WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Group
🧬 Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Aquatic Food-Web Ecology | Danube University Krems
Institution: Danube University Krems (University for Continuing Education Krems)
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Principal Investigator: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
📍 Location: Krems, Austria 🇦🇹
💼 Position: Postdoctoral Researcher – Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
🔬 Research Area: Aquatic Ecology | Food-Web Ecology | Trophic Ecology | Stable Isotopes | Lipid Ecology | Ecological Modelling | Freshwater Ecosystems | Aquatic Ecosystem Health
The Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at Danube University Krems, Austria, led by Prof. Martin J. Kainz, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher within the HydroFat research project, funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
The project investigates trophic interactions and dietary energy transfer in freshwater pond food webs, combining field studies, controlled feeding experiments, stable isotope analysis, lipid analysis, and ecological modelling.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
🐟 Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
Investigate trophic processes and interactions within freshwater pond food webs, focusing on relationships among algae, zooplankton, fish, and other components of aquatic ecosystems.
🌿 Algae, Zooplankton & Fish
Examine how algae, zooplankton, and fish respond to environmental and dietary changes and how these responses influence food-web structure.
🔗 Trophic Interactions & Energy Transfer
Study dietary pathways, trophic transfer, and the movement of energy across pond food webs.
🧪 Stable Isotope Ecology
Use stable isotope approaches to investigate dietary sources, trophic positions, and energy pathways within freshwater ecosystems.
🧬 Lipid Ecology
Analyze lipid composition and use lipid-based approaches to understand dietary relationships and energy transfer within aquatic food webs.
🌊 Field Research
Conduct field research in freshwater ponds in northern Austria to characterize food-web interactions under natural environmental conditions.
🧫 Controlled Feeding Experiments
Conduct controlled feeding experiments to investigate how dietary changes influence aquatic organisms and trophic processes.
🧪 Research Methods & Technologies
The project will employ state-of-the-art analytical approaches, including:
- GC-C/P-IRMS
- MALDI
- EA-IRMS
- Compound-specific stable isotope analysis
- Stable hydrogen isotope analysis of fatty acids
- Lipid identification and characterization
- Organism-specific dietary analysis
- Trophic dependency analysis
- Food-web modelling
- Field sampling
- Controlled feeding experiments
- Quantification of trophic energy transfer
- Analysis of endogenous conversion of dietary energy
🎯 Research Focus
The HydroFat project aims to understand:
- How freshwater pond food webs are structured.
- How algae, zooplankton, and fish respond to environmental and dietary changes.
- How dietary pathways influence trophic interactions.
- How energy is transferred between organisms across food webs.
- How stable isotopes and lipids can reveal trophic relationships.
- How endogenous conversion of dietary energy contributes to aquatic food-web processes.
- How environmental conditions influence aquatic ecosystem functioning.
👨🔬 Ideal Candidate
The position is intended for candidates with prior training and research experience in aquatic food-web ecology and modelling.
🎓 Required Background
Candidates should have a:
- PhD in Aquatic Ecology, Food-Web Ecology, Ecological Modelling, or a related field
⭐ Preferred Experience
Experience in the following areas is preferred:
- Aquatic ecology
- Trophic ecology
- Food-web ecology
- Ecological modelling
- Stable isotope analysis
- Lipid analysis
- Freshwater ecosystem research
- Aquatic fieldwork
- Controlled feeding experiments
Candidates with experience combining field ecology, laboratory analysis, and quantitative modelling may be particularly relevant to the project.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Postdoctoral research experience in aquatic food-web ecology.
- Training in advanced stable isotope techniques.
- Experience with lipid-based ecological analysis.
- Hands-on experience with GC-C/P-IRMS, MALDI and EA-IRMS.
- Field research experience in freshwater ecosystems in northern Austria.
- Experience with controlled feeding experiments.
- Training in trophic modelling and energy-transfer analysis.
- Opportunity to work within an international research team.
- Collaboration with researchers across Austria, Czechia, Finland, Canada, and China.
- Experience within the Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health.
- Collaboration with the inter-university aquatic ecosystem research centre WasserCluster Lunz.
🌍 International Research Environment
The research is coordinated and led by Prof. Martin J. Kainz (PI) and involves an international team spanning:
- Austria
- Czechia
- Finland
- Canada
- China
The Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health is equipped with analytical laboratory and field research instruments and collaborates with the inter-university centre for aquatic ecosystem research, WasserCluster Lunz.
💰 Funding & Duration
Funding: Fully Funded according to FWF guidelines
Duration: 1 Year
Project: HydroFat
Funding Organization: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Expected Enrolment/Start: Early 2027
Pre-selected candidates: Will be invited for an interview
💼 Position Details
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution: Danube University Krems
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Principal Investigator: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
Location: Krems, Austria 🇦🇹
Project: HydroFat
Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Duration: 1 Year
Research Area: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology
Core Research: Trophic Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Food-Web Modelling
Additional Areas: Stable Isotopes | Lipid Ecology | Dietary Energy Transfer | Aquatic Ecosystem Health
Required Degree: PhD in Aquatic Ecology, Food-Web Ecology, Modelling or related field
Preferred Experience: Trophic Ecology | Modelling | Aquatic Fieldwork
Start: Early 2027
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
🧪 Key Technical & Research Skills
- Aquatic ecology
- Food-web ecology
- Trophic ecology
- Ecological modelling
- Freshwater ecosystem research
- Stable isotope analysis
- Lipid analysis
- Field ecology
- Aquatic fieldwork
- Controlled feeding experiments
- GC-C/P-IRMS
- MALDI
- EA-IRMS
- Fatty-acid stable isotope analysis
- Dietary pathway analysis
- Trophic transfer analysis
- Energy-flow analysis
- Food-web modelling
📄 How to Apply
Candidates should submit the following materials as a single PDF to Prof. Martin J. Kainz:
- Brief description of academic background and career goals, including why you are specifically interested in pursuing this research project.
- CV with academic and professional experience, including published papers.
- Contact information for 3 references.
📩 Application Email: martin.kainz@donau-uni.ac.at
🌐 Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health, Danube University Krems
Selected candidates will be invited for an interview.
📅 Application Deadline
31 October 2026
Expected Enrolment: Early 2027
Position Duration: 1 Year
Funding: Fully Funded according to FWF guidelines
📌 Job Details
Institution: Danube University Krems
Research Lab: Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
PI: Prof. Martin J. Kainz
Location: Krems, Austria 🇦🇹
Project: HydroFat
Funding: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Duration: 1 Year
Start: Early 2027
Qualification: PhD in Aquatic Ecology, Food-Web Ecology, Modelling or Related Field
Research: Aquatic Food-Web Ecology | Trophic Interactions | Freshwater Ecosystems
Methods: Stable Isotopes | Lipids | Food-Web Modelling | GC-C/P-IRMS | MALDI | EA-IRMS
Preferred Experience: Trophic Ecology | Modelling | Aquatic Fieldwork
Application Mode: Email
Application Email: martin.kainz@donau-uni.ac.at
Required Documents: Academic/Career Statement | CV | Contact Information for 3 References
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026
Category
Postdoctoral Positions | Aquatic Ecology | Food-Web Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Trophic Ecology | Environmental Science | Danube University Krems | Austria Postdoc | Research Positions
🏷️ Tags
#Postdoc #PostdoctoralPosition #DanubeUniversityKrems #Austria #AquaticEcology #FoodWebEcology #TrophicEcology #FreshwaterEcology #EcologicalModelling
Follow Biopractify for more & Join our community : https://chat.whatsapp.com/F38FNCU0nfvFCDf1mYJDbm
About The Author
