PhD-student position in Palaeoecology

Project Description

How did Europe's temperate forests survive the harshest climatic period of the last Ice Age? Where were the last refuges of temperate flora when ice sheets and permafrost covered much of the continent? How fast did temperate plant species spread in response to subsequent climate warming? What can these ancient survival strategies teach us about the future of ecosystems under rapid climate change?

We invite applications for a 4-year PhD-student position within the interdisciplinary Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funded project ECO-ICE, based at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Bern, Switzerland, devoted to answer such questions.

As a PhD student you will explore ancient ecosystems using sedimentary palaeoecological approaches. Your work will contribute directly to reconstructing past vegetation communities and uncover the survival of temperate species in Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum about 20000 years ago, to assess the spread of temperate species out of their refugia during the subsequent warming, and study the implications of the past for future ecosystem and species dynamics in a warmer world.
Your responsibilities will include retrieving lake sediment cores during field campaigns around Europe. The approaches cover palynology, macrofossils, radiocarbon dating, XRF and other palaeoecological techniques to gain holistic palaeoecological reconstructions. This interdisciplinary SNF project comprises other PhD-student and postdoctoral positions in palaeoclimatology, palaeogenomics and dynamic modelling and is organized in collaboration with other groups at University of Bern and University of Basel. You will present your research at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals and contribute to science communication and outreach.

For whom we are looking for

We seek curious, highly motivated and collaborative early-career scientists who are excited to work at the interface of ecology, palaeoecology and climate sciences. You hold a Master of Science degree (MSc) in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Climate Sciences, Geology, Geography, or a related discipline. You have good knowledge in European plant species, vegetation ecology, sediment analysis, palynology, charcoal analysis, and/or plant macrofossil analysis. Statistical and numeric skills are required. Preferably, you already have experience in writing scientific articles, possess good organization skills and communicate effectively in English.

What we offer

You will be doing exciting research in a vibrant and international team at a beautiful location close to the Botanical Garden in the capital of Switzerland, Bern. The city of Bern is close to the Alps, in the center of Europe and very well connected to other European cities. You will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Climate Sciences, providing interdisciplinary training and transferable-skills courses. Employment conditions follow SNSF salary guidelines

Please only apply if you can start at latest July 1st 2026 (and have your MSc-diploma already issued).