found under https://uol.de/en/job/postdoctoral-position-in-ecotoxicology-414.

To apply send a single PDF file with CV, letter of motivation and contact details of 3 references by e-mail to Peter Schupp (peter.schupp@uni-oldenburg.de) before the 17.03.2025.