Post-doctoral researcher position in aquatic food-web ecology, Danube University Krems, Austria

Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health, Danube University Krems
Krems an der Donau, Austria

Closing Date: Oct 31, 2026

Web Address: https://www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/university/faculties/health-medicine/research/research-lab-aquatic-ecosystem-research-and-health.html

Description

Within the research project ‘HydroFat’, funded by the Austrian Science Fund, we are looking for a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher with prior training in aquatic food web ecology to investigate trophic interactions of freshwater ponds in the Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at the Danube University Krems, Austria.

 

The post-doctoral researcher will explore trophic processes of pond food webs, examine how algae, zooplankton, and fish respond to environmental and dietary changes, and track diet pathways (using stable isotopes and lipids) in pond food webs in northern Austria (field work) and tested under controlled feeding conditions. This research will employ state-of-the-art analytical methods, including GC-C/P-IRMS, MALDI, EA-IRMS for compound-specific stable hydrogen isotopes of fatty acids (d 2HFA), organ-specific identification of lipids, and trophic dependency, to back engineer trophic transfer and conversion of specific fatty acids across pond food webs.

 

Together with a highly interactive international team (Austria, Czechia, Finland, Canada, China), this research is coordinated and lead by Martin J. Kainz (PI). The Research Lab for Aquatic Ecosystems and Health at the Danube University Krems, Austria, is well equipped with analytical lab and field instruments and also collaborates with the inter-university centre of aquatic ecosystem research WasserCluster Lunz.

 

Candidates are encouraged to send the following items, as a single PDF, to Prof. Martin Kainz (martin.kainz@donau-uni.ac.at):

(1) Brief description of their academic background, career goals, motivations for pursuing this post-doctoral training, research ideas, and why they are specifically interested in joining this research project;

(2) CV with academic and professional experience, including published papers; and

(3) Contact information for 3 references.

 

This position is fully funded for 1 year according to the FWF guidelines. The application deadline is October 31, 2026, for enrolment in early 2027. Pre-selected candidates will be invited for an interview.