Postdoctoral Researcher; m​/w​/d

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is a research institute within the ETH Domain dedicated to addressing water needs and maintaining aquatic ecosystems. The Aquatic Ecology Department (Eco) has a vacancy for a post‑doctoral researcher (80‑100 %) focused on biodiversity‑inspired lake modeling.

Climate change is warming lake surface waters, increasing thermal stratification and reducing nutrient input from deeper waters. To predict how temperature and nutrient changes affect lake ecosystems, this project will upgrade mechanistic lake models to incorporate greater planktonic biodiversity. The goal is to predict diversity and community composition responses to combined gradients of warming and resource availability (light, nitrogen, phosphorus) and to improve predictions of ecosystem properties by including the impacts of phytoplankton diversity and composition.

The candidate will design and execute controlled laboratory experiments with wild phytoplankton isolates, conduct field sampling of Swiss lakes, and analyze data to parameterise and validate lake model predictions. Collaboration with internal and international lake‑ecosystem modelers will be central to the position.

International partnerships include Eawag groups (Narwani, Bouffard), Wageningen University (Velthuis), NIOO‑KNAW (Van de Waal), and the University of Rhode Island (Inomura). The project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation Lead Agency.

• PhD in biology, biodiversity, aquatic ecology, limnology, oceanography, evolutionary biology, environmental science, or a related field.
• Strong background in lake ecosystems and phytoplankton physiology, with experience running controlled and highly replicated laboratory experiments.
• Experience in molecular biology, particularly collection and analysis of gene expression data (desired).
• Field‑work experience is an asset.
• Strong computational skills and proficiency in at least one coding language (R, Python, etc.).
• Team‑orientated and able to integrate personal scientific work within larger projects.

The position is based at Eawag in Dübendorf, Zurich, within the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Functioning group. The starting date is flexible; the post‑doctoral position is funded for two years.

First application evaluations will begin after 15 August 2026. Applications must include a letter describing relevant experience, a CV, a list of publications, and the names and contact information for three references. For further information, please contact Dr Anita Narwani.

Application submissions are accepted only through the Eawag application webpage. Applications from employment agencies or personnel consultants are not accepted.