PhD Position in Forest Ecology and Silviculture

The Silviculture Group at ETH Zürich and the Stand Dynamics and Silviculture Group at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL are seeking an enthusiastic PhD candidate to study the short-term adaptation of beech regeneration to climate change. The PhD candidate will be based in the Silviculture Group at ETH (Dr. Mathieu Lévesque) and work in close collaboration with Dr. Julia Schwarz at WSL. The candidate will spend working time at both institutions. 

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a key tree species in Swiss forests, now increasingly threatened by drought due to climate change. This ETH–WSL collaborative project aims to investigate the adaptive potential of natural beech regeneration to climate change in beech-dominated forests increasingly affected by drought. It will examine whether young beech trees established after the extreme 2018 drought are already better adapted to drought stress, and how salvage logging influence this short-term adaptation. The project will provide urgently needed knowledge for developing adaptive silvicultural strategies to sustain ecosystem services in beech-dominated forests.

• An inspiring, international, and interdisciplinary work environment in two world-leading research institutes.
• The possibility to participate in a highly relevant project on forest adaptation to climate change.
• Opportunities to collaborate with forestry practitioners and federal and cantonal forestry offices.
• Opportunities to present research at national and international conferences.
• A supportive environment for developing your scientific career. 
• Participation in and shaping a dynamic research team with supportive colleagues, fostering collaboration and mutual learning.
• Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure at WSL and ETH.
• Training opportunities.