Within the framework of the SNSF Starting Grant project GENICA, a 4-year PhD position is available at the Institute of Plant Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research of the University of Bern, Switzerland. GENICA aims to address the impact of past climate and human disturbance on mountain vegetation at different scales, from intraspecific genetic variation to local and regional vegetation dynamics, using pollen, plant macrofossils, and ancient DNA (aDNA) from plant remains preserved in cave ice archives. This work will provide new insights for understanding long-term vegetation shifts and population genetic processes to improve conservation strategies in mountain ecosystems. 

We offer 
You will be working in a young, dynamic, ambitious and international team at a beautiful location in Bern. Employment conditions follow the standards of the University of Bern and the SNSF for PhD students (salary starting at 47 kCHF/year). The position is open from September 2025.  
Please send your complete application, including motivation letter, CV, academic record incl. grades, MSc diploma, and reference letter or contact address of your MSc-supervisor(s) as a single pdf file to: 
maria.leunda@unibe.ch. Applications will be reviewed until the 31.03.2025, but further applications might be considered until the position is filled. The University of Bern is committed to diversity and inclusivity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. For further information contact Dr. Maria Leunda at the email above.  
This PhD position provides a unique chance to contribute to groundbreaking research by rescuing the untapped paleoenvironmental information preserved in ice caves trough a multidisciplinary approach combining fieldwork, laboratory work and data analysis. Join us!