2 PhD positions in Ecosystem modelling of plant-soil feedbacks

Two part-time PhD positions at the University of Zurich focus on developing mathematical models to understand plant-soil feedbacks in grassland ecosystems, in collaboration with the University of Kansas.

This role is part of a joint initiative between the University of Zurich and the University of Kansas designed to deepen the scientific understanding of how interactions between plants and soil communities influence grassland ecosystem health. The successful candidate will create and test mathematical frameworks that quantify these dynamics, with the ultimate goal of supporting conservation, restoration, and educational efforts in both Switzerland and the United States.

Responsibilities

• Construct and verify mathematical models that track the evolution of soil communities over time and assess their impact on specific plant species.
• Adapt the modeling framework to handle scenarios involving more than two species, utilizing experimental data from six grassland species in Kansas.
• Combine the developed framework with insights from a parallel PhD project that examines the effects of plant-soil feedbacks on broader plant community dynamics.
• Calibrate models of plant community dynamics structured by plant-soil feedbacks using data from long-term biodiversity field experiments.
• Investigate whether incorporating dispersal constraints can explain previously unobserved trends in experimental datasets.
• Merge the multi-species model, including dispersal constraints, with findings from the related PhD project on plant community dynamics.
• Produce three scientific articles based on these tasks to serve as the foundation for the doctoral thesis.
• Take part in ecological experiments and the collection of field data.

Requirements

• A Master of Science (MSc) or equivalent qualification from a recognized university in fields such as Environmental & Earth System Science, Geo- & Environmental Physics, Computational & Mathematical Biology, Ecology & Evolution, or related disciplines.
• Proven experience in building and analyzing ecosystem models using coding languages like MATLAB, Python, Fortran, Julia, Mathematica, or R.
• Competence in statistical data analysis employing open and reproducible methodologies.
• A strong interest in uncovering new explanations for ecological phenomena through mathematical modeling, analytical work, and simulations.

What the company offers

• Access to a comprehensive package of attractive employee benefits.

About the company

The University of Zurich stands as Switzerland's largest university, employing approximately 10,000 staff members. It provides an inspiring work environment centered on cutting-edge research and high-quality education.

• The institution is recognized as Switzerland's largest university with a substantial workforce.
• The environment fosters cutting-edge research and top-class educational standards.