PhD: Edaphic properties as drivers of plant diversification with feedbacks on soil chemistry

We are looking for students who are interested in bridging disciplinary gaps between the geosciences and the biosciences and in establishing links to social sciences – skills that are essential to address the challenges caused by the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises. The students will be based in the FWF-funded doctoral program AlpsChange, which is integrated into the Doctoral School “Dynamic Mountain Environments and Society” at the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg and offers an interdisciplinary research and training agenda.

The students will be part of an active and interdisciplinary consortium, conduct research at the interface between geo- and biosciences and apply state-of-the-art approaches and methods of both disciplines and of history (e.g. remote sensing, field and laboratory experiments and analyses, numerical and analogue modelling), benefiting from the wide range of expertise available in the AlpsChange consortium. Each student will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team of researchers.

Applications for one or more of the 10 projects (see below) are welcome. Please indicate your preference if you are applying for more than one of the projects. A successful applicant will be highly motivated, proficient in English language and scientific writing, and willing to work in an interdisciplinary context. A master-level degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, preferably in the field of bio- or geosciences, is required.

Please send your application stating your project preference and including a letter of motivation, CV, certificates and contact details of two potential referees in electronic form as a single pdf file latest by April 13th 2025 to AlpsChange(at)plus.ac.at. Please contact AlpsChange(at)plus.ac.at in case you have any questions. Start dates are flexible between October 2025 and January 2026. All projects will be fully funded for 3.5 years and students will receive a monthly salary based on currently € 2786 before tax. Further information can be found at the AlpsChange Homepage.

Description of Project 1:

Edaphic properties as drivers of plant diversification with feedbacks on soil chemistry

This project tests for effects of bedrock type (siliceous vs. carbonate rocks) on floral diversification, which may subsequently drive plant speciation through differential pollinator attraction, and how nutrient availability and rock weathering/soil development change over time in response to plant presence. The insect-pollinated alpine cushion plant Silene acaulis with its vicarious subspecies (S. a. longiscapa, calcicolous; S. a. exscapa, silicicolous) will be the model. Field observations (e.g., pollinator community, flower phenotype) and common garden experiments, chemical ecological approaches and population genomics from the biosciences, and various field mapping and lab techniques for soil and rock characterization from the geosciences will be applied. Main supervisors: Stefan Dötterl, Andreas Lang.

More Info:

https://www.plus.ac.at/personalwesen/stellenmarkt-en/projektmitarbeiter-innen-en/doctoral-school-dynamic-mountain-environments-and-society/?lang=en