Doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in Fish Movement Ecology

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

The research unit Marine Evolutionary Ecology of the research division Marine Ecology is offering a position for a

Doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in Fish Movement Ecology

Starting date is flexible, but preferred July 1^st, 2026. The position offers the possibility to attain a doctoral degree in natural sciences.

Job Description

We are seeking a doctoral student to study the movement of migratory fish in the Baltic and North Sea ecosystems in the context of offshore development and ocean urbanization. The main method used in the project will be acoustic telemetry. The position is embedded in the Marine Behavioural Ecology Group at GEOMAR, focusing on how individual behaviour scales up to macro-scale ecological patterns and embedded in the Urban Ocean project funded by Biodiversa+, with particularly close collaboration expected with Dr. Kim Birnie-Gauvin at DTU Aqua in Denmark. The position includes field work. The successful candidate will contribute to cruise-based sampling activities as well as associated data management and analysis. Numerous opportunities for related scientific outputs in collaboration with project partners are available, including combining movement and ecosystem modelling.

Qualification

required:

• A diploma/MSc degree or equivalent qualification in Biology, Marine Biology or related subjects
• Experience in modeling and statistics
• Proficiency in programming
• Experience at sea
• Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)

desirable:

• Scientific publications based on MSc thesis 
• Knowledge of marine biology and the North Sea or Baltic Sea ecosystem
• Knowledge of acoustic telemetry methods
• Proficiency in data management

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a daycare center at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is available for a funding period of 36 months. The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class E13 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. The position is 75 % of a full-time equivalent. The position cannot be split.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your application for this post not later than April 30^th, 2026 under the following link:

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation.

For further information regarding the position and research unit please contact Dr. Christopher Monk (cmonk(at)geomar.de).

We will answer all your questions if you send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “UrbanOcean”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.