Phd Student in Global Plant and Biome Ecology

vor 1 Woche

Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain.

Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.

The research group Dynamic Macroecology of Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann studies questions related to spatial ecology, macroevolution and biodiversity conservation. For this group, we are looking from

early 2024 for a

PhD Student in global plant and biome ecology 80-100% (f/m/d)


as part of a large SNSF (ERC) Advanced Grant project (Predicting hotspots of climate change impacts on ecosystems from an eco-evolutionary biome framework).

This project aims at (1) mapping global biomes, (2) projecting global change impacts on biomes, and (3) testing a novel eco-evolutionary biome theory.

As part of this large effort, you will assess how recent climate change has led to biome shifts and how it affected the frequency and intensity of different types of (a)biotic disturbances.

You will then project the relationships identified to future climates based on projections of climate models.

For this research, you will analyze large global data sets on vegetation structure, climate, and other geospatial properties, and you will carry out fieldwork collect data on disturbances that cannot easily be measured from space and to validate model projections in the field.

The project will be carried out in close cooperation with international partners.

The main place of work will be the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL in Birmensdorf, Switzerland, but part of your work will be conducted in the four global case study regions.


You hold an MSc degree in plant ecology, macroecology or a related field, you are an enthusiastic field ecologist with proven experience in planning and conducting complex sampling campaigns, and you have good knowledge in processing high-volume data with code-based tools.

You have proven experience in spatial modelling and in the use of scripting languages (e.g. Python, R). Further assets are expertise in functional ecology, and experience in cluster computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The capability to develop new ideas independently is necessary, as are very good English skills (both written and oral). You are a curious, self-reliant person who is also an excellent team worker and values cooperation.

  • Zürcherstrasse 111, CH8903 Birmensdorf

  • Phd Student in Plant Macroevolution and

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The research group Dynamic Macroecology of Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann...

  • Phd Student in Process Modelling of Biome Dynamics

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The research group Dynamic Macroecology of Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann...

  • Phd Student in Urban Ecology

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Unit Biodiversity and Conservation Biology investigates...

  • Phd Student in Plant Ecophysiology

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Forest Dynamics Research Unit investigates current challenges...

  • Postdoc in Functional Macroecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Group Dynamic Macroecology of Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann...

  • Postdoc in Ecological Remote Sensing 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Group Dynamic Macroecology of Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann...

  • 2 Postdocs in Migration and Disease Ecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The research group Dynamic Macroecologystudies questions related to...

  • Scientist in "computational Geo-ecology"

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Unit "Forest Resources and Management" assesses and...

  • 2 PostDocs in migration and disease ecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. The research group Dynamic Macroecologystudies questions related...

  • Phd Student in Ecological Impacts of Light

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The WSL research unit Land Change Science assesses ecological...

  • Postdoc in Community

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Unit Biodiversity and Conservation Biology studies the...

  • Phd Student in Optimizing Single Tree Level

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Forest Resources and Management research unit assesses...

  • Postdoc in Tree Regeneration Analyses

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The research unit Forest Dynamics investigates the effects of global...

  • PhD in Dendroclimatology 100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is a part of the ETH Domain. Around 600 people are dedicated to the sustainable use and protection of the environment, as well as the management of natural hazards. The Research Group Dendrosciences utilizes tree rings...

  • Phd in Dendroclimatology 100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Group Dendrosciences uses tree rings to investigate and...

  • PhD in Dendroclimatology 100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. The Research Group Dendrosciences uses tree rings to investigate...

  • Scientific Collaborator Vegetation Ecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.Within the framework of the project Monitoring the Effectiveness of...

  • Postdoc in "nowcasting Drought Stress Indices in

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The Research Unit Forest Dynamics assesses the effects of changing...

  • Postdoc in Radar Aeroecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSLThe Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.The research group Dynamic Macroecology studies questions related to...

  • PostDoc in Radar Aeroecology 80-100%

    vor 1 Woche

    Birmensdorf ZH, Zürich, Schweiz WSL Vollzeit

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. The research group Dynamic Macroecology studies questions related...