Overview
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 unit Forest and Soil Ecology assesses the impact of climate change and management on forests and their soils. The Soil Biogeochemistry group at the Birmensdorf site is looking for a candidate to start in January 2026 as a PhD student in Soil Biogeochemistry (f/m/d).
Responsibilities
* Work within the FutureForests Doctoral Network, an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) initiative, to train the next generation of scientists in assessing the impacts of global change on European forests using a network of European flagship field forest facilities.
* Based at WSL Birmensdorf, investigate the effects of drought on organic matter turnover and carbon storage in soil in the VPDrought experiment (Valais, Switzerland).
* Measure soil microbial communities, and carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes, using stable isotope and radiocarbon techniques.
* Conduct complementary analyses at partner facilities in Estonia (University of Tartu), Austria (University of Innsbruck) and Germany (Technical University of Munich) to compare the impacts of recurrent droughts on soil processes under global change.
Qualifications
* Master’s degree in environmental science, soil science, microbiology, or a related discipline.
* Strong communication skills, self-motivation, aptitude for field research, and commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary work.
* Good written and spoken English skills.
* MSCA mobility rules: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment (January 2026).
How to apply
Please send your complete application to Beatrice Lamprecht, Human Resources WSL, by uploading the requested documents through our webpage. Applications via email will not be considered.
Contacts
Dr. Frank Hagedorn, phone +41 (0)44 739 24 63, will be happy to answer any questions or offer further information.
Equal opportunity
WSL is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote gender equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.
#J-18808-Ljbffr