PhD Candidate in Paleogenomics / PhD Candidate in Paleogenomics

Join Our Innovative Research Team at UniBE

At the University of Bern (UniBE), you're not just joining an institution; you're becoming part of an international community that thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration.

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? 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.

• Retrieving lake sediment cores during field campaigns across Europe
• Extracting sedaDNA in a dedicated clean-lab facility
• Applying advanced bioinformatic tools to analyze paleogenomic data
• Collaborating with experts in paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and geochemistry within the ECO-ICE consortium

This project offers a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive skill set across fieldwork, laboratory science, and computational biology in the rapidly developing field of sedaDNA research. You will present your research 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 intersection of ecology, genomics, and climate science. The ideal candidate holds a Master's degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Geography, or a related discipline. You should possess:

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

Join us for exciting research in a vibrant and international team located in one of Europe's most livable cities and near the Alps. You will have access to world-class clean-lab facilities and high-performance computing infrastructure. You will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Climate Sciences, which provides interdisciplinary training and transferable skills courses. Employment conditions adhere to 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 offers not only 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 and Contact

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. For further information, reach out to Prof. Christoph Schwörer at christoph.schwoerer@unibe.ch or visit www.ips.unibe.ch/research/palgen or www.oeschger.unibe.ch.

Questions about the Position?

For inquiries regarding the position, please contact christoph.schwoerer@unibe.ch.