The Spatial Genetics of Ecosystems group is situated in the Department of Geography and affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Zurich Faculty of Science.
The successful candidate will earn a PhD from the Graduate School in Geography and Earth System Science while conducting research on the SNSF-funded project "Seeing the forest for the trees: Understanding contributions of individual-level genetic variation to the performance of beech forests."
Forest ecosystems cover a third of the Earth's land surface and their future is an important factor in climate change. The European beech Fagus sylvatica is a widespread forest tree and natural wood source, often growing in monodominant or pure stands. Sibling beech trees are highly plastic and neighbors often show large differences in their response to stress. The project will map genomic diversity across European beech forests and investigate why beech trees differ within and across environments, which aspects are heritable, and which are important for predicting the future of Europe's beech forests.
Please submit your application as one PDF file including:
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A motivation letter addressing the topic and profile for the position and your fit
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Your CV
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A copy of your qualifying degree certificate
The deadline for applications is 19 July 2026.
