Eawag seeks a Postdoc to investigate how artificial flood restoration in alpine rivers affects nutrient flow and food web dynamics using long-term ecological data.
The Food Web Ecophysiology group at Eawag is looking for a Postdoctoral researcher to examine the movement of nutrients and contaminants across ecosystem boundaries. This role centers on analyzing how artificial flooding, employed as a river restoration technique, influences stream and riparian food webs, aquatic-terrestrial connectivity, and resource pathways within hydropower-regulated alpine environments.
Responsibilities
- Analyze how artificial floods change the availability and utilization of resources in both aquatic and terrestrial food webs.
- Assess whether stream food webs exhibit predictable recovery patterns after the reintroduction of flooding following long interruptions.
- Leverage extensive long-term datasets from the River Spöl in the Swiss National Park, spanning from 1999 to the present.
- Execute field sampling campaigns prior to and following the resumption of artificial flood events.
- Carry out bulk stable isotope analyses on both newly collected and existing sample archives.
- Correlate ecological data with changes in habitat structure and hydromorphology driven by flood events.
- Bridge scientific research and practical application in the management of artificial floods in Switzerland.
- Collaborate with Swiss practitioners in hydropower and aquatic resource management through presentations, meetings, and outreach materials.
Requirements
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and effectively within a small team.
- Self-driven attitude with a resilient mindset focused on skill development and exploring new research areas.
- Previous hands-on experience in wet lab settings, specifically with stable isotope and biogeochemical analyses.
- Competence in conducting laboratory work independently.
- Strong interest in connecting mechanistic food-web ecology with hydro-morphology, habitat dynamics, and adaptive river management.
- Proficiency in data analysis and clear communication of scientific findings.
Nice to have
- Interest in mentoring junior researchers, such as master’s students.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn a Swiss national language.
About the company
This position is based within the Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution (FishEc) at Eawag, situated on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Kastanienbaum, Switzerland. The role fosters close collaboration with researchers from the Department of Aquatic Ecology in Dübendorf, ETH Zürich (USYS), and the Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). The working languages for the lab and department are English.
- Located in Kastanienbaum on the shores of Lake Lucerne.
- Collaborative environment with researchers from ETH Zürich, ZHAW, and Eawag's Aquatic Ecology department.
- English is the primary working language for the lab and department.
How to apply
Application language: English
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