1 Student helper position (m/w/d; 11h/week)

The working group Experimental Interaction Ecology (EIE) offers a position for a student helper to work as laboratory assistant in strong collaboration with a PhD student at the Jena Experiment within the project “Plant diversity, plant history, and soil history effects on the temporal dynamics of plant and soil activity”.

What is that about?

In the past few years, we had increasing evidence showing that biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships get stronger over time. One of its major underlying reasons may be that species in more diverse communities tend to decrease temporal niche overlap in order to avoid competition and, by consequence, maximize resource use. Here, we aim to test how plant diversity and plant-soil feedback influence temporal activity of above- and belowground communities, and we want you to help us achieving that!

What will be your task?

As a laboratory assistant, you will be responsible for preparing the material regarding belowground activity, to be set up in the fieldwork. Every two weeks, we will bring out several so-called bait-lamina strips to the field (see picture). These are grey PVC strips with holes. Your main task will be preparing a substrate and filling those strips with this substrate.

Where and when?

Your work will be carried out at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig (Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig). The preferred starting date is on the 15th of July, to last until the 15th of January. Working time can be selected between 8:00 and 17:00 during weekdays.

I want to apply! And now?

If you are interested, please send an e-mail (in English) with the subject line ‘Application HiWi SP4’ to Ana Asato. Applications will be received until position is filled. We are looking forward to work with you!