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.
How do environmental conditions and predator communities shape lake biodiversity and ecosystem functioning? Lakes in Southern Greenland provide a unique opportunity to address this question. They differ in their glacial influence, stages of ecosystem development, and fish communities, ranging from fishless systems to lakes containing threespine stickleback, Arctic charr, or both. These contrasts allow us to investigate how environmental conditions and species interactions contribute to the assembly of aquatic communities and the functioning of ecosystems.
This thesis will contribute to a newly funded Swiss National Science Foundation project on the eco-evolutionary community assembly of subarctic lake ecosystems. The broader project combines comparative lake surveys with an ongoing whole-lake experiment to understand how predator–prey interactions and their evolution influence community structure and ecosystem functioning.
Depending on the student’s interests, the thesis could focus on the evolution of stickleback and/or copepods, community dynamics of littoral macroinvertebrates and/or zooplankton, or ecosystem dynamics (e.g. productivity, nutrient cycling). Possible questions include how invertebrate diversity and community composition vary among lakes with contrasting fish communities, or how food-web structure relates to productivity, oxygen dynamics, nutrients, and water transparency. The work will involve processing biological samples and/or analyzing existing environmental datasets. The specific question and methods will be developed jointly with the supervisory team to match the student’s interests.
We are looking for a motivated master’s student who is enrolled in a university for the entire thesis duration, with interests in freshwater ecology, biodiversity, or ecosystem functioning. Good spoken and written English and a willingness to work carefully and independently are essential. Experience with statistical analysis in R is an advantage. An interest in microscopy and taxonomic identification would be particularly valuable for community-focused projects. The practical work will be based at Eawag, Kastanienbaum (near Luzern), where there are possibilities for subsidized accommodation in shared flats.
The preferred starting date is in the spring of 2027, but is flexible. Students in degree programs outside of Europe may be offered a position if appropriate permits for studies in Switzerland can be obtained.
At Eawag, we have a working environment in which people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and further develop. Here, you can help us advance! We promote genuine participation, exchange, and mutual understanding. We create structures that enable the compatibility of work and other areas of life, such as care work, and continuously make efforts to reduce barriers.
Do you have specific requirements regarding the application process or the position, or do you need additional information? Talk to us about it - we will be happy to support you with possible flexible workplace, working hours, and job design solutions. For further information please visit our website about
Eawag as well as our
conditions of employment.
Applications can be submitted until the position is filled and will therefore be evaluated on a rolling basis. Applications should include a short letter (max. one page) describing your interests, your preferred project direction and timing, and a CV.
For further information, please contact
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 link below will take you directly to the application form.