Two Doctoral Positions in Tropical Forest Ecology, Animal-Plant Interactions and Forest Restoration

Two Doctoral Positions in Tropical Forest Ecology, Animal-Plant Interactions and Forest Restoration

100%, Zurich, fixed-term

The Species Interactions and Ecosystem Health group at ETH Zürich is seeking two motivated Doctoral candidates to join the SNSF Starting Grant project AniCaRes – Animating Carbon Restoration: The Role of Animals in Carbon Sequestration During Forest Restoration. Tropical forest restoration is a key strategy for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. However, forest recovery depends not only on trees but also on animals, which influence seed dispersal, soil processes, plant establishment and seedling survival. AniCaRes investigates how animal communities shape tropical forest regeneration and carbon recovery across spatial scales. The project combines tropical field experiments, molecular ecology, DNA metabarcoding/eDNA, animal monitoring, remote sensing and ecological modelling, with fieldwork primarily in Panama and Brazil.

Job description

We are recruiting candidates for two complementary Doctoral projects:

Doctoral position 1 – Animals, seed dispersal and seedling establishment

• The project will investigate how animals influence forest regeneration through seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and the dispersal of soil microorganisms, particularly mycorrhizal fungi
• The candidate will combine field experiments, molecular approaches and ecological analyses
• Fieldwork will primarily take place in Panama, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)

Doctoral position 2 – Herbivory, animal communities and seedling survival

• The project will investigate how herbivores and predators influence seedling survival, plant community composition and carbon recovery in regenerating tropical forests
• The candidate will work with exclusion experiments, animal monitoring, vegetation surveys and ecological modelling
• Fieldwork will primarily take place in Brazil
• Both candidates will work closely with the PI, other group members and an international network of collaborators
• They will contribute to data collection, analysis, scientific publications and dissemination of project results

Profile

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in tropical ecology, animal-plant interactions, biodiversity, forest restoration and ecosystem functioning.

Applicants should have:

• A Master's degree in ecology, biology, environmental sciences or a related discipline
• Strong interest in quantitative ecological research and tropical ecosystems
• Experience with data analysis, preferably in R and/or Python
• Ability and willingness to conduct extended fieldwork in tropical environments
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an international research team

Previous experience with molecular laboratory work, DNA-based ecological methods and/or fieldwork in tropical ecosystems will be considered a strong asset. Experience with GIS, remote sensing, animal monitoring, experimental ecology or ecological modelling is also advantageous, but candidates are not expected to have expertise in all these areas.

We offer

The successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary and international research environment at ETH Zürich, with opportunities to develop expertise across field ecology, molecular ecology, quantitative analysis and emerging biodiversity-monitoring technologies. The projects include close collaboration with research institutions and local partners in Latin America and substantial opportunities for international fieldwork.

The positions will be funded according to ETH Zürich doctoral salary conditions.

We value diversity and sustainability

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application by 10 November 2026 with the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation/intention explaining your research interests, relevant experience and motivation for joining AniCaRes
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Contact details of two referees

In your letter, please indicate whether you are particularly interested in Doctoral position 1, Doctoral position 2, or both.

Further information about the Insitute for Integrative Biology can be found on our Website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to carolina.bellolozano@usys.ethz.ch, Prof. Carolina Bello (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

About ETH Zürich

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cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge
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