Dear all,

 

Please note  this open doctoral Researcher position at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, in the group of Associate Professor Nerea Abrego as part of the Predictive Community Ecology Group. The Doctoral Researcher will work in a Research Council of Finland-funded project where the overarching aim is to understand how microbial-driven functions change and shape plant phenotypes and diversity along abiotic environmental gradients. Starting date is May 2026 or as mutually agreed for a fixed-term of three years.

 

PROJECT TITLE: How plant-microbial interactions shape species diversity

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The architectures and dynamics of ecological interaction networks are crucial determinants of the assembly of ecological communities. The environmental context can reshape ecological communities by modifying the presence and outcomes of biotic interactions, ultimately influencing species traits, abundance and distributions. This PhD project will use the highly diverse and dynamic plant-microbial networks in the arctic environment as study system to investigate of why and how complex plant-microbial biotic interaction networks change along abiotic gradients, and what the ultimate consequences of such changes are on microbial and plant community assembly. For reaching the objectives, the PhD will combine field and greenhouse experiments, perform DNA and RNA molecular analyses, and apply joint species distribution models to analyze the data. By providing a mechanistic understanding of species interactions in plant-microbial networks, this project will enable improved predictions on how biodiversity will respond to the ongoing global change.

DUTIES

The doctoral researcher position will involve conducting fieldwork in Finnish Lapland, conducting greenhouse experiments, contributing to laboratory sample preparation, and contributing to bioinformatic and statistical analyses.

 

Application period open between 28 January 2026 and 28 February 2026 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

For more information and submitting the application form please visit here: https://ats.talentadore.com/apply/doctoral-researcher-how-plant-microbial-interactions-shape-species-diversity/m6rzMv

 

Best regards,

Nerea Abrego