Post-doctoral researcher (80 - 100%) “Aerial insect and bird movements

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Festanstellung | per 01.07.2022

Post-doctoral researcher (80 - 100%) “Aerial insect and bird movements, 80 - 100%

Schweizerische Vogelwarte, Sempach

Company profile

The Swiss Ornithological Institute (www.vogelwarte.ch) in Sempach is a non-profit foundation supported by the public and focuses on a wide range of research topics on wild birds within and beyond Switzerland. We aim to acquire the scientific basis for the understanding of biological systems and for the conservation of birds and their habitats. In the bird migration department, we aim at understanding the temporal and spatial patterns of bird migration by quantifying mass migration across Europe using radar and tracing the routes of individual birds with the help of geolocators. To understand migratory bird movements, we also study the movements of other taxa such as bats and insects, to uncover cross-taxa interactions and the impacts these have on migratory birds.

Job description

The MoveInEurope project is an international scientific collaboration aiming at quantifying the biomass flows and movement patterns of aerial insects in Europe, from regional to continental scales and over timescales from days to years, using radar data. We are particularly interested in identifying the atmospheric, climatic, and landscape/habitat drivers of migratory animal movements. MoveInEurope grew out of GloBAM (https://globam.science), a BioDivERsa (www.biodiversa.org) research project with partners in Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, The Netherlands, and the USA.

We are seeking to fill a postdoctoral researcher position within the MoveInEurope project to: (1) analyse the interactions between bird and insect abundances and movements, and (2) improve the taxonomic detail of insect identification from radar data.

Your tasks

· Enhance the extraction of biological information (especially insects) from radar data through improvements in signal processing, feature extraction, and classification algorithms, and the collection of insect field/air reference data

· Analyse data from >15 radars across Europe to quantify bird and insect abundances and movements over time, and in particular the links between the two taxa

· Upscale estimates from vertical-looking radars using weather radar data

Your profile

· PhD in ecology, biology, remote sensing, or related discipline

· Background in radar aeroecology, migration ecology, or other relevant fields

· Strong quantitative skills and proficiency in a programming language, preferably R

· Excellent communication skills and interest in working in a collaborative project

We offer

· An international, dynamic, and flexible research group working on animal migration

· Collaboration with leading national and international researchers

· Salary in accordance with the regulations of the Swiss Ornithological Institute
(± 6200 CHF gross per month in the first year).

· The position is for 2 years with possibility of extension for an additional year, with a preferred starting date of 1 July 2022.

Contact text

Application and contact

We look forward to receiving your online application by 15 May 2022. Please send your application documents (motivation letter detailing your research interests and fit to the position requirements - max 2 pages, your CV with publication list, and contact details of two academic references) in a single PDF file. Other applications will not be considered

Interviews will take place in the second half of May 2022. For more information about the position or the MoveInEurope project, please contact Birgen Haest (Birgen.Haest@vogelwarte.ch) and Silke Bauer (Silke.Bauer@vogelwarte.ch).

The Swiss Ornithological Institute is committed to increasing the representation of women in leadership roles and research and specifically encourages applications from qualified women.

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