Doctoral Candidate (PhD) in plant community ecology

Tiivistelmä työpaikkailmoituksesta: The University of Helsinki seeks a Doctoral Candidate (PhD) in plant community ecology within the MSCA ReDiLEEP network to study response diversity and community stability in boreal forest and tundra under the supervision of Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi. The candidate will conduct independent research using existing field experiments and greenhouse mesocosms to evaluate response diversity metrics, publish an article-based PhD thesis, and complete required doctoral studies. The position is full-time for 36 months based at the Viikki Campus with up to 4 months of secondments to CSIC and Cardiff, extensive ReDiLEEP training, and an estimated gross salary of ca. 4100–4600 € (before taxes and depending on eligibility for family allowance). Applicants must hold a completed Master’s degree in ecology or a related field, meet MSCA mobility and eligibility rules, and apply in English by 18th September 2026 via the University of Helsinki recruitment system. Tämä tiivistelmä on luotu tekoälyn avulla. Doctoral Candidate (PhD) in plant community ecology The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate position within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP . ReDiLEEP brings together leading universities, research institutes, and non-academic partners across Europe and beyond to advance response-diversity research and translate new knowledge into ecosystem management, restoration, and biodiversity policy. This position (DC9) is one of the 13 doctoral candidate (DC) positions within ReDiLEEP. This Doctoral Candidate will contribute toward ReDiLEEP goals by investigating response diversity in boreal forest and tundra ecosystems, focusing on evaluating the capacity of different response diversity metrics to explain and predict temporal stability of plant communities. We are looking for an enthusiastic doctoral researcher with a strong interest in biodiversity responses and ecological dynamics, and a strong background in community ecology. The candidate will be based at the Northern Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning research group led by Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi at the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland. Research Project (DC9) Project DC9: Response diversity and stability of boreal forest and tundra plant communities under environmental change Network ReDiLEEP - Using science-driven Response Diversity knowledge to Leverage Efficient Ecosystem Preservation and restoration Funding Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN), Horizon Europe Host institution University of Helsinki Supervision Main supervisor: Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi Duration 36 months, full-time Secondments Up to 4 months in total, including visits to Cardiff University (CarU) and Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) Application deadline 20th September 2026 at 23:59 EEST Salary In accordance with the regulation of the Marie Curie Fellowship Response diversity describes the variation in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change and the concept is increasingly recognised as a key driver of ecosystem resilience. Understanding and promoting response diversity is therefore essential for conserving biodiversity and supporting resilient ecosystems in a changing world. The Doctoral Candidate will use data from existing field experiments and new greenhouse mesocosm studies to evaluate links between response diversity and community stability under press and pulse disturbances. The project will evaluate how different response diversity metrics (including functional traits) succeed in predicting temporal stability of plant communities under different pressures. The Doctoral Candidate is expected to complete an article-based PhD thesis on this research project and 30 ECTS of studies required for a PhD degree in Finland. The project is supervised by Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi, with co-supervision from Assistant Prof. Laura Antão (University of Turku, Finland). Your Responsibilities Conduct doctoral studies and independent research work leading to a PhD thesis within 3 years. Become familiar and stay up to date with the relevant literature on functional traits, response diversity and community stability. Co-design and run greenhouse mesocosm experiments. Combine, analyze and interpret empirical data to produce scientific articles linking response diversity to community stability. Work in a targeted way following the agreed research plan. Contribute to scientific discussions within the research group. Participate actively in ReDiLEEP network training, secondments, dissemination, reporting, and cohort activities. Secondments and Network Training The position includes 4 months of planned secondments: 2 months at Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) to compare mechanisms influencing stability. 2 months at Cardiff University (CarU) to learn