PostDoc Position in Antarctic Krill Fishery Management Under Climate Change (HIFMB)

Job title

PostDoc Position in Antarctic Krill Fishery Management Under Climate Change.

Company

Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), in institutional cooperation between the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) and the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg.

Description of the job

The Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) is seeking a PostDoc to investigate krill fishing activities before and after the expiration of conservation measure 51-07 in CCAMLR fishing area 48, in conjunction with existing conservation measures, including those implemented voluntarily by the fishing industry.

HIFMB is a research institute located in Oldenburg that studies marine biodiversity and its importance for the function of marine ecosystems, the people linked to those ecosystems, and their governance. It was founded in 2017 as an institutional cooperation between the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), and the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a keystone species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, essential for many species' survival. This ecologically critical species is also the target of the largest and fastest-growing fishery in the Southern Ocean, regulated by CCAMLR. A critical development occurred during the October 2024 CCAMLR meeting: the expiration of Conservation Measure (CM) 51-07, which previously mandated that the maximum allowable catch of 620,000 t be spatially distributed among subareas 48.1 to 48.4. With no consensus among member states to renew this measure, the fishery now has unrestricted spatial allocation within area 48, heightening concerns over localised overexploitation.

This position is part of a cohort of 4 PostDoc positions, working under the umbrella topic "The dilemma of the Southern Ocean: ecosystems, sustainability and competing interests at the edge of the world". The candidate will work in the Southern Ocean Conservation and Governance Group and become part of the Working Group on Ecophysiology of Pelagic Key Species. This is a full-time position, limited to 3 years, starting April 1st, 2026 or later. It is also suitable for part-time employment.

Key Research Questions:

• Is the current management concept still up to date for addressing the challenges of climate change and a rapidly growing fishery?
• How can the management concept be improved, given the existing management concepts worldwide?
• How can an improved management concept be implemented in CCAMLR?

What We Offer:

• Membership to the HIPP cohort and the wider HIFMB postgraduate community.
• Registration with AWI's postdoc office PROCEED with access to tailor-made career development tools.
• An international environment with flexible working hours.
• Health promotion and company fitness.
• Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family.
• Occupational pension provision (VBL).

Requirements

• A PhD in marine biology, conservation biology, fishery management & conservation, or related fields.
• A strong background in handling large data sets, programming (preferably in R), statistical analysis, modelling, and mapping.
• Highly motivated and eager to work in an interdisciplinary marine research context.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Very good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1).

Desirable:

• A background in Antarctic research.

Location

Oldenburg, Germany.

Salary

Not specified. 

How to apply

Please submit your application exclusively online by March 15th, 2026, quoting reference number 26/4/G/HIFMB-b. Applicants are required to submit an extended cover letter (max. two pages) describing their fit to the position and criteria, and complete the template CV provided (available for download on the AWI website). For questions about the position, contact Prof Dr Bettina Meyer (Bettina.Meyer@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1378). For questions about the application procedure, contact Ruth Krause (ruth.krause@hifmb.de; +49(471)4831-2543). Interviews are planned for mid until end of March 2026 in Oldenburg or online.

Deadline

15/03/2026.

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