PhD Position in Paleogenomics / PhD Position in Paleogenomics

UniBE is Interconnected

Join us as part of an international community and benefit from 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 the 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 analyze paleogenomic data.

Additionally, you will collaborate with experts in paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and geochemistry within the ECO-ICE consortium. This project offers the rare opportunity to engage in fieldwork, laboratory science, and computational biology, allowing you to gain 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 efforts.

Who We Are Looking For

We seek curious, highly motivated, and collaborative early-career scientists who are excited to work at the interface of ecology, genomics, and climate sciences. Ideal candidates will possess:

• A Master's degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Geography, or a related discipline.
• Foundational 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, good organizational skills, and effective communication in English.

You will conduct exciting research within a vibrant and international team, situated in one of Europe's most livable cities near the Alps. You will have access to world-class clean-lab facilities and high-performance computing infrastructure. Enrollment in the Graduate School of Climate Sciences will provide you with interdisciplinary training and transferable skills courses. Employment conditions will follow SNSF salary guidelines.

Your Benefits

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

Working at the University of Bern

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

Application Information

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered. For further information, please contact 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?

If you have any questions about the position, please reach out to christoph.schwoerer@unibe.ch.