Research Assistant (Doctoral Researcher/PhD)

Entry date:
2027-02-01

Application deadline:
2026-11-29

Salary:
E 13 TV-H

Duration:
3 years

Volume of employment:
part-time (65%)

The University of Marburg, founded in 1527, offers a variety of excellent programs of study for around 22,000 students and confronts the important topics of our time through excellent research across a broad spectrum of sciences.

The Department of Biology, research group “Animal Ecology” led by Prof. Dr. Anne Mupepele, is currently accepting applications for a position offered in collaboration with Dr. Felix Fornoff, Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg. The position is a third-party-funded part-time position (65% of the regular working hours) as

is available from 1 February 2027, subject to the approval of funding, for a fixed term of three years. The position will be classified in pay grade E 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the State of Hesse (TV-H).

The ‘BeeConn’ project (Bee Genetic Connectivity Across Landscapes: Insect Translocation and Population Establishment for Ecological Restoration), funded under the Biodiversa+ call ‘BiodivConnect’, addresses three key challenges in pollinator restoration: 1. the successful translocation and establishment of pollinator species, 2. the restoration of genetic diversity and gene flow through connected stepping-stone habitats and 3. the development of stakeholder-supported strategies for long-term restoration. The project includes additional partners in Sweden and Poland. The PhD project will contribute to all three objectives, with a primary focus on the successful translocation of ground-nesting bees and assessing genetic connectivity across different landscapes in collaboration with the Polish partners.

The position is shared between Marburg and Freiburg. Ideally, the first 1.5 years will be spent in Marburg and the second 1.5 years in Freiburg. This offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into two different research groups and to change working environment. The PhD will be formally completed in Marburg and the candidate will be supervised equally by Prof. Anne Mupepele and Dr. Felix Fornoff, throughout the entire duration of the project. Deviations from this scenario, for example, due to personal preference for one of the two locations or to better balanced work and family life, are possible upon agreement.

Tasks:

• Development of a PhD project addressing the scientific questions raised by BeeConn, in particular the extent to which different translocation methods for ground-nesting wild bees can contribute to the recovery of populations, and the extent to which this is influenced by various abiotic factors such as soil substrate. Further the question of how habitat connectivity affects genetic exchange between populations of cavity-nesting wild bees
• Academic services in the field of research, including the drafting and publication of peer-reviewed academic articles, as well as the presentation of research findings at working group seminars and at academic conferences

The position is limited to a time period deemed adequate for the completion of a doctoral degree. As part of the assigned duties, there will be ample opportunity to conduct the independent scientific research necessary for the completion of a doctorate. The limitation complies to Section 2(1) of the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG).

Profile:

• A completed academic degree (Diplom, Master’s or equivalent) in biology, nature conservation, environmental sciences, bioinformatics or a related field
• Experience with – or a willingness to acquire – computer-based data collection and analysis methods (e.g. statistics in R)
• Ability to cope with challenging tasks during fieldwork
• Organisational skills, e.g. for fieldwork
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English, as well as sufficient knowledge of German or a proven willingness to acquire it, in order to navigate interactions with authorities and landowners, as well as everyday life in Germany, with confidence
• Knowledge of entomology, particularly regarding wild bees, is an advantage
• Willingness to collaborate with geneticists and social scientists (interdisciplinary), as well as with farmers (transdisciplinary)
• A Class B driving licence and a willingness to travel to fieldwork locations are desirable

Disposition toown scientific qualification (e.g. a doctorate project in ecology) is expected.

We offer:

• Regular exchanges with other research groups, particularly through integration into a research network – both at the University of Marburg and Freiburg and through collaboration with the four other partners in the BeeConn project: the National Research Institute of Animal Production (Poland), the Institute of Animal Systematics and Evolution of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland), the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and Halmstad University (Sweden)
• Free use of public transport in Hesse (Landesticket)
• Company pension scheme (VBL)

We actively support the professional development of junior researchers by the offers of Marburg Research Academy (MARA), the International Office and the Higher Education Didactics Office.

Contact for more Information

Anne Mupepele / Felix Fornoff

+49 6421-28 23386 / +49 761-203 67790

mupepele@uni-marburg.de / felix.fornoff@nature.uni-marburg.de

We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, female applicants will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. As a certified family-friendly university, we support our employees in balancing family and career. A reduction of working time is possible. Applicants with a disability as discribed in the Social Security Code (Section 2(2) and (3) of Book IX of the Social Security Code (SGB IX)) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.

Please apply by 29 November 2026 using the application-button below.

Apply by submitting one pdf including motivation letter, cv and relevant certificates.

Online application