PhD position agro-ecology / pollinator conservation
Project description
Wild bees and other pollinating insects are key components of biodiversity and provide vital pollination services to crops and wild plants. However, they face multiple pressures including habitat loss, land use intensification or climate change. In two European Horizon 2020 projects, Agroscope aims, in collaboration with European research partners, to (i) better understand the impacts of such drivers on pollinator populations and pollinator biodiversity, to (ii) explore the role of pollinator diversity on the delivery and stability of pollination services and crop yield and (iii) to evaluate and further develop the effectiveness of different measures, such as agri-environment schemes, to promote pollinators and pollination services in agroecosystems. In the framework of these projects we are looking for an enthusiastic PhD to join our dynamic and interdisciplinary research team at Agroscope (Zürich, Switzerland). The PhD candidate will conduct field work to collect data in agricultural landscapes in Switzerland, and will potentially analyse further datasets to address these research questions. Findings will help to develop more effective policies and measures to promote wild pollinators and pollination services in agroecosystems.
Tasks
- Co-designing field studies/ experiments
- Conducting field work in Switzerland
- Statistical analysis of data
- Publication of results in international journals
Requirements
- MSc in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences or similar
- Interest in biodiversity and agroecology
- Motivation to conduct field work in agroecosystems
- Experience with statistical analysis using the software R
- Good organizational skills
- Achievement-oriented, communicative personality with a capacity for teamwork
- Good communication and writing skills
Organisation
Agroscope is an innovative research institute for agriculture and nutrition attached to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER. It has research stations at a number of sites around Switzerland. The Agroscope Department of Agroecology and Environment in Zürich (Reckenholz) conducts research for an environmental friendly and competitive agriculture. We offer research work in an interdisciplinary project team, competent supervision and a modern research infrastructure. Start date: 1 January 2022, or as agreed. Duration: 4 years.
Place of work Zürich
Salary According to the standards of the Swiss National Science Foundation
Employment level 100%
Application
We look forward to receiving your online application, including CV, academic transcripts and the addresses of 2-3 referees in a single PDF file to human.resources@agroscope.admin.ch For further information, please feel free to contact Dr. Matthias Albrecht (matthias.albrecht@agroscope.admin.ch, +41 (0)58 468 74 13).
