Leibniz University Hannover invites applications for a 36-month PhD position (65%, TV-L E13) in plant ecology, starting as soon as possible. The position is embedded in the project “Nuolja muorji observatory: drivers of Arctic wild berry yield and quality under climate and land-use change”, focusing on how environmental change affects productivity and nutritional quality of Arctic berry species. Fieldwork will be conducted in Abisko (northern Sweden), using long-term ecological monitoring across elevational gradients, including vegetation dynamics, phenology, microclimate, and biotic interactions.

The successful candidate will conduct an independent PhD project within Arctic plant ecology, develop standardized monitoring protocols, and analyse environmental drivers (e.g. microclimate, snow, soil, pollination, herbivory) affecting plant performance. The work includes building long-term datasets, applying statistical and modelling approaches (preferably in R), publishing results in international journals, and limited teaching (up to 3 hours/week).
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in biology, ecology, or a related field, with a strong background in plant or functional ecology, solid statistical skills (R/Python), excellent English, and motivation for Arctic fieldwork. Desirable qualifications include experience with trait-based or phenological studies, scientific writing, long-term monitoring data, spatial analysis (GIS/remote sensing), and collaborative work.