PhD: Investigating Moss Traits and Fire Ignition in Arctic Peatlands and Tundra

This PhD position at Wageningen University & Research focuses on understanding how moss traits affect fire ignitability in high-latitude peatlands and tundra. As Arctic ecosystems warm faster than anywhere else, permafrost thaw and increased fire frequency threaten to turn carbon sinks into carbon sources, accelerating climate change. Bryophytes (mosses) dominate these ecosystems and play a critical role in determining fire susceptibility due to their water-retention and insulating properties. The project combines experimental design, fieldwork, and remote sensing to examine moss-fire interactions at plant, ecosystem, and biome scales. The successful candidate will contribute to improving fire risk assessments and advance climate change mitigation strategies in vulnerable Arctic regions.

• Develop and execute experimental methods to assess moss ignitability under controlled lab conditions.
• Conduct fieldwork in high-latitude ecosystems, including vegetation surveys and environmental monitoring during and after fires.
• Analyze remote sensing data and global vegetation databases to correlate moss traits with fire dynamics.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Supervise BSc and MSc students as part of collaborative research projects.