PhD position in global change biology

PhD position in global change biology

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) we have teaching and research activities that stretch from the alpine ecosystem, through forests, cultivated land and streams, all the way into the marine environment. In these environments we study different levels of biological organisation from genes, individuals, and populations, to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and combinations of these fields to understand the impact of natural and anthropogenic changes of the environment.

The department is placed at two different localities: in Natrium at Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg and at the Kristineberg marine research station operated by the Marine Infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg. The current employment is based at Natrium, with the possibility to conduct research projects at the marine station.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages. https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

We offerThe University of Gothenburg is a state authority, which means special benefits, more holidays and a great pension. You can read more about our employment benefits here.

Project description

Climate change and the increased frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves pose growing threats to the persistence of animal biodiversity. A central challenge in global change biology is to understand why species and populations differ in their vulnerability, so that research can inform conservation, management, and policy. However, we still cannot reliably predict how climate change will affect animal populations across their full life cycle. Accumulating evidence suggests that early life stages can be more sensitive to extreme heat than adults, yet developmental stages remain critically understudied. Current methods used to quantify climate vulnerability are also often not directly comparable between embryos and later life stages, which has further limited our ability to identify critical windows of sensitivity to climate change. New methodological advances now allow us to standardise how we compare vulnerability across life stages, opening up exciting opportunities to understand how climate change affects all stages of life.

The central question of this PhD project is: How and why does thermal sensitivity vary across the life cycle, and what are the consequences for animal populations under climate change?

This fully funded PhD project is part of a research program funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) on the vulnerability of fish life stages to climate change. The PhD project is expected to combine empirical research with evidence synthesis and comparative analyses. While some projects will primarily focus on fish, comparative studies can be broader in scope, and there will be opportunities to study other taxa (e.g., freshwater and marine invertebrates).

The project plan is flexible in its scope, and the PhD student will be encouraged to develop original questions and take increasing intellectual ownership of their research agenda. The applicant is also expected to take part in collaborations at both local and global scales, and contribute to the Thermal Ecology Alliance. Therefore, the PhD student will have excellent opportunities to develop a large collaborative network and address broad questions in global change biology.

The projects will be primarily supervised by Patrice Pottier, and co-supervised by Prof. Fredrik Jutfelt at the University of Gothenburg. The PhD student will have meaningful opportunities to shape the intellectual and collaborative culture of the group, while collaborating more broadly within the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and beyond.

The student will benefit from at least one supervisory meeting per week, frequent and structured support during the early stages of all projects, mentoring and career development guidance, and gradual transfer of responsibility as the PhD student develops independence. Expectations, working ethics, and supervision needs will be discussed openly at the start of the position, and revisited through mutual feedback and open communication.

The PhD student will have opportunities to develop skills in experimental design, laboratory and field research on animals, statistical modelling and programming, evidence synthesis, climate modelling, open and reproducible research, scientific writing, teaching, communication, as well as leadership, project, and people management. Training will be tailored to the career objectives of the student.

Duties

The principal duty is to undertake doctoral education and complete a doctoral thesis under supervision. This includes developing theoretical understanding, methodological expertise, analytical skills, scientific thinking, and increasing research independence.

The PhD student will:

• Develop research questions and study designs;
• Conduct laboratory experiments and, where relevant, field sampling or environmental monitoring;
• Collect, manage, analyse, and interpret data using transparent and reproducible workflows;
• Conduct evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, comparative analyses, or environmental modelling;
• Comply with relevant animal-welfare, ethical, data-management, and health-and-safety requirements;
• Communicate results through the doctoral thesis, scientific publications, seminars, conferences, and other appropriate formats;
• Participate constructively in departmental and collegial activities;
• Contribute to leading and managing collaborations;

Periods of fieldwork at Kristineberg marine station or research visits elsewhere in Sweden or abroad may form part of the project. The need, timing, and accessibility of such activities will be discussed and planned with the PhD student. As part of the employment, the PhD student may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout the study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.

Eligibility

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must:

1. have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or
2. have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or
3. have completed a corresponding program of relevance to the planned third-cycle program, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

*Relevant subjects for the planned third-cycle education include ecology, evolutionary biology, animal physiology, zoology, marine or freshwater biology, environmental science, quantitative biology, or another subject judged relevant to the project.

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies.

It is a requirement that the applicants have:

• A clear motivation for research in global change biology and an ability to identify scientific questions relevant to the broad aims of the project
• Experience, relative to opportunity, in planning, conducting, and interpreting a substantial piece of work, such as a Master’s thesis or a scientific publication
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English, at a level sufficient for doctoral education and working in an international environment
• High levels of curiosity, independence, and excellent organisational skills
• Evidence of critical thinking, problem solving, and an ability to learn new concepts or methods
• A willingness to work with quantitative evidence and develop skills in statistical analysis and reproducible research
• A willingness to contribute to teaching, mentoring, and communication to diverse audiences
• A willingness to take leadership roles and manage collaborations
• An ability to receive and give constructive feedback, and work collaboratively and respectfully with people who may have different disciplinary, cultural, or personal backgrounds
• A commitment to scientific integrity, fairness, and open science principles

Other desirable qualifications are:

• General knowledge in ecology, evolutionary biology and zoology
• Experience in experimental research with animals or other biological systems
• Skills in statistical analysis in R or another programming environment
• Experience in field ecology, animal sampling, or environmental monitoring
• Experience with evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, or other comparative methods
• Experience in data management, open science, and reproducible analytical workflows
• Experience publishing research in scientific journals

All qualifications and achievements will be assessed relative to opportunity. Assessment will focus on the ideas, ambitions, and potential demonstrated by the applicant rather than publication counts, institutional prestige, or the linearity of their career path.

The application should be written in English and must include:

• A short cover letter (max 2 pages) describing why the applicant is interested in this position and how they meet the selection criteria
• A list of qualifications (CV; max 4 pages)
• Examination certificates and a transcript of courses with grades
• A copy of the Master thesis or equivalent independent work
• Employment certificates and other documents deemed important by the applicant
• The contact details of 1-2 referees (candidates will be notified before contact with the referees is made)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a structured interview, which will be conducted in English and may be held digitally. Candidates will receive information about the interview format in advance.

Admission and employment

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

Placed at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, extent 100%, first day of employment is flexible, but preferably before the end of 2026 (with flexibility to accommodate notice periods and residence permits), or by agreement. The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Contact information

For further information please contact:

Patrice Pottier

Phone: +46702976011

Email: patrice.pottier@bioenv.gu.se

Webpage: patricepottierlab.com

Åsa Arrhenius, Head of Department

tel. +46 31 786 26 25

Email: asa.arrhenius@bioenv.gu.se

If you have any questions about the employment process, please contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, hr@bioenv.gu.se

Union

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Applications must be received by: 21 September 2026

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.

Where to apply

Apply through the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/main?site=6&validator=3038fcf1516ea1184a6da70a891f87da&lang=SE&rmpage=job&rmjob=41268