Research topic: Urban green spaces as hotspots for biodiversity (Prof. Dr. W. Weisser)

Doctoral Candidate in Urban Biodiversity (m/f/x) (Entg.-Gr. TV-L)

18.11.2024, Wissenschaftliches Personal

The Research Training Group “Urban Green Infrastructure - Training Next Generation Professionals for Integrated Urban Planning Research” aims to conduct inter- and transdisciplinary research into innovative approaches for liveable, sustainable and climate change resilient cities through green infrastructure. We are looking for a candidate for a 0.75 or 1.0 position (limited to three years) to be filled as of April 1, 2025 as part of a DFG-funded Research Training Group.

Densification puts pressure on the remaining natural areas within cities, such that fragments of natural habitat shrink, then disappear, and connections between remnant green spaces are lost. Urban biodiversity can be high, yet it is only in the past years that the factors promoting urban biodiversity are beginning to be unravelled. While species richness in cities is positively related to the amount and size of urban green space available, the importance of particular elements of urban green infrastructure for the occurrence of certain species is only beginning to be understood. A recent study published by the research group (Fairbairn et al. 2024, Urban biodiversity is affected by human-designed features of public squares, Nature Cities) showed that the details of how a place in a city is designed strongly influences the number and type of species that occur in this place.

In the project, the focus will be on the occurrence of insects in the city. We will advance of our understanding of how particular elements of the urban green infrastructure, for example the occurrence of trees, the presence of bushes underneath trees, but also the built form, are important for the presence of particular species, but also entire insect communities. Insects will be sampled at different points in Munich, along various gradients. Sampling of insects will be done using a variety of methods including Malaise traps, but also sweep-netting and other techniques. Species will be identified either using conventional methods or using barcoding molecular and classic methods. Advanced statistical methods will be used to link the occurrence of species to the composition of urban green infrastructures. Where necessary and possible, experiments will be conducted to understand how the occurrence insect species can be increased in the city. The results of the project will provide novel insights into how the urban form can be modified in order to increase wildlife in cities.

Your profile:
-A master’s degree in Biology, Ecology or a related field.
-Specific professional interest in insects and their ecology.
-Knowledge in one or more of the following areas: statistical analysis of community data, ecological field work, insect identification, urban ecology
-Ability to work in a team, interest in interdisciplinary work: eagerness to integrate into one of the research groups and the graduate school.
-High motivation with the aim of independent conceptual and scientific work;
-Excellent oral and written expression skills in English; German language skills are an advantage.


The gender- and diversity-balanced filling of doctoral positions is a particular concern of ours.

Interested?
Send us your informative application documents (letter of motivation, CV, certificates) including a brief description of your previous activities as a single PDF file (file name: Research Topic_Lastname.Surename.pdf) to rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de

For technical and organizational questions about the Research Training Group, please contact the spokesperson:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit, pauleit@tum.de
If you have any questions about the various research topics, the professors mentioned will be happy to answer them.

Note on data protection: In the course of your application for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will transmit personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Article 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) regarding the collection and processing of personal data as part of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of TUM's data protection information.
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Kontakt: rtg.lapl@ls.tum.de

Mehr Information

https://www.gs.tum.de/en/grk/urban-green-infrastructure/cluster-and-subprojects/cluster-1/subproject-1-biodiversity/