The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL focuses on the sustainable use and protection of the environment and on the handling of natural hazards. WSL is part of the ETH Domain and employs approximately 600 people, of whom 10 are based in Lausanne.
The Research Unit Forest and Soil Ecology investigates the functioning and interactions of vegetation with the environment in natural and urban systems. The Functional Plant Ecology group at the Lausanne site is offering a 2-year position, starting in January 2027, as a
PostDoc in Urban Tree Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology (f/m/d)
You will be part of the WSL research program NovaCity that aims to support stakeholders in rendering urban areas more sustainable, resilient, and livable with nature-based solutions. Based at WSL Lausanne, your work will focus on improving the understanding of urban green infrastructure performance for cooling and rainwater retention, and identifying tree-soil combinations that reduce urban heat. For this, you will combine in-situ measurements of tree water use and water status with soil hydraulic characterisation, continuous soil-moisture and matric-potential monitoring, and microclimate observations. You will use these site-level results to parameterise an urban ecohydrological model and, using remote sensing data, to scale up to spatially explicit, citywide assessment of urban green function for cooling. Measurements and analyses will be conducted at multiple sites in Sion, Fribourg and Winterthur, and in close collaboration with local stakeholders and program partners. You will work in an interdisciplinary team spanning plant ecophysiology (WSL Lausanne), soil ecohydrology and remote sensing (WSL Birmensdorf).
You hold a PhD in plant physiology, urban ecology, ecohydrology or a related field, and possess strong quantitative and scientific writing skills. You have excellent communication skills, are self-motivated, and demonstrate an aptitude for field research and commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Familiarity with field instrumentation (e.g. sap flow, soil-moisture sensors) is an advantage as is knowledge of spatial/remote sensing data. Experience with data analysis and modelling in e.g. R or Python is essential. You have excellent written and spoken English skills, proficiency in French and German is an advantage.
Please send your complete application to Stefania Pe, Human Resources WSL, by uploading the requested documents through our webpage. Applications via email will not be considered. Dr. Christoph Bachofen, phone +41 (0)21 693 47 31, will be happy to answer any questions or offer further information. WSL is committed to diversity and inclusion as core values. We actively promote gender equality and foster an open, inclusive work environment.