Postdoctoral Research Associate in Palynology and Palaeoecology / Postdoctoral Research Associate in Palynology and Palaeoecology (Female)

Postdoctoral Position in Vegetational and Land Use Dynamics

We invite applications for a postdoctoral position to study vegetational and land use dynamics in response to climate change and technological innovations. This role encompasses independent palynological and palaeoecological research on sediment cores from Italy. Our team offers an inspiring and innovative research environment, complete with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and a diverse, motivated team.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications:

• PhD in Ecology, Environmental Sciences, or Earth Sciences.
• Strong background in numerical analysis and optical microscopy.
• Excellent knowledge of palynology and/or plant macrofossil analysis.
• Familiarity with Mediterranean vegetation ecology.
• A proven record of high-quality research (at MSc and PhD level) and substantial international publication experience.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team, particularly with two PhD students.
• Knowledge of the Italian language is advantageous.

Project Overview

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Willy Tinner within the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) project CIVES (Assessing the Environmental Context of Past Urbanization Dynamics Using Sedimentary Archives). The project, based at the Institute of Plant Sciences and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Bern, focuses on early urbanization dynamics in Greece, Italy, and Switzerland over the past 3,000 years.

Salary and Employment Details

The gross annual salary will be in the range of 80,000 to 105,000 CHF for full-time employment (100%). Part-time arrangements may be negotiated, with a minimum commitment of 70%. The position is available starting from January 1, 2026, for a duration of 12 months, with the possibility of extension by mutual agreement for up to 2 additional years.

Apply online using the form below.

Important Notes

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Contact Information

For more details, please reach out to:

Prof. Willy Tinner
Head of Palaeoecological Research Section,
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research & Institute of Plant Sciences,
University of Bern,
Altenbergrain 21,
3013 Bern, Switzerland.

For further information on the research conducted by our group, please refer to our website.