Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.
Applications are sought from individuals with research experience in ecology and evolution. Applicants should have an earned doctorate (or expect to finish their PhD early 2025) in a relevant field of biology, ecology, or environmental science and a strong interest in fish migration ecology. Excellent communication and writing skills in English, data analyses skills and ability to work in a team are essential. Knowledge of salmonid migration life history is a clear benefit for the position.
In our research, we investigate the diversity of partially migratory brown trout meta-populations around the largest lakes in Switzerland. Hundreds of brown trout populations perform partial migrations from their natal streams to the foraging ground in the lakes, before returning to their natal streams for reproduction. Populations differ in their timing of migration, e.g., in terms of years spent in stream before migration, years spent in the lake before first return migration and seasonal timing, and in their foraging ecology in the lake environment.
Our Swiss
lake trout study systems allow testing for drivers of diversity within populations, between populations within a meta-population and between meta-populations. The postdoc will analyse this diversity based on existing age/growth-, dietary- and genetic data, as well a 11 years’ of
PIT tag data from Lake Lucerne tracking migration patterns and survival of juvenile brown trout. The scientific work is linked to applied work on structure and management of partially migratory trout populations, which facilitates knowledge transfer from basic scientific discoveries to management.
The tasks of the postdoc include writing scientific articles based on existing data, writing reports in German aimed at practice (e.g., Swiss cantons), supporting fieldwork on migratory salmonids and supporting PhD- and MSc students in data analyses.
The position is funded for two years and will be hosted by the
River Fish Ecology group, led by Dr Jakob Brodersen within the
FishEc Department.
The main workplace is Eawag’s Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry (CEEB) in Kastanienbaum, Lucerne, which besides the Fish Ecology and Evolution Department hosts research groups from the Department Surface Waters – Research & Management and offers a beautiful workplace at the shores of Lake Lucerne, a friendly international working climate and a strong cross-disciplinary research environment. Both departments within CEEB share a common interest in understanding the principles of the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and their susceptibility and adaptability to changing environments, and a common concern for sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity. Each department on its own aims at contributing cutting-edge science to the development of theory in ecology, evolution and environmental sciences. Building on the synergies that emerge between these fields, the CEEB aspires to contribute to a future synthesis of evolutionary biology and ecosystem science.
Eawag is a modern employer and offers an excellent working environment where staff can contribute their strengths, experience and ways of thinking. We promote gender equality and are committed to staff diversity and inclusion. The compatibility of career and family is of central importance to us. For more information about Eawag and our work conditions please consult
www.eawag.ch and
www.eawag.ch/en/aboutus/working/employment.
Applications must be submitted by 23 March 2025 and should include an application letter describing your interests and their relevance to this position, a CV, and the names and contact information for two references. The position should optimally start on 1 May 2025 or soon thereafter.
For further information, please contact
Dr Jakob Brodersen.
We look forward to receiving your application. Please send it through this webpage, as any other way of applying will not be considered. A click on the button below will take you directly to the application form.