Postdoc on citizen science, birds and nature management

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 3 year position to commence 1 February 2025 or after agreement.

The position is offered as part of a collaborative project involving Birdlife Denmark, and two research groups at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), namely Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the Globe Institute and the Science & Society section at the Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD). Information on the involved departments can be found at: www.macroecology.ku.dk, www.globe.ku.dk and www.snm.ku.dk, www.citizenscience.ku.dk. The project is funded by the Aage V. Jensens Naturfond.

Our team and research
You will be part of a cross-disciplinary research-team working with citizen science, monitoring of biodiversity and nature restoration. We aim to conduct cutting edge science at a high international standard, but also involve with conservation practitioners, NGOs and individuals conducting restoration or participating in participatory monitoring of biodiversity. Hereby we aim to bridge the science-practice interface to improve conservation outcomes on the ground. We combine primary field based research, scientific reviews and analyses of existing data. We emphasize teamwork and collaborations both inside UCP and with a global network of collaborators. We strive to maintain a supportive and inclusive group where the experiences and skills of everyone help to build a productive, synergetic, and friendly culture and working environment.

CMEC is a center of excellence with a cross-disciplinary research program. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment addressing fundamental questions on the origin, maintenance, conservation, and future of life and biological diversity on Earth. The 40+ researchers at CMEC currently represent 14 different nationalities and the working language is English. The center juxtaposes faculty staff scientists from the fields of macroecology, historical biogeography, conservation science, oceanography, evolutionary biology, community ecology, population biology, climate change research, and environmental economics.

NHMD is the national museum for nature and contains more than 14 million objects of preserved animals, plants, fossils and minerals. We are currently building a new Danish national museum for nature. One big museum site in the Botanical Garden at the center of Copenhagen will host state-of-the-art laboratories, outstanding research, new public galleries, and combined facilities for programming, education, and citizen science. The Science & Society section is one of four research sections at the NHMD leading Citizen Science research and working across the traditional research areas of botany, geology and zoology.

Your job
The position is part of a project lead by BirdLife Denmark and involving the two research groups at UCPH mentioned above. The position will be shared between CMEC, under supervision by Professors Carsten Rahbek and Kasper Thorup and Assoc. prof. Jacob Heilmann-Clausen and NHMD under supervision by Assoc. Prof Anders P. Tøttrup. From BirdLife Denmark, Head of Nature Dep, Jacob Jensen will be the contact person. Collaboration between the three involved institutions will be secured though joint supervision meetings.

The overall project aim is to investigate how citizen scientists can contribute to the monitoring of bird diversity in habitat restoration projects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. The project involve analysis of time-series data on bird occurrences in restoration projects including both forest and freshwater habitats. In addition new data sampling projects will be conducted involving volunteers from BirdLife Denmark. This work will be coordinated by professional project partners from BirdLife Denmark, but active participation in both the design and implementation phase is expected from you, as well as a lead role in data analysis and scientific writing. This work should explore ecological as well as methodological issues, but could even address the learning outcome and incentive structures of participating volunteers. Finally, a review or perspective paper investigating the relevance of birds as indicators of success in nature restoration projects is expected.

You will have the main responsibility for conducting the research described above, in collaboration with your supervisors and BirdLife Denmark. Within the overall frames of the project scope, and depending on data availability, you will have the opportunity to shape your own research projects. You are expected to lead the development of at least four papers for publication in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, participation in collaborative projects with other lead authors is participated. You will also have the opportunity to gain experience in teaching and supervise MSc and BSc student thesis projects.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:
• A PhD in conservation science, biology, or other environmental sciences.
• First-author papers in international peer-reviewed journals
• Good understanding of Danish birds and their habitat associations
• Good understanding of ecosystem dynamics and restoration ecology in temperate terrestrial ecosystems
• Experience with monitoring of biodiversity involving volunteers
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:
• Experience in teaching and supervising undergraduate and MSc students
• Experience in statistical analysis (for example Mixed-Effects models and/or time series data).
• Experience with systematic reviews or perspective papers on habitat restoration
• Experience with remote sensing and GIS

Place of employment
The place of employment is shared between the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the GLOBE Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (2 years), and the Natural History Museum, Faculty of science (1 year) at the University of Copenhagen.

Information on CMEC and the GLOBE Institute can be found at: http://macroecology.ku.dk/ and https://globe.ku.dk/. With over 200 early-career researchers at the Globe Institute, we have a large vibrant and international community with many work-related and social activities.

Information on NHMD can be found at www.snm.ku.dk and https://forskning.snm.ku.dk/research/ The NHMD offers a friendly and thriving international research and work environment with 250 employees. International candidates may find information on living and working in Denmark at www.workindenmark.dk.

University of Copenhagen is the second best university in the European Union according to ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023) and number 39 in the world. The city of Copenhagen is consistently rated among the most livable cities in the world; it is easy to navigate on a bike, yet international and diverse.

Terms of employment
The employment as postdoc is a full time, 37 hours per week and fixed-term position for 3 years.

Starting date is 1 February 2025 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 38,000 DKK/approx. 5,000 EUR (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Jacob Heilmann-Clausen; [email protected] or Anders Tøttrup; [email protected]

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:
1. Letter of application including a short description of previous research experience and a research plan outlining how the project could be carried out (max. two pages). Project description is used only for evaluating the applicant.
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. A list of publications
5. Two professional references letters.

Deadline for applications: 17 November 2024, 23.59pm CET
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.