The Plant Ecology Group at ETH Zürich, led by Professor Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, is seeking an enthusiastic PhD candidate to study how Alpine flowering communities vary over space and time, and what the consequences of this variation are for plant-pollinator dynamics. This topic is relevant to our understanding of how climate change will alter the timing and overlap in flowering phenology of co-occurring Alpine wildflowers, and the impacts of such novel flowering communities for pollinator dynamics and plant reproductive fitness. Addressing these topics has been challenging in Alpine systems, which harbor a high diversity of plants and pollinators whose interactions vary enormously over fine spatial and short temporal scales. Fortunately, recent technological and analytical developments allow us to quantify species interaction networks at high spatial and temporal resolution, potentially providing for new insights into this topic.

The chosen PhD student will be expected to work collaboratively with the Plant Ecology Group (at ETH Zürich) and an international team of collaborators to address this topic. Specifically, the PhD candidate will conduct:

1. Field work to quantify flowering phenology (using phenocams) and plant-pollinator interactions across the growing season and elevational gradients.
2. Experiments to explore the implications of altered flowering phenology for pollinator visitation and plant reproductive fitness.
3.  Analyses to quantify flowering phenology and interaction networks to explore questions of interest, including the application of deep learning approaches (for automated identification of flowers) and temporal network analyses. 

The PhD student will have the opportunity to develop their own ideas within this project, and will also be expected to contribute to group responsibilities within the department and university (e.g. teaching, outreach, lab activities), as is expected of all group members.

• Enthusiasm and interest in the project
• Relevant ecological knowledge (e.g. in phenology, plant-pollinator dynamics, and / or ecological impacts of climate change)
• Experience with statistical modelling and / or deep learning approaches
• Experience with identifying plants and identifying pollinators
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace
• Field work experience and a valid driver's license
• Advanced English (oral and writing)

The Plant Ecology Group at ETH Zürich conducts research on a diversity of topics within the realm of plant community ecology, including the drivers of Alpine wildflower phenology, the factors that limit forest regeneration, and the role of climate and species interactions in influencing plant populations and communities. We conduct projects and maintain long-term monitoring studies in Alpine and forest field sites in and Switzerland and the USA (Washington State). We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in all our activities, as well as to conducting open and collaborative science. Please see our website for more information on activities in the research group.

This PhD is fully funded. You will be hired as a full-time researcher for four years. The annual salary is very competitive (see ETH Zurich regulations). The position is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Remote work from outside of Switzerland is not possible due to legal constraints.

Outstanding research groups at ETH Zürich, the adjacent University of Zürich, WSL (the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) and EAWAG (the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) offer numerous opportunities for interaction and collaboration. Zürich is a cosmopolitan city with high living standards and easy access to forested and alpine research sites, outdoor activities and the rest of Europe.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents, each uploaded as a separate PDF. Please include your last name in the file name (e.g. Aziz-CV.pdf, Chang-MscDegree.pdf, Meier-MscTranscript.pdf).

• Resume: Including information on your educational background, scientific publications and presentations, and any relevant research/work/volunteering activities. This should not be longer than 4 pages (a 2 page CV if complete is fine)
• MSc degree certificate: Including the title of your thesis.
• Transcript: A list of courses you have taken and the grades your received

The deadline for application is late June (2026), and we aim to conduct interviews in July and make decisions by late August. The ideal start date would be between fall of 2026 and winter of 2027 (November '26 and January '27).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through this online application portal, and applications via email or postal services will not be considered. Incomplete applications will also not be evaluated.

Questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr Janneke Hille Ris Lambers (jannekeh@ethz.ch). Please include an informative subject (e.g. “Questions about Wildflower Phenology PhD position”).