Doctoral Researcher in Butterfly Ecology and Climate Change
Investigate how climate-related shifts in butterfly body size and wing pigmentation affect population persistence across Europe.
Best for:Best for ecology graduates with strong R modeling skills and experience in international fieldwork or museum specimen handling.
Overview
The University of Helsinki invites applications for a fully funded doctoral researcher position focusing on butterfly ecology and climate change across Europe. The successful candidate will combine museum specimen analysis, field collections, and advanced statistical modeling to evaluate species vulnerability to ongoing warming. Fieldwork spans an international climatic gradient from mountainous Catalonia to the boreal Arctic Circle in Finland, alongside a collaborative research visit in Madrid. The appointee will complete an article-based doctoral thesis and fulfill the required coursework for a PhD at the University of Helsinki.
What you'll do
- Conduct international fieldwork across diverse European climatic gradients ranging from mountain landscapes to boreal environments.
- Handle and digitize historical museum specimens to extract morphological and ecological traits.
- Collect standardized ecological data and perform automated image analysis on large biodiversity datasets.
- Develop and execute advanced statistical models using R to evaluate climate change impacts on butterfly morphology and populations.
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed international scientific journals as part of an article-based PhD thesis.
Requirements
Degree required: Master's degree in Ecology, Biology, or a related discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; strong written and verbal proficiency
Instruction: English
Publications: Not specified
- Strong background in ecology or biodiversity research
- Proficiency in advanced statistical modeling and data analysis using R
- Experience or willingness to conduct international field research and handle museum specimens
- Demonstrated ability to manage collaborative projects and open science workflows
- Eligible to enroll in a doctoral program at the University of Helsinki
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-09-30
Interested candidates should submit their application materials through the official University of Helsinki recruitment portal before the stated deadline. Ensure all required documentation including academic transcripts and CV are attached.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Master's degree transcripts
Contact
Create a free profile to unlock your personal match score, the full requirements, funding details and how to apply — in English or Persian.