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🧬 Postdoctoral Researcher Position | University for Continuing Education Krems
Institution: University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems)
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Principal Investigator: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
📍 Location: Krems, Austria
💼 Position Available: Postdoctoral Researcher
🔬 Research Area: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Stable Isotope Ecology | Lipid Analysis | Trophic Interactions | Environmental & Dietary Effects
Project: HydroFat
Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
The Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at the University for Continuing Education Krems is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the HydroFat research project, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and led by Prof. Martin J. Kainz.
The project investigates trophic interactions in freshwater pond food webs, examining how algae, zooplankton, and fish respond to environmental and dietary changes.
The research will combine field studies, controlled feeding experiments, stable isotope analysis, and lipid-based approaches within an international research collaboration involving Austria, Czechia, Finland, Canada, and China.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
Freshwater Food-Web Ecology
Investigate trophic interactions within freshwater pond food webs, focusing on relationships between algae, zooplankton, and fish.
Environmental & Dietary Responses
Study how aquatic organisms respond to environmental changes and dietary differences across freshwater ecosystems.
Stable Isotope Analysis
Track dietary pathways and trophic interactions using stable isotope techniques and biochemical tracers.
Lipid Analysis
Use lipid-based approaches to investigate dietary pathways, trophic relationships, and organ-specific lipid composition.
Field & Experimental Research
Combine fieldwork in northern Austria with controlled feeding experiments to investigate food-web dynamics under different conditions.
International Collaboration
Work as part of an interdisciplinary and international research team spanning Austria, Czechia, Finland, Canada, and China.
🎯 Your Role
The selected Postdoctoral Researcher will be expected to:
- Investigate trophic interactions in freshwater pond food webs.
- Study responses of algae, zooplankton, and fish to environmental and dietary changes.
- Conduct field research in northern Austria.
- Carry out controlled feeding experiments.
- Track dietary pathways using stable isotope and lipid analyses.
- Apply analytical techniques including GC-C/P-IRMS, MALDI, and EA-IRMS.
- Investigate compound-specific stable hydrogen isotopes of fatty acids.
- Conduct organ-specific lipid identification.
- Analyze and interpret ecological and biochemical data.
- Contribute to scientific publications and dissemination of research findings.
- Collaborate with researchers across the international HydroFat research network.
🧪 Research Focus
The HydroFat project focuses on understanding energy and nutrient pathways within freshwater food webs, with particular emphasis on:
- Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
- Freshwater Ecology
- Trophic Interactions
- Algae
- Zooplankton
- Fish Ecology
- Stable Isotope Ecology
- Lipid Analysis
- Dietary Pathways
- Environmental Change
- Feeding Experiments
- Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis
- Aquatic Ecosystem Research
The project integrates ecological fieldwork, controlled experiments, stable isotope techniques, and lipid analysis to investigate trophic interactions in freshwater ecosystems.
👨🔬 Ideal Candidates
Applicants should have:
- A PhD in aquatic food-web ecology or a closely related field.
- Prior research training and experience in aquatic food-web ecology.
- Strong interest in freshwater ecosystem research.
- Interest in combining ecological fieldwork with laboratory-based analytical approaches.
- Ability to work effectively within an international research team.
- Motivation to conduct interdisciplinary research involving ecology, stable isotopes, and lipid analysis.
⭐ Preferred Skills & Experience
Relevant experience may include:
- Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
- Freshwater Ecology
- Trophic Ecology
- Stable Isotope Analysis
- Lipid Analysis
- Aquatic Ecosystems
- Fish Ecology
- Zooplankton Ecology
- Algal Ecology
- Feeding Experiments
- Field Ecology
- GC-C/P-IRMS
- EA-IRMS
- MALDI
- Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis
- Fatty Acid Analysis
- Ecological Data Analysis
Experience with stable isotope and lipid-based approaches will be particularly relevant to the research project.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Opportunity to conduct research in aquatic food-web ecology.
- Experience investigating freshwater trophic interactions.
- Hands-on exposure to stable isotope and lipid analytical approaches.
- Experience combining fieldwork with controlled feeding experiments.
- Exposure to advanced analytical techniques including GC-C/P-IRMS, MALDI, and EA-IRMS.
- Opportunity to work within an international research collaboration.
- Experience studying dietary pathways and trophic relationships in freshwater ecosystems.
- Opportunity to contribute to scientific publications and collaborative research.
🏛️ Research Environment
The position is based at the Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at the University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems) in Austria.
The research is led by Prof. Martin J. Kainz and forms part of the HydroFat project, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
The project involves an international research team with collaborators from Austria, Czechia, Finland, Canada, and China, providing a collaborative environment for research in aquatic ecosystems and food-web ecology.
💼 Position Details
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution: University for Continuing Education Krems
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Principal Investigator: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
Project: HydroFat
Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Location: Krems, Austria
Research Focus: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
Research Areas: Freshwater Ecology | Trophic Interactions | Stable Isotopes | Lipid Analysis | Aquatic Ecosystems
Contract Duration: 1 year
Funding: Fully funded according to FWF guidelines
Expected Enrolment/Start: Early 2027
Qualification: PhD
Required Background: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a single PDF containing:
- A brief description of academic background, career goals, and motivation for joining the research project
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) including published papers
- Contact information for three references
Applications should be submitted to:
📩 Application Contact
Prof. Martin J. Kainz
Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Email: martin.kainz@donau-uni.ac.at
📅 Key Dates
Application Status: Open
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
Expected Start/Enrolment: Early 2027
Contract Duration: 1 year
Funding: Fully funded according to FWF guidelines
📌 Job Details
Institution: University for Continuing Education Krems
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Principal Investigator: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
Project: HydroFat
Funding Agency: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Location: Krems, Austria
Qualification: PhD
Required Background: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
Research Areas: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Trophic Interactions | Stable Isotopes | Lipid Analysis | Aquatic Ecosystems
Methods: Stable Isotope Analysis | GC-C/P-IRMS | MALDI | EA-IRMS | Lipid Identification | Controlled Feeding Experiments
Contract Duration: 1 year
Start/Enrolment: Early 2027
Application Mode: Email
Application Email: martin.kainz@donau-uni.ac.at
Required Documents: Academic Background & Motivation | CV with Publications | Contact Information for 3 References
Application Format: Single PDF
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
Category
Postdoctoral Position | Postdoc Fellowship | Aquatic Food-Web Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Stable Isotope Ecology | Lipid Analysis | Trophic Interactions | Aquatic Ecosystems | University for Continuing Education Krems
🏷️ Tags
#Postdoc #PostdoctoralPosition #AquaticEcology #FoodWebEcology #FreshwaterEcology #StableIsotopes #LipidAnalysis #TrophicEcology #AquaticEcosystems #EcologyJobs
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