Introduction
UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.
Presentation
We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher in environmental sciences, with particular interest in ecology, biodiversity, conservation and global change biology.
Job information
Expected start date in position : 01.02.2024 or to be discussed
Contract length : 1 year, renewable 1 x 1 year, maximum 2 years
Activity rate : 100%
Workplace : Lausanne-Dorigny
Your responsibilities
Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are considered the “cousin’s” of domesticated crop and represent a critical genepool for a more sustainable agriculture. CWR are potential source of resilient and diversified crops. The project Horizon COUSIN aims at identifying CWR across Europe and sets the priorities towards their conservation. There is a critical need for monitoring and developing locally-adapted solution for CWR conservation and model-driven strategies can effectively feed both for in situ and ex situ efforts.
A postdoctoral research position is open between the Spatial Ecology group (ECOSPAT) of Antoine Guisan at University of Lausanne, Sylvain Aubry at the Genetic Resources section of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and Blaise Petitpierre at InfoFlora ( https://www.infoflora.ch/ ). This position is part of a European project (COUSIN) addressing conservation, management and utilization of CWR in Europe. The overarching goal of this project is to identify and characterize the extent of CWR diversity in Europe. In particular, the candidate will gather data on distribution, phylogeny and functional diversity of CWR across Europe, model de potential distribution of the candidate taxa using species distribution models (SDMs), and conduct gap analysis on the state of CWR contribution that will help model-driven in situ and ex situ conservation planning. These results will allow setting conservation priorities and measures adapted to the current CWR conservation challenges.
Salary and benefits are internationally highly competitive. The candidate will be supervised by Blaise Petitpierre, Sylvain Aubry, Olivier Broennimann and Antoine Guisan, and will collaborate and interact with a broader international network of researchers and stakeholders across Europe.
Your qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and independent person with a passion for science and nature. Talented scientists with a PhD in environmental sciences, ecology, conservation, and botany or related fields are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants are expected to have excellent quantitative skills, advanced experience in ecological modelling, GIS, computer programming, statistics and simulations, and a good knowledge of biogeography and conservation planning. A high level of written and spoken English proficiency is required. Knowledge of a second European language is a plus but not necessary.
You will develop your research project while working in a multicultural, diverse, collaborative, and dynamic environment. University of Lausanne provides great opportunities for academic and professional training as well as acquisition of transversal skills. We offer stimuli for developing critical thinking and to become an independent scientist. You will receive individualized attention and will have many opportunities to develop close collegial relationships with different scientists.
What the position offers you
We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment. Opportunities for professional training, a lot of activities and other benefits to discover.
Contact for further information
For informal inquiries and further information, do not hesitate to contact us at antoine.guisan@unil.ch and sylvain.aubry@blw.admin.ch.
Your application
Extended deadline for submission: 31 October 2023
Please send your application including:
(1) a motivation letter describing your reasons for pursuing a postdoc with us, your research interests, your preparation for doing research in environmental sciences, why we would be a good fit for your career plans and other aspects of your background;
(2) your curriculum vitae with education, activities, awards, services, public outreach, and publication list with explanation of study relevance and your contribution;
(3) up to three abstracts of any meaningful research project you’ve lead (e.g. PhD thesis, papers, …) pasted in the same document;
(4) copy of graduate degree certificates;
(5) names and contact details of three referees.
Only applications through this website will be taken into account.
We thank you for your understanding.
Additional information
UNIL is committed to equal opportunities and diversity.
www.unil.ch/egalite
UNIL supports early career researchers.
www.unil.ch/graduatecampus
- Environmental Science
- Applied Ecology
- Crop Science
