Research Associate for the Project “Cooperation and cheating in sub-social spiders: negative fr[...]

Universität Hamburg; Hamburg; Vor Ort; EUR 30.000 - 40.000; Teilzeit

Zusammenfassung

Universität Hamburg seeks a part-time Research Associate for a DFG-funded project on sub-social spiders. The role requires a Master’s degree in Biology and expertise in evolutionary biology, involving both lab work and field studies, including a trip to Australia.

Leistungen

Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements

Continuing education opportunities

University pensions

Work-life balance opportunities

Health management

Educational leave

30 days of vacation per annum

Qualifikationen

• University degree in a relevant field required.
• Solid knowledge of evolutionary and behavioral biology essential.
• Skills in programming and experience in automatic tracking are an asset.

Aufgaben

• Duties include academic services and research in a DFG-funded project.
• Conduct controlled feeding trials and investigate producer-scrounger dynamics.
• Field work in Australia will be part of the research program.

Kenntnisse

Evolutionary biology

Behavioral biology

Statistical methods

Programming

Automatic tracking

English proficiency

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in Biology

Jobbeschreibung

Research Associate for the Project “Cooperation and cheating in sub-social spiders : negative frequency dependent selection and sex allocation” § 28 Subsection 3 HmbHG

Institution Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, IZS

Salary level

Start date 01.09.2025, fixed until 31.07.2028 (This is a fixed-term contract in accordance with Section 2 of the academic fixed-term labor contract act [Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG]).

Scope of work part-time

Weekly hours 65 % of standard work hours per week

Your responsibilities

Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.

We are seeking a highly motivated person to work on the DFG-funded project “Cooperation and cheating in sub-social spiders : negative frequency dependent selection and sex allocation”. In this joint project with Prof. M.E. Herberstein from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change in Hamburg, we will investigate the producer-scrounger dynamics in broods of the Australian crab-spider Australomisidia ergandros. We will test how sex and and negative frequency dependent dynamics will affect the likelihood of producing vs scrounging. We will conduct controlled feeding trials in groups with different scrounger frequencies to measure individual foraging success and growth. We will further apply automatic tracking methods to document the interaction networks and we will use a non-lethal, molecular sexing method to determine the sex of juvenile spiders. Field work in Australia will also be part of the research program.

Your profile

A university degree in a relevant field.

A master’s degree in Biology is required and a solid knowledge base in evolutionary and behavioral biology as well as in statistical methods, ideally including network analyses are necessary. Skills in programming and experience in automatic tracking are an asset. We expect proficiency in reading and speaking English and excellent writing skills. Experience in handling and breeding spiders or other arthropods is of advantage.

We offer

• Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements
• Continuing education opportunities
• University pensions
• Work-life balance opportunities
• Health management, EGYM Wellpass
• Educational leave
• 30 days of vacation per annum

Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence is one of the strongest research educational institutions in Germany. Our work in research, teaching, educational and knowledge exchange activities is fostering the next generation of responsible global citizens ready to tackle the global challenges facing us. Our guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a digital age” drives collaboration with academic and nonacademic partner institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and around the world. We would like to invite you to be part of our community to work with us in creating sustainable and digital change for a dynamic and pluralist society.

The University of Hamburg is committed to equity. Diversity enriches our university life, whether in our studies, research, teaching, education, or workplace. We therefore welcome all applications, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic or social background, age, religion or belief, disability, or chronic illness.

Severely disabled and disabled applicants with the same status will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants.