项目介绍

2025年5月15日

The position is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation project “A mechanistic theory of functional responses: zooming into movement behaviour to understand and predict predator prey interactions”.­
Ecological communities are home to many different species that interact with each other. These interactions control how energy and resources flow through ecosystems, which affects how ecological communities function and maintain stability. A key factor influencing how populations interact is how the strength of their interactions changes based on population density. This relationship is called the functional response (FR), and its shape significantly impacts whether interacting populations will coexist, collapse, or cycle. While functional responses are commonly used in practical applications (like pest management) and ecological theory (such as food web models), we don’t understand how individual animal movement and behavior create these patterns. To tackle this knowledge gap, our research project addresses two main challenges:­
1. Develop a scalable method that uses movement behavior in both single-prey and multi-prey situations to predict functional responses across different predator-prey pairs.­
2. Understand the mechanisms that change the shape of functional responses and how these changes affect the stability of the predators and their prey.

Your responsibilities

The PhD student will conduct a series of experiments using microbial predator-prey communities under controlled laboratory settings using a 3D tracking system. This system facilitates high-resolution, high-throughput measurements of both individual behaviour and functional responses. The collected data will help to test hypotheses explaining variation in functional response shapes and serve to parameterize a model that derives the functional response from the underlying movement behaviour (conducted by the partners at the University of Amsterdam). The project involves frequent visits and exchanges between UZH and the University of Amsterdam.

Your profile

• Masters Level Degree in Ecology or a closely related subject.­
• Knowledge of ecological concepts and theory, particularly those pertinent to movement ecology, community stability, species interactions and food webs.­
• Experience designing, running, and analysing ecological experiments.­
• Proficiency in scientific writing.­
• Project management skills.­
• Ability to work in a team and independently.­
• Prior laboratory experience with microbial systems, an interest in quantitative approaches (statistical and mathematical modelling, programming) and method development (3D tracking) is a plus.

Information on your application

The successful candidate will work in the group of Dr. Frank Pennekamp at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Zurich. We offer a position in a diverse team of international researchers, a friendly work environment, and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure. For more information on the research group of Dr, Frank Pennekamp, please visit our website. The PhD is part of a bilateral SNF funded research project between UZH and Prof. Benjamin Martin at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Employment start date to be mutually agreed, preferentially July 2025 or soon thereafter. The employment will be for up to 4 years.
How to apply:
Please submit your application by 26.5.2025 as a single PDF file to Maja Weilenmann (maja.weilenmann@ieu.uzh.ch). Your application (in English) should include a cover letter stating your motivation for this position, a CV, and copies of degrees. Please also include contact information of two people who would be willing to provide a reference letter. Interviews will be conducted in English.
Please contact Frank Pennekamp (frank.pennekamp@ieu.uzh.ch) if you have any scientific questions regarding this position.

Questions about the job

Frank PennekampIndependent Group Leader