PhD Candidate in Paleogenomics and Ice Age Ecosystems / PhD Candidate in Paleogenomics and Ice Age Ecosystems

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Start Date

01.07.2026

Employment Relationship

Fixed-term

Institution / Workplace

Institute of Plant Science

Paleogenomics and Ice Age Ecosystems

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 covered much of the continent—and what can these ancient survival strategies teach us about the future of ecosystems under rapid climate change?

We invite applications for two fully funded 4-year PhD positions within the interdisciplinary 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.

Your Role

As a PhD student, you will explore ancient ecosystems using innovative sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) and paleogenomic approaches. Your work will contribute directly to reconstructing past vegetation communities and uncovering the hidden genetic diversity of refugial populations. Your responsibilities include:

• Retrieving lake sediment cores during field campaigns around Europe
• Extracting sedaDNA in a dedicated clean-lab facility
• Applying advanced bioinformatic tools to the paleogenomic data

In addition, you will collaborate with experts in paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and geochemistry within the ECO-ICE consortium. This project offers the rare opportunity to work across fieldwork, laboratory science, and computational biology, allowing you to develop a comprehensive skill set in the rapidly evolving field of sedaDNA research. You will present your findings at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and contribute to science communication and outreach.

Who We Are Looking For

We seek curious, highly motivated, and collaborative early-career scientists excited to work at the interface of ecology, genomics, and climate sciences. You hold a Master's degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Geography, or a related discipline. You possess:

• Basic knowledge in vegetation ecology, molecular biology, population genetics, and bioinformatics
• Expertise in (a)DNA extraction, library preparation, and NGS genome data analysis (Unix, R, Python) is advantageous
• Experience in writing scientific articles
• Good organizational skills and effective communication skills in English

You will engage in exciting research within a vibrant international team located in Bern, one of Europe's most livable cities and close to the Alps. Access to world-class clean-lab facilities and high-performance computing infrastructure will be provided. You will also be enrolled in the Graduate School of Climate Sciences, offering interdisciplinary training and transferable skills courses. Employment conditions follow SNSF salary guidelines.

Your Benefits

• Beautiful location in Bern
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Strong research infrastructure and international network
• Collaborative environment with an ambitious team

Working at the University of Bern

The University of Bern not only offers exciting tasks but also an environment that actively promotes development, diversity, and equal opportunities. Discover what makes us stand out as an employer and how you can grow with us.

Application Process

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Contact

If you have any questions about the position, please contact: christoph.schwoerer@unibe.ch