Postgraduate Research Associate project employment

BOKU

• UNI... 1 Postgraduate Research Associate
• project employment
• (Reference code 151)
• Extent of employment: 30 hours per week
• Duration of employment: 1st of October 2026, limited to 30th of September 2030

Workplace: 1190 Vienna

Allocation in compliance with the Collective Agreement for University Staff to job group

B1

• Gross monthly salary: (depending on previous eligible experience) at least: € 3.776,10
• (payable 14 times per year)

PhD Position in Forest Regeneration and Nutrient Dynamics

• Tree regeneration success is a key determinant of forest resilience and long-term ecosystem
• stability. While light availability has been widely studied as a driver of regeneration dynamics,
• the role of the forest floor as a regulator of nutrient supply to seedlings has received far less
• attention. The Forest floor is the interface between the above- and below-ground parts of forest
• ecosystems. It serves as a seedbed and rooting zone for vegetation, and acts as a hub of the
• ecosystem where organic matter, nutrients and water are stored, absorbed, and transformed.
• In the context of climate change, the Forest floor and its associated ecosystem services appear
• as particularly at risk. As part of the research group "Humus layer: Function, dynamics and
• vulnerability in transition" ( <https://gepris.dfg.de/project/457330647> ), the goal of our project is
• to investigate how forest floor characteristics, root and mycorrhizal connectivity to mature
• trees, and drought jointly regulate nutrient availability and regeneration performance. For more
• information, please contact: <[email hidden]> .

Responsibilities

• º Conducting lab work (measurement of soil and leaf nutrient concentration,
• measurement of 15N concentration, ...)
• º Conducting 2 weeks of field work per year in Germany (collecting leaf and soil
• samples, measuring the condition and height of the plants)
• º Conducting 1 week of fieldwork in an old growth forest (Rothwald) (mapping of forest
• soil properties)
• º Performing data analysis and writing scientific publications
• º Writing and defending a doctoral thesis is desired
• Required skills and qualifications
• º Diploma degree in MSc ecology, biology, forestry or other equivalent university degree
• º Language skills: Strong proficiency in English, both written and verbal
• º Training and experience in statistical analysis and the R software
• º Experience in field work and motivation to work under harsh conditions
• º Experience in scientific writing
• Desirable skills and qualifications
• º Background in forest ecology and/or soil biology
• º Highly motivated candidate with strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• º Driving licence type B
• º Ability to perform fieldwork in adverse conditions
• º Laboratory experiment, preferably with stable isotopes
• Applications can be submitted until: 21st of August 2026
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna seeks to increase the number of its
• female faculty and staff members. Therefore qualified women are strongly encouraged to
• apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference unless
• reasons specific to an individual male candidate tilt the balance in his favour.
• People with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are specifically encouraged to apply.
• Please send your job application incl.
• º motivation letter
• º CV
• º Exemple of scientific work (scientific article(s) or master's thesis)
• º Two references [letters] will be required during the second stage of the selection
• process
• to HR Management, BOKU University, Peter-Jordan-Straße 70, 1190 Vienna;
• E-Mail: <[email hidden]> . (Reference code: 151)
• We regret that we cannot reimburse applicants travel and lodging expenses incurred as part of
• the selection and hiring process.
• <www.boku.ac.at> Das Mindestentgelt für die Stelle als Postgraduate Research Associate
• project employment
• beträgt 3.776,10 EUR brutto pro Monat auf Basis Vollzeitbeschäftigung.