PhD student in forest ecology (100 %)

Zollikofen

Key information

Publication date:22 July 2025
Workload:100%
Place of work:Zollikofen

Job summary

Join a PhD project at HAFL to explore biodiversity and forest protection. Engage in a dynamic work environment with diverse themes and global contacts.

Tasks

Investigate biodiversity and forest protection synergies in Switzerland.
Develop research strategies and conduct field surveys on forests.
Utilize metabarcoding and bioacoustics to record biodiversity.

Skills

Master's in ecology or related fields; fieldwork experience required.
Proficiency in statistics, R applications, and GIS.
Native German or French speaker; strong English skills needed.

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What you'll be doing here

Investigate synergies and potential conflicts between biodiversity promotion and the protective effects of forests against natural hazards in Switzerland as part of a PhD project within NRP 82 (www.nfp82.ch/en) programme

Develop a research strategy and plan and carry out field surveys of forest structures and biodiversity

Use modern methods to record biodiversity, in particular metabarcoding and bioacoustics

Link, analyse and model biodiversity data with forest structures and conservation effects

Publish research results in scientific journals

What you'll bring with you

Master's degree in ecology, natural sciences, forest sciences, biology, or related disciplines

Experience in planning, organising and carrying out fieldwork in difficult terrain

Good knowledge of statistics, R applications and GIS

English editorial skills

Native German or French speaker with good knowledge of the other language, and very good English proficiency

To start with, here are some of our strong points

An almost unbelievably large variety of themes and topics and a great mix of research and teaching.

Plenty of contact with eager young people from all over the world who are set on achieving things.

Work place in prime location with excellent access.

A motley crew of friendly folk from all walks of life awaits you, all with different biographies, views and experiences.

I'll be your guide through the
application procedure

Danielle Bachmann
HR Consultant
P +41 31 848 36 37

School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences

At HAFL , a department of BFH, we're all about connecting humans, nature and technology towards sustainable development. As a ground-breaking, pioneering think tank, we are engaged in the creation and teaching of knowledge for the world of today and of tomorrow – bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, resilient and always solidly grounded at the same time.