PhD position in alpine and arctic plant ecology
100% / starting date is January/February 2026
The research group Ecology at the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel in Switzerland invites applications for a fully funded four-year PhD position in alpine and arctic plant ecology.
Current environmental changes are causing major changes in the physical environment, which may in turn fundamentally alter the functioning of ecosystems. Alpine and arctic ecosystems have remained relatively natural so far, but are especially affected by these changes as they are warming faster than the global average. Most plant species in these regions are therefore shifting their distributions to track the climatic conditions they are adapted to. However, there is considerable variation in the responses of individual species. While some species are benefitting from the environmental changes, others are decreasing in abundance and range size, potentially resulting in biotic homogenization and a loss of biodiversity in the long term. This is especially critical because alpine and arctic ecosystems harbour disproportionately high levels of biodiversity and provide important ecosystem services to humans.
Your position
The successful candidate will focus their research on analysing temporal trends of the rarity of plant species and the biotic homogenization of plant communities in alpine and arctic ecosystems. They will combine their own field observations in the European Alps and the Arctic with a novel microclimatic dataset and a large Europe-wide database comprising re-surveys of historical vegetation data since the middle of the 19th century. The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to develop their own research questions within this broad theme. Finally, the candidate will also contribute to teaching and other research activities of the research group Ecology and is expected to collaborate closely with other research group members and researchers from other institutions.
Your profile
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a self-organized and solution-oriented work attitude. Strong communication and organizational skills, the ability to work in teams and a commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace are essential. Applicants should hold a MSc degree in ecology, botany, biogeography, environmental science, computational biology or related fields. Very good written and spoken English is a must. Candidates should be able and willing to conduct fieldwork over extended periods of time under harsh climatic conditions in remote environments, and should have experience and knowledge in plant species identification. The successful candidate should be able to independently conduct statistical analyses in R and hold a valid driver's license. Experience in GIS and handling large datasets is a plus.
We offer you
A fully-funded PhD position for four years in a dynamic research group with an excellent research infrastructure in the international and interdisciplinary Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel in Switzerland. You will join a supportive, collaborative and cooperative working environment and will have the opportunity to be integrated in established international research networks. Internationally competitive salaries and social benefits are provided according to the rules of the University of Basel. The University of Basel (www.unibas.ch) is the oldest university in Switzerland and is located at the border between Switzerland, France and Germany. A PhD school including courses to improve hard and soft skills, as well as career development opportunities are available.
Application / Contact
Please upload your application via our online platform. It should include: a motivation letter stating your research interests, fit to the profile and motivation for applying for the position (max. 1 page), a CV, a copy of your MSc degree, the names and contact details of 3 references, and a description of a research project that you conducted or contributed to stating the rationale, results and your own contribution (max. half page). We especially encourage applications from women and from persons underrepresented in academic research. Review of applications will begin on September 21, 2025 but will continue until the position is filled. Only online applications submitted through the recruiting platform will be considered. For further questions please contact Prof. Dr. Sabine Rumpf (sabine.rumpf@unibas.ch) and visit https://eco.duw.unibas.ch/en/ for more information about the research group Ecology
