The Department of Aquatic Ecology has a vacancy for a

This 3-year position is funded by a Swiss National Science Foundation National Research Program 82 (SNSF NRP82), and will support the first “Swiss National Assessment of Lake Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”

Currently Switzerland does not have standard lake biodiversity sampling guidelines or methods, and no federal overview of the status of lake biodiversity or its value to society. In this project we will close this gap by developing standard sampling protocols and lake assessment methods, and we will implement these methods to generate a first baseline assessment of lake biodiversity and ecosystem services.

This position entails project and data management, field and lab work, science communication, and engagement with stakeholders. You will be involved with evaluation of sampling protocols, standardizing methods, and training scientific assistants and interns. You will support research, and the interpretation of data to develop management plans. You will help with the organization of events (e.g. workshops), as well as with the dissemination of findings to the public via social media, a website, fact sheets and reports.

The successful candidateholds a Master’s degree (or higher) in biology, aquatic ecology, limnology or other relevant fields. Skill in taxonomic identification is highly valued: particularly knowledge of freshwater macroinvertebrates and macrophytes. Experience with project management and stakeholder relations is required. German (and English) fluency (spoken and written) is required, and an ability to communicate in French is beneficial. You thrive as a member of a team, communicating openly and regularly with team members. You have good organizational, time management and multi-tasking skills.

The position will be in the Department of Aquatic Ecology in the research group of Dr Anita Narwani (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning) at Eawag’s Dübendorf campus, near Zürich, and will work closely with the group of Dr Blake Matthews (Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics) at Eawag’s Kastanienbaum campus, near Lucerne. The anticipated start date is 1 November 2025.

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 21 September 2025 and should include a cover letter with a concise statement about your interest in the project, and your previous relevant experience, a curriculum vitae, academic qualifications (including course transcripts), names and contact information of up to 3 references (please do not include letters with the application).

For further information, please contact Dr Anita Narwani or Dr Blake Matthews.

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.