The Livestock Systems research group at the TUM School of Life Sciences is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher (m/f/d) to work on grassland soils restoration. Our group aims to enhance understanding of the trade-offs between production, mitigation, and conservation in livestock-based systems and identify innovative landscape-level management mechanisms. We combine empirical work (field and lab experiments) with modeling techniques. This postdoctoral position focuses on generating empirical datasets for livestock systems across various global sites. The research will examine grassland productivity, nutrient stocks and cycling, and their relationship to biodiversity. Field experiments will explore how grazing impacts grassland productivity and stability, aiming to identify early indicators of restoration success. Collaborators include Lancaster University (UK), the Argentinean National Research Council (CONICET), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) based in Kenya.

Your tasks:

You will design and conduct experiments at various scales, from laboratory manipulations of animal-plant-soil systems (including controlled experiments under varying environmental conditions) to large field-scale experiments with wild and domestic grazers. These experiments will test hypotheses related to the effects of grazers of different body sizes and grazing habits on nutrient cycling. Collaboration with data scientists will integrate empirical and novel evidence to improve understanding of grassland functioning, producing novel data for the tropics and sub-tropics.

What we expect from you

• University degree (M.Sc.) and Ph.D. in Agricultural Science, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Thorough understanding of processes determining grassland productivity, nutrient cycling, and grassland soil degradation.
• Experience in conducting field and laboratory experiments.
• Proficiency in statistical analyses of experimental datasets (R, Python, or Matlab).
• Publication record appropriate to career stage, with recent first-author publications.
• Interest in interdisciplinary approaches.
• Strong written and spoken English and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team with good interpersonal communication skills.
• Willingness to supervise BSc, MSc, and PhD work.

Our offer

We offer an interesting and challenging job in a motivating and expanding international team at the Chair of Livestock Systems, TUM (Freising). The chair collaborates broadly across Europe (e.g., Lancaster University, University of Manchester, Wageningen University, University Giessen, Göttingen University, GFZ Potsdam, University of Galway), Africa, and the Americas. The Chair of Livestock Systems at TUM includes several postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff, focusing on topics like multi-scale analyses of productivity, nutrient and water cycling in livestock systems, grassland restoration, GHG emissions, and global change impacts on crop-livestock systems. Freising is a charming student city near Munich, well-connected by train (about 30 minutes), and an ideal base for exploring the Bavarian Alps.

Working hours are flexible, and remuneration follows TUM regulations (TV-L E13). Severely disabled persons will be given preference in case of essentially equal suitability and qualifications. The successful candidate is expected to develop their own research profile and apply for research funding. Teaching requirements involve livestock and grassland-related courses (5 hours/week) as per Bavarian University Law. The position is initially for three years, with the possibility of extension up to six years. TUM aims to increase the proportion of female candidates; applications from female candidates are particularly encouraged.

Contact

Please send your application, including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates, and contact details of two references, to Technical University of Munich, Chair of Livestock Systems, Liesel-Beckmann Straße 4, 85354 Freising, Tel: +49 (0)816171 5483, Email: office.lsys@ls.tum.de, by 30.09.2024. If applying by email, please send all documents as a single PDF.

When applying for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will be submitting personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) http://go.tum.de/554159 regarding the collection and processing of personal data in the context of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of the TUM data protection information.

Direct questions about the position to Prof. Mariana Rufino (mariana.rufino@tum.de).

More information about the Livestock Systems Research Group can be found at www3.ls.tum.de/lsys/.