The UFZ
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.
The job
Companies do not usually take into account the negative impacts of their business practices on nature, nor the fundamental role of biodiversity for future economic revenues. A new EU directive requires companies to disclose the impact of their sourcing, production and trade on biodiversity, as well as the associated risks and opportunities. The “Business for Biodiversity” project is looking for a PostDoc to join a team of natural and social scientists to systematically document and analyze the necessary reporting infrastructure (e.g. data and tools) companies use or have set up to implement the requirements of the EU-standard. The project is conducted in close collaboration with small and medium sized companies from the German food industry and aims to design and implement measures to promote biodiversity in an effective way.
Your tasks
1. Compare existing approaches for biodiversity footprint accounting;
2. Compile an overview and evaluate the available tools and indicators to capture biodiversity risks and opportunities of companies as well as their biodiversity footprint;
3. Global or regional analysis of geospatial data;
4. Work in an interdisciplinary team and in close collaboration with the other team members (e.g. to design questionnaires for companies, support workshops or conduct interviews);
5. Publish results in international journals in cooperation with the project team;
6. Compile reports and present results at scientific conferences as well as to non-scientific audiences;
7. Collaborate in project management.
We offer
8. The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
9. The chance to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a variety of perspectives
10. Firstclass integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
11. Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
12. Flexible working hours and a wide range of options for balancing work and care responsibilities through our family office
13. Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the 'International Office'
14. Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Germany Job Ticket
15. A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity
Your profile
16. PhD degree in ecology, industrial ecology, interdisciplinary environmental science or another relevant field;
17. Excellent knowledge on and experience with biodiversity indicators, e.g. species community composition, ICUN threat criteria, extent of ecosystems, etc.;
18. Excellent conceptual and excellent quantitative, statistical skills, preferentially in R;
19. Experience working with large datasets as well as geospatial data would be beneficial;
20. Interest in global sustainability issues and biodiversity footprinting as well as working in an applied project at the science-society-policy interface
21. International publication record;
22. Excellent English language skills, good command of German