Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL focuses on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. WSL is part of the ETH Domain and employs approximately 600 people, of whom 10 are based in Lausanne.
The research unit Forest and Soil Ecology explores the functional significance of forest diversity with respect to the ecology of managed and unmanaged forests. The Functional Plant Ecology group at the Lausanne site is looking for a candidate to start in January 2026 as a
PhD student in Plant Ecophysiology (f/m/d)
You will be working within "The FutureForests Doctoral Network", an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) initiative, which aims to train the next generation of scientists in assessing the impacts of global change on European forests utilizing a unique network of European flagship field forest facilities. Based at WSL in Lausanne, you will focus on assessing changes in tree carbon and water relations, including carbon allocation at the VPDrought experiment (Valais, Switzerland). The goal is to investigate how atmospheric and soil droughts affect leaf-to-whole-tree ecophysiological processes that drive growth, carbon sequestration, and tree mortality. Complementary measurements and analyses will be conducted at selected manipulation facilities in Estonia (University of Tartu) and Germany (Technical University of Munich) to compare the impacts of recurrent droughts and vapour pressure deficits on plant growth and carbon dynamics under global change. You hold a master’s degree in environmental science, ecology, or related disciplines and have a strong background in plant science. Furthermore, you should also demonstrate strong communication skills, self-motivation, an aptitude for field research, and a commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research. You have good written and spoken English skills. Moreover, you should comply with the MSCA mobility rules: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before your recruitment date (January 2026).