At the University of Bern (UniBE), you will benefit from our excellent reputation, recognized worldwide as a longstanding institution committed to research and innovation.
By July 1, 2026, at the latest.
Fixed-term position
Institute of Plant Sciences
Institute of Plant Sciences
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research
How did Europe's temperate forests endure the harsh climatic conditions of the last Ice Age? Where were the last refuges of temperate flora when ice sheets blanketed much of the continent? How quickly did temperate plant species disperse in response to post-Ice Age climate warming? This PhD-student position, part of the interdisciplinary Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funded project ECO-ICE, aims to answer these crucial questions.
As a PhD student, you will investigate ancient ecosystems through sedimentary palaeoecological techniques. Your research will focus on reconstructing the past vegetation communities and analyzing how temperate species survived in Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum approximately 20,000 years ago. You will assess the dispersion of temperate species from their refugia with the warming climate and study the implications for future ecosystem and species dynamics.
Your responsibilities will include retrieving lake sediment cores during field campaigns across Europe, employing various palaeoecological techniques such as palynology, macrofossils, radiocarbon dating, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. This interdisciplinary SNSF project also collaborates with other PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in palaeoclimatology, palaeogenomics, and dynamic modeling. You will have opportunities to present your findings at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and contribute to science communication and outreach initiatives.
We are searching for curious, highly motivated, and collaborative early-career scientists who are passionate about working at the intersection of ecology, palaeoecology, and climate sciences. You should have a Master of Science degree (MSc) in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Climate Sciences, Geology, Geography, or a related field. A solid understanding of European plant species, vegetation ecology, sediment analysis, palynology, charcoal analysis, and/or plant macrofossil analysis is essential. Strong statistical and numeric skills are required. Experience in writing scientific articles, good organizational skills, and effective communication in English are preferred.
You will engage in exciting research as part of a vibrant and international team located near the beautiful Botanical Garden in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The city offers excellent connectivity to other European cities and is situated close to the Alps. 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.
The University of Bern not only provides exciting tasks but also an environment that nurtures development, diversity, and equal opportunities. Discover what distinguishes us as an employer and how you can thrive with us.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
If you have any questions regarding the position, please reach out to willy.tinner@unibe.ch.
Location : Bern
Country : Switzerland