A PhD position to develop simulation models for intraspecific plant chemodiversity, from biosynthetic pathways to ecological consequences, is available in the Theoretical Biology group at Bielefeld University (PI Meike Wittmann), starting in spring 2020 (preferred starting date April 1). Using our models, we will explore why plants evolved such a large number of metabolites and why different individuals in the population have different sets of metabolites. The position will be available for three years and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the research unit FOR 3000 entitled Ecology and Evolution of Intraspecific Plant Chemodiversity.

- Research tasks (95 %):
* Development of eco-evolutionary models for intraspecific chemodiversity
* Implementation in C++ and R
* Simulation studies
* Collaboration with empirical groups for the development of “virtual plants” (simulation models fine-tuned for each of the study organisms in the research group)
* Literature and database research
* Data analysis
* Writing scientific publications

- Organizational tasks in the research group (5 %)

Your Profile

We expect
- university degree (by start of position) in a relevant scientific discipline, e.g. biology, mathematics, physics, or bioinformatics
- programming skills in at least one language
- excellent command of scientific English (spoken and written)
- motivation and communication skills to work as part of an interdisciplinary collaborative team

Preferable qualifications
- programming skills in C++ and R
- experience with mathematical modeling
- working knowledge of ecology, evolution and biochemistry

Remuneration
Salary will be paid according to Remuneration level 13 of the Wage Agreement for Public Service in the Federal States (TV-L). As stipulated in § 2 (1) paragraph 1 of the WissZeitVG (fixed-term employment), the contract will end on March 31, 2023. In accordance with the provisions of the WissZeitVG and the Agreement on Satisfactory Conditions of Employment, the length of contract may differ in individual cases. The employment is designed to encourage further academic qualification. The position is advertised as 65 % part-time job. In individual cases, this percentage may be reduced on request, as long as this does not conflict with official needs. Bielefeld University is particularly committed to equal opportunities and the career development of its employees. It offers attractive internal and external training and further training programmes. Employees have the opportunity to use a variety of health, counselling, and prevention programmes. Bielefeld University places great importance on a work–family balance for all its employees.

Application Procedure
For full consideration, your application (cover letter detailing your motivation and relevant experiences, CV, copies of certificates, and contact details for at least one reference) should be received via either post (see postal address below) or email (a single PDF document) sent to meike.wittmann@uni-bielefeld.de by the 6th of January 2020. Please mark your application with the identification code: wiss19279.

Please do not use application portfolios and send only photocopies of original documents because all application materials will be destroyed at the end of the selection procedure. Further information on Bielefeld University can be found on our homepage at www.uni-bielefeld.de. Please note that the possibility of privacy breaches and unauthorized access by third parties cannot be excluded when communicating via unencrypted e-mail. Information on the processing of personal data is available https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/Universitaet/Aktuelles/Stellenausschreibungen/2019_DS-Hinweise_englisch.pdf. Bielefeld University has received a number of awards for its achievements in the provision of equal opportunity and has been recognized as a family friendly university. The University welcomes applications from women. This is particularly true with regard both to academic and technical posts as well as positions in Information Technology and Trades and Craft. Applications are handled according to the provisions of the state equal opportunity statutes. Applications from suitably qualified handicapped and severely handicapped persons are explicitly encouraged.

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Meike Wittmann
Phone: +49 521 106-67627
Email: meike.wittmann@uni-bielefeld.de
Web: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/theoreticalbiology/

Postal Address
Universität Bielefeld
Faculty of Biology
Frau Meike Wittmann
P.O. Box: 10 01 31
33501 Bielefeld
Germany