Two positions open in Dr. Iliana Baums Marine Conservation Group at HIFMB

PhD position in population genetics and conservation genomics of corals

Apply HERE.

Background

The Marine Conservation group of Prof. Dr. Iliana Baums at HIFMB is looking for a PhD student to study the population genetics and conservation genomics of reef building corals in the Caribbean. Populations of reef-building corals have declined dramatically and the Baums lab in collaboration with international restoration and academic partners in Belize, Honduras, the USA, Curacao, Mexico and the Dominican Republic are working together to develop population management tools for these species.

In the Marine Conservation group at the HIFMB in Oldenburg we use molecular techniques to answer fundamental questions about marine evolution and ecology to guide coral reef conservation efforts. The group currently has two focus areas: coral physiology and symbiosis and coral restoration genomics.Research at the HIFMB focuses on marine biodiversity and its importance for the functioning of marine ecosystems. We aim to develop sensitive strategies to measure and understand environmental and social processes that influence or influenced by the change in biodiversity in marine systems, and implement effective means to define a scientific basis for marine conservation, marine governance, and ecosystem management efforts. HIFMB is a highly interdisciplinary research environment that currently brings together experts from 18 countries who focus on contemporary yet distinct topics of research.

Our growing research portfolio to understand marine systems at the HIFMB spans from molecular ecology to human geography, microbial metabolism to mathematical modeling and art. As a cooperation between the University of Oldenburg (UOL) and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), the HIFMB benefits from its access to a diverse set of resources for cutting-edge research. The new building of the HIFMB offers state-of-the-art wet-lab and computational resources. The HIFMB is located in Oldenburg, a city in Northern Germany, which is a region that is home to a large number of institutions dedicated to environmental and marine research. In addition to the AWI and the ICBM, the institutions with which the HIFMB researchers regularly interact include the Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences (MARUM) at the University Bremen, and Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Bremen.

Your Tasks

You will..

• collect coral samples from both field and laboratory settings and prepare them for experimental and genetic analyses.

• design, organize, and conduct experiments to investigate population genetic structure, genetic load, inbreeding levels, parentage, clonality, and adaptive signatures in corals and their algal symbionts.

• generate and analyze physiological data, including growth and reproductive performance, under experimental conditions.

• apply molecular and genomic approaches such as RNA sequencing and DNA sequencing to assess adaptive potential and stress responses.

• integrate physiological and genomic datasets to develop alternative conservation genetics strategies aimed at maximizing adaptive capacity in threatened coral species.

• work closely with international collaborators and contribute to interdisciplinary research projects.

• disseminate research outcomes through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and public data repositories.

  
  

More information is available under https://www.awi.de/en/work-study/out-of-university/as-phd-student.html.

Your Profile

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in marine biology or molecular ecology or related fields

• Strong background in population genetic theory and experience in using molecular and bioinformatic tools

• Proficiency in at least one coding language (Phyton), and proficiency in R 

  
  

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• A background in marine biology, experience with DNA/RNA extractions and amplification

• Disposition to work in laboratory and field conditions

• Very good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

Further Information

• Contact in day-to-day work: collaboration mainly with more than 5 people

• Communication: predominantly internal (with colleagues and other departments)

  in the following ways

• By telephone: occasionally (several times a month) 

• E-mail: frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Video conferencing (e. g. Webex): frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Personal contact in presence: frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Movement around the workplace: regularly over longer distances (e.g. other buildings)

• Business trips: occasional (several times a year)

• Expeditions: occur

  
  

Please note that the general conditions listed serve as a guide and may vary depending on the specific area of application.For further information on the specific position, please reach out to Prof. Dr. Iliana Baums(iliana.baums@hifmb.de; +49471 4831 2536).If you have any general questions about the application process, our Recruiting team will be glad to support you – please contact Sarah Palme (bewerbungsmanagement@awi.de; +49471 4831 1853)

In this overview you will find further contact persons for various matters.

This position is limited to 3 years. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13 (66%). The place of employment will be Oldenburg.

All doctoral candidates will be members of AWI's postgraduate program POLMAR or another graduate school and thus benefit from a comprehensive training program and extensive support measures. 

The AWI is characterized by

• Our scientific success - excellent research

• Collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary

• Opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions

• An international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world

• Flexible working hours

• Health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub

• Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family

• Occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, disabilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways. As a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application online only by February 15^th, 2026 and include a letter of interest explaining your qualifications for this position and how it fits with your career goals, as well as your CV, graduate transcripts, and names and email addresses of three references. We kindly ask you to apply in English. No photo is required – we value your qualifications and experience.

Reference number: 26/5/G/HIFMB-b

 

Postdoc in coral population genomics and conservation genetics

 Apply HERE.

Background

The Marine Conservation group of Dr. Iliana Baums (www.baumslab.org), Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), seeks a postdoc to study population genomics and conservation genetics of reef-building corals in the Caribbean. HIFMB is a cooperation between the University of Oldenburg (UOL) and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and has strong ties to regional institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen), MARUM (University of Bremen), and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (Bremen). HIFMB is located in Oldenburg, Northern Germany, a hub for environmental and marine research. The institute brings together experts from 18 countries and provides state-of-the-art wet-lab and computational facilities.

Your Tasks

• Generate and analyze genomic data for reef-building corals, including eukaryotic genome assembly and annotation, population genomics, quantitative genetics, epigenetics, and gene expression analyses

• Use population genomic approaches to estimate population structure, history and introgression

• Use quantitative genetic approaches to estimate responses to selection model alternative conservation genetic strategies such as assisted gene flow and selective breeding

• Extract and sequence coral DNA and RNA

• Plan, execute, interpret, document, and troubleshoot independent research

• Collaborate effectively with computational and experimental team members

• Mentor junior lab members

• Contribute to manuscripts, grant proposals and reports, and communicate results to peers and the public through presentations, writing, and digital media

• Engage in professional development and acquire new skills as needed

• Conduct work in both laboratory and field settings

Your Profile

• PhD in marine biology, bioinformatics, genetics, molecular ecology, or a related field

• Strong background in population genetic theory

• Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python) and in R

• Willingness and ability to work in both lab and field environments

• Very good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

• 
  

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Experience with system administration

• Experience making code and data openly available via repositories/databases (e.g., GitHub, NCBI)

Further Information

• Contact in day-to-day work: collaboration mainly with more than 5 people

• Communication: almost equal share (internal/external)

  in the following ways

• By telephone: occasionally (several times a month) 

• E-mail: frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Video conferencing (e. g. Webex): frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Personal contact in presence: frequently (daily or several times a week) 

• Movement around the workplace: regularly over longer distances (e.g. other buildings)

• Business trips: occasional (several times a year)

• Expeditions: occur 

  
  

Please note that the general conditions listed serve as a guide and may vary depending on the specific area of application.For further information on the specific position, please reach out to Prof Dr Iliana Baums (iliana.baums@hifmb.de; +49 (471)4831-2536).If you have any general questions about the application process, our Recruiting team will be glad to support you – please contact Sarah Palme (bewerbungsmanagement@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1853)

In this overview you will find further contact persons for various matters.

This is a full-time position, limited to January 31^st, 2029. It is also suitable for part-time employment. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13. The place of employment will be Oldenburg. All postdocs will register with AWI's postdoc office PROCEED and thus gain access to a set of tailor-made career development tools.

The AWI is characterized by

• Our scientific success - excellent research

• Collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary

• Opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions

• An international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world

• Flexible working hours 

• Health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub

• Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family

• Occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, disabilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways. As a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!

Please submit your application online only by February 22^nd, 2026. We kindly ask you to apply in English. No photo is required – we value your qualifications and experience. Please include the following application materials:

• Two-page cover letter addressing: (a) motivation to join the Marine Conservation group, (b) past research, (c) future research plans, and (d) qualifications for the position

• CV (include a brief description of your role in each peer-reviewed publication)

• Three reference letters

• Academic transcripts

• Degree certificates

  
  

Reference number: 26/10/G/HIFMB-b