Doctoral researcher / PhD student to study bryophyte biodiversity in Galapagos

within the DFG-funded interdisciplinary research unit GArua: “Fog-dependent water relations and plant invasion in the Galápagos Archipelago under climate change” in the subproject “Epiphyte species diversity across scales as safeguard for maintaining ecosystem functions under global change”. The position is offered for a period of 4 years. The starting date is as soon as possible. Salary and benefits are commensurate with a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H E 13, 65 %). The position is based in Marburg. The position also includes several months of fieldwork each year on the Galápagos Islands, as well as stays for training purposes with international project partners, for example in Belgium.

The GArua project is a collaboration between researchers based at seven German universities and the Charles Darwin Foundation on Galapagos and aims to understand the interactive effects of plant invasion and climate change on the biodiversity and hydrology of the humid-zone ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. Subprojects work together in joint research sites, including several field experiments, to study interactions between climate patterns, cloud water interception, ecosystem hydrology, tree population dynamics, tree water relations, epiphyte water relations and diversity, and soil processes.

An overview of the available positions witin te GArua project can be found here: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb19/research/working-groups/ecological-plant-geography/news/garua-vacancies-2026

The subproject on epiphyte diversity patterns aims to study how epiphytes (mainly bryophytes, lichens and some ferns and flowering plants) respond to climate variation (spatial gradients, year-to-year variation, and experimental treatments) and plant invastion (comparing native and invasive trees species), how their diversity is structured across spatial scales (from small plots on tree trunks to whole forests) and how this affects their climate-change resilience. A second subproject on epiphyte functional ecology / ecophysiology, with which we will closely collaborate, will address water and carbon dynamics of these communities.

Tasks:

• Research in the GArua project: develop the epiphyte diversity subproject and collaborate with other subprojects within the GArua consortium
• Collect and identify epiphytes (including from the tree crowns) in the humid zone of the Galapagos islands in accordance with the project goals, with a focus on bryophytes
• Plan and organise data collection and analysis (field work, species identification, data management, statistics) for yourself plus other students / researchers working in the same subproject on other epiphyte groups (lichens, vascular plants)
• Supervise field and lab assistants and student helpers and co-supervise student BSc / MSc thesis projects
• Analyse and interpret the results and present them in scientific publications and orally in GArua meetings and international conferences
• Lead the organisation of a bryophyte and lichen identification expert workshop in Galapagos

The position is limited to a time period deemed adequate for the completion of a doctoral degree within the GArua research unit. 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 with Section 2 (1) of the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG).

Profile:

• MSc-degree or equivalent in Biology, Geography or a related disciplin
• Experience with and a passion for bryophyte identification and ecological studies
• Experience with and a willingness to train further in data management, statistics and scientific writing
• A motivated, independent, proactive, collaborative work attitude
• The willingness to spend many months yearly in Galapagos and to do fieldwork under sometimes challenging conditions (wet, cold and hot weather, bumpy boat rides between islands, mosquitos, muddy trails, spiny vegetation etc.)
• A willingness to learn and practice tree climbing for data collection (a course is offered) is desired, though not required
• Very good English communication skills are required (at least C1 level), German and Spanish language skills are of advantage

Disposition to pursue your own scientific qualification (i.e. to write a PhD thesis) is expected.

We offer:

• The opportunity to work in an exciting collaborative research project and participate in meetings, workshops, and other training opportunities within the GArua project
• The opportunity to study the little-studied bryological world of the Galapagos Islands
• A funded PhD position with a good research budget 

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.

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 16 July 2026 using the application-button below. Please send your application documents as a single PDF file.