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@plus.ac.at. Please contact AlpsChange@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 7:
Climate change effects on habitat distribution and plant-animal interactions
This research project examines the effects of rapid climate change on the butterfly Cupido minimus and its host plant Anthyllis vulneraria. It aims to understand their current and future distributions, considering geomorphological, climatic, and land-use conditions. Key questions include potential decoupling of the interacting species and how butterfly traits and floral characteristics vary and under different temperatures. The approach involves modeling distributions, conducting in-situ experiments by transplanting plants and butterflies to different altitudes, and performing ex-situ experiments in climate chambers. The study will analyze changes in floral scents, butterfly morphology, host selection behavior, and genetic expressions to assess potential climate change responses. Main supervisors: Jan C. Habel, Jan-Christoph Otto
More Info:
https://www.plus.ac.at/personalwesen/stellenmarkt-en/projektmitarbeiter-innen-en/doctoral-school-dynamic-mountain-environments-and-society/?lang=en
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