1-year fellowship in Shoebill Conservation Genetics with support for a further 3-year PhD fellowship

09 April 2026
100%
Basel

About the job

African Parks and the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel, Switzerland ( https://duw.unibas.ch/en/ecoevo/ ), in collaboration with Copperbelt University and The University of Zambia, are offering a 1-year research position that should lead into another 3-year PhD fellowship in the field of Conservation Genetics.

Your position

The shoebill is an iconic bird species endemic to central eastern Africa, with the southernmost breeding population remaining in Zambia. Despite its large distribution area, the bird is rare, but precise numbers are lacking. The research will use molecular genetic tools to analyze the number of individuals in the Bangweulu Wetlands, their genetic isolation, and how genetically distinct shoebill populations across Africa generally are.

In the fully-funded first year, you will become acquainted to African Parks' conservation efforts for the shoebill in Bangweulu Wetlands (July to August 2026) and then work as a guest student and intern at the University of Basel, Switzerland (September to December 2026) where you will attend courses in relevant fields (bioinformatics, population genetics) and work in the lab. In parallel, you would write a PhD fellowship application to the Swiss Government Excellence Fellowship with support from African Parks, University of Basel, Copperbelt University and University of Zambia.

Practical work involves visits to remote Shoebill nests and help at the conservation facility in Bangweulu Wetlands, wet lab work, bioinformatics, population genetic analysis, and proposal writing.

Your profile

We are looking for highly motivated Zambian nationals, date of birth after 31 December 1991. The candidate must have a master's degree in ecology, wildlife biology, or conservation completed before 31 July 2026. In addition to an interest in evolutionary and conservation biology, the candidate should be committed to doing field work, wet-lab work, learning about bioinformatics, including R and shell programing, and analyzing data using population genetics tools and theories. The candidate should have good self-organization, be solution-oriented, and have good spoken and written English.

We offer you

The fellowship is fully funded for 1 year including flights between Switzerland and Zambia. There is possibility of a 3-year extension based on fellowship applications. Initially as a guest student, you will have the opportunity to enroll in the PhD Program in Environmental Sciences of the University of Basel. Reimbursement will be adjusted to the work location (Switzerland vs. Zambia). In Switzerland, financial support will include accommodation, health insurance, and money to cover living expenses. Basel is a well-connected, mid-sized Swiss city offering a broad range of cultural and recreational activities.

Application / Contact

Motivated applicants should submit (1) a one-page letter that summarizes interests and relevant experience, (2) their CV, (3) copies of BSc and MSc transcripts, and (4) contact information of two references. We accept only online applications. Please use the link provided or look for the exact title of the job advertisement on https://www.unibas.ch/en/Jobs-and-Careers/Current-Vacancies.html .

Applications are welcome until the position is filled and will be reviewed starting May 15, 2026.

For more information, contact Yvonne Willi (Write an email).

Universität Basel
4000 Basel