PhD Student in Forest Biodiversity (60%)

Publication date:11 December 2025
Workload:60%
Place of work:Zollikofen

Job summary

Join the interdisciplinary MULTIFORDECA project exploring forest structures! Enjoy a collaborative work environment with creative freedom and diverse connections.

Tasks

Conduct research on xylobiont diversity and dead wood decomposition.
Analyze biodiversity data linked to forest structures and ecosystems.
Compare managed forests with natural reserves across various scales.

Skills

Master's in Ecology, Biology, or related fields required.
Field experience in temperate forest ecosystems is essential.
Strong statistics and GIS skills, plus proficiency in R needed.

Is this helpful?

About the job

What you will do here

Pursue a PhD within the framework of the collaborative SNSF project MULTIFORDECA , which investigates the relationships between forest structures, xylobiont diversity, deadwood decomposition, and carbon cycles in a changing world
Analyze new and existing biodiversity data, especially on xylobiont beetles and fungi, in relation to forest structures such as deadwood
Consider different spatial scales and compare managed forests with natural forest reserves

What you ideally bring with you

Completed master's degree in ecology, natural sciences, forest sciences, biology, or related disciplines
Field experience in temperate forest ecosystems
Experience in planning, organizing, and conducting entomological research
Very good knowledge of statistics, R applications, GIS
Very good written and spoken English skills, ideally also French or German as a native or second language
Driver's license (category B)

Some of our advantages in advance

Many contacts with young, eager people from all over the world who want to achieve something.
Great freedom in shaping the work and plenty of room for your ideas, creativity, and decisiveness.
A "colorful bunch" of cheerful people with very different biographies, views, and experiences awaits you.
A casual, relaxed, and respectful atmosphere with lots of helpfulness.
The BFH is a good address for those who want to advance professionally and a plus on your CV.

I will guide you through the
application process

Danielle Bachmann
HR Consultant
T +41 31 848 36 37

The Bern University of Applied Sciences School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL)

At HAFL , a department of BFH, we connect people, nature, and technology for sustainable development. As a pioneering think tank, we produce and convey knowledge for today’s and tomorrow’s world – solid, fresh, flexible.