The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL is part of the ETH Domain. Approximately 600 people work on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards.
The Research Unit Forest and Soil Ecology, which investigates how changing environmental conditions affect forest ecosystem functioning, is seeking a candidate to join the Ecosystem Ecology group starting on 1 January 2026 (or upon appointment) as a
PhD candidate in Tree Phenology and Ecophysiology
You will be working within the SNF funded project “From leaf-out to senescence: integrating daylight and temperature dynamics into phenological process-based models to enhance autumn phenology modelling”.
Unlike leaf-out timing, leaf senescence is particularly challenging to predict, partly because many internal factors are involved and remain poorly understood. You will investigate how changing environmental conditions — including variations in temperature, daylight, and water availability — affect leaf senescence, with the goal of improving phenological models. To achieve this, you will combine manipulative experiments, long-term phenological observations, and large-scale remote sensing data. You will also apply both statistical and mechanistic modelling approaches and contribute to publishing results in international scientific journals.
You hold a Master’s degree in in forest ecology, ecology, plant physiology, environmental science, or a related field. You are eager to apply a wide range of approaches, from ecophysiology and experimental fieldwork to remote sensing and modelling. You have a good command of English, work in a structured and independent manner, enjoy collaborating within a team and are comfortable using statistical software, preferably R. The workplace will be at WSL in Birmensdorf (approximately 20 minutes outside of Zurich), and the PhD enrolment will be at the University of Bern.
Please submit your complete application to Stefania Pe, Human Resources WSL, by uploading the requested documents through our webpage. Applications via email will not be considered. The review of the applications will begin on November 3, 2025. Dr. Yann Vitasse (yann.vitasse@wsl.ch) and Dr. Zhaofei Wu (zhaofei.wu@wsl.ch) will be happy to answer questions or provide further information. WSL is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote gender equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.