PhD Researcher in Paleogenomics and Ice Age Ecosystems / PhD Researcheress 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 across 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 a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of fieldwork, laboratory science, and computational biology, allowing you to gain a comprehensive skill set in the rapidly developing 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 who are excited to work at the interface of ecology, genomics, and climate sciences. You should hold a Master's degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Geography, or a related discipline. Basic knowledge in vegetation ecology, molecular biology, population genetics, and bioinformatics is essential. Expertise in (a)DNA extraction, library preparation, and NGS genome data analysis (Unix, R, Python) is advantageous. Experience in writing scientific articles, strong organizational skills, and effective communication in English are also desired.

You will be engaged in exciting research within a vibrant, international team located in one of Europe's most livable cities, Bern, near the Alps. Our state-of-the-art clean-lab facilities and high-performance computing infrastructure will be at your disposal. You will also be enrolled in the Graduate School of Climate Sciences, providing you with 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 and 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, 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?

You can reach out at christoph.schwoerer@unibe.ch.