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PhD position or Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d): Effects of global livestock management on wildlife movement

Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN), headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is seeking to fill the following position at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), starting as of 01 January 2027:

PhD position or Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d):

Effects of global livestock management on wildlife movementitel (m/f/d)

(Part-Time)

 

Location: Frankfurt am Main
Employment scope: PhD position (65%) / PostDoc (up to 60%)
Type of contract: Temporary, limited to 4 years, until 31.12.2030
Remuneration: Collective agreement of the state Hesse (TV-H) / E 13

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research is a member of the Leibniz Association and has been investigating the “Earth System” worldwide for more than 200 years, examining the past, analysing the present, and developing projections for the future. We conduct integrative geobiodiversity research with the aim of understanding nature in all its complexity and diversity in order to preserve it as the foundation of life for future generations and to ensure its sustainable use. Across eight institutes and five research stations throughout Germany, scientists from more than 40 countries conduct research at the highest international level.

The mission of the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre is to study the complex interactions between biodiversity, climate and society.

As part of the Centre, the group “Global Land Systems and Biodiversity” takes a system perspective on how production, trade and consumption of food and other biomass products affect ecosystems and people. 

The VEBITA project, conducted jointly by SGN, the Marburg University and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) brings together researchers and practice partners to work towards utilizing animal movement data for early-warning systems for nature conservation. By analyzing GPS and sensor data from animals with statistical and AI-based methods, VEBITA aims to detect how animal behaviors change in response to land use, climate change, habitat loss, infrastructure development, and other environmental pressures.

The adverstised position focuses on the effects of livestock management on wildlife movements contributes a use-case for state-of-the art animal movement data. Currently, livestock keeping has the largest spatial footprint of all land uses and the global biomass of mammalian livestock exceeds that of all remaining wild mammals by an order of magnitude. How and where livestock are kept greatly impacts the movements of the remaining wild mammals.

In this context, we seek to develop a refined biodiversity footprint approach that captures how different livestock management strategies impact movement of wild mammals and how management can be adapted to achieve more sustainable outcomes. This subproject is part of VEBITA’s transdisciplinary focus, and the design of the novel footprint approach will consider perspectives of different relevant societal stakeholder groups such as livestock farmers, conservationists, and regulators. Results and insights of this work will also feed back to international science-policy debates on how conservation and human activities can be aligned in the future.

Your tasks

  • Advance existing biodiversity footprint approaches in the context of livestock production and wildlife movement
  • Classify global livestock management systems
  • Analyze global patterns of how livestock keeping influences movements of wild mammals
  • Actively engage in exchange and cooperation within VEBITA’s inter- and transdisciplinary project team
  • Participate in project meetings and contribute to project reporting
  • Publish results in international journals in cooperation with the project team

Your profile

  • MSc degree (or equivalent) for application for a PhD position or PhD degree for application as postdoctoral researcher in a relevant field, e.g., sustainability science, physical geography, ecology or another relevant field
  • Programming skills (R, Python or similar), familiarity in working with heterogenous datasets and their analysis
  • Excellent English language skills
  • Interest in working in an inter- and transdisciplinary project
  • Interest in applied science at the science-policy interface

Desirable skills

  • Experience with stakeholder interactions

We offer

  • access to an international network of scientists, policymakers and research organizations
  • an attractive job within the inspired and dynamic working environment of an internationally recognized research institution
  • flexible working hours – mobile working options – employee ID card with free admission to Senckenberg museums – annual special payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement  – company pension plan

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of ethnic or cultural origin, age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion or belief, age, sexual identity or and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Applicants with a severe disability will be given special consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

How to apply?

Please upload your application as a single PDF by 19 November 2026, stating the reference number Ref. #11-26021, including:

  • cover letter describing your motivation to apply for this position
  • detailed CV
  • contact details of two potential references
  • all academic credentials and certificates

Please submit your application via our online application system. If you are viewing this vacancy on an external job platform, please visit our careers page and apply via the corresponding "Apply" button. Applications submitted by email cannot be considered.

If you have any specific questions about the position, please contact Dr. Thomas Kastner at thomas.kastner@senckenberg.de.

Contact

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt am Main

For data protection information on the processing of personal data as part of the application and selection process, please refer to the privacy policy on our homepage at https://www.senckenberg.de/en/imprint/

Please visit our website at www.senckenberg.de for further information about the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung.

Application documents will also be made available to members of the selection committee from Marburg University and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE), solely for the purpose of assessing applications and selecting candidates.