Postdoctoral Fellowship (03) at University of Freiburg, Germany

This Post-Doc project critically builds on social science perspectives that challenge rational actor models, aiming to uncover hidden power structures, cultural norms, and social relationships that shape decision-making for future forests. It pursues two major objectives: (1) to gain a thorough understanding of how decisions for future forests are made under increasing uncertainty and growing societal challenges based on own research, exploring the dynamics of decision-making in novel SES in the Upper Rhine Valley region and further ‘hotspot regions’ in Europe; (2) to develop a shared conceptual framework of how empirically grounded analyses of decision-making under complexity can be systematically linked to interdisciplinary modelling and scenario-based approaches to adaptation and transformation in novel forest socio-ecological systems (SES). To reach that aim, the Postdoc project builds a unique integrative perspective by synthesizing insights across our research theme on practices of decision making, which includes four PhD projects that each explores distinct arenas of forest-related decision-making by following institutionalized structures, diverse actors, contested species and disputed processes.

The postdoctoral researcher will focus on the work package “Atlantic Blockade and Transatlantic Strains”. The blockade aimed not only to bar critical supplies from enemies but also to isolate them from the outside world. Based on newspapers, diplomatic correspondence, the records of diaspora organisations and parliamentary debates, the work package will determine blockades’ impact on personal communication (telegraphy, mail) and mobility (travel) across the Atlantic and the bitter debate about neutral rights and British power in both world wars. It will ideally focus on the United States and at least one South American country (such as Argentina, an important trade and immigrant nation) during, among others, periods of shared neutrality (1914-1917; 1939-1941). As previous research focused mainly on the British ‘blacklisting’ of companies, the work package will offer a different, ‘bottom up’ approach to identify blockade’s disintegrative effects and the strains it placed on transatlantic (and domestic) relations in the Americas. However, the postdoctoral fellow is encouraged to develop their own approach to these questions.

The Excellence Cluster Future Forests at the University of Freiburg invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher (PostDoc – w/m/d) position in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services under Forest Change.

The successful candidate will contribute to research at the interface of biodiversity dynamics, ecosystem services, and human well-being, working within two closely connected research themes:

1. Biodiversity assessment and soundscape analysis (Theme A4)
   Investigating how novel species interactions and emergent biological communities shape biodiversity under forest change. This includes assessing biodiversity — with a particular focus on birds — and quantifying soundscape quality as an ecosystem service in response to structural transformation, invasive tree species, and forest disintegration.
2. Visual and acoustic dimensions  of forest change (Theme A5)
3. Examining how novel ecosystems influence mental and physical well-being by linking ecological monitoring data with human perception. The research integrates visual and acoustic indicators of forest change to better understand how transformations in forest structure affect human health and experiential quality.

The project explores how long-term changes in forest structure — such as increasing dominance of non-native tree species or widespread tree mortality — alter both ecological communities and the benefits forests provide to society. By combining biodiversity monitoring with perceptual and health-related research, the position contributes to an integrative understanding of forest transformation under global environmental change.