Doctoral Student Range shifts of mountain plants

Project background

The Plant Ecology Group at ETH Zürich is seeking a doctoral student to study why mountain plant species are failing to shift their ranges fast enough to track climate change. The candidate will be based in the Plant Ecology Group at ETH Zürich, Switzerland (Prof. Jake Alexander), and work in close collaboration with the Hargreaves Lab at McGill University, Canada (Prof. Anna Hargreaves). While range shift lags are well documented across taxa and regions, we have a much poorer empirical understanding of the demographic processes explaining lags, hindering our ability to forecast which species will track climate change, or which management practices might aid shifts of valued species or delay shifts of problem species. The candidate will conduct empirical research within a larger project focused on closing key knowledge gaps about the mechanisms underlying plant range shifts in mountains.

Many species are not shifting their ranges fast enough to successfully track climate change, yet attempts to predict the velocity of plant range shifts have generally failed. Partly this is because we still lack empirical data to quantify the processes needed for species to disperse to new locations and establish viable populations there. We have a particularly poor grasp of long-distance dispersal rates, and how propagule origin and biotic interactions constrain establishment beyond species’ ranges. Focusing on mountain plants, this project aims to disentangle the importance of the species interactions and demographic processes governing shifts of plants’ high-elevation range limits. It will further test whether an improved understanding of these processes can be used to predict range shift ability across ecosystems. By combining global, standardized experiments across six continents within the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN), and detailed studies in two core mountain regions (Swiss Alps, Canadian Rocky Mountains), the project robustly tests competing hypotheses about mechanisms of range shifts while generalizing across a diverse geographic context.

Job description

• Within the wider project, the role of the doctoral student will be to set-up and run field transplant and greenhouse experiments, and collect and statistically analyse ecological data allowing the quantification of plant demography and long-distance seed dispersal by animals 
• They will also have the opportunity to develop their own research questions within the broader topic of the project
• In addition to research activities, the doctoral student will contribute to tasks and responsibilities (e.g. teaching, outreach, lab activities) within our research group and department 
• Work will be conducted in parallel with a sister study in the Canadian Rocky Mountains (a similar position is being advertised at McGill University – see here, Students are welcome to apply to both if they are interested in working in either country, but the application processes are separate) and with international collaborators from the MIREN network

Profile

We are looking for intellectually curious candidates who are highly motivated to engage in rigorous ecological research, enjoy being outdoors, can plan and organize logistics, and can work effectively in a team and independently. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. 

Candidates must have:

• An MSc in ecology or a related field
• High self-motivation 
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace 
• Proven skills in statistical modelling (e.g. mixed models, statistical programming in R) and in scientific writing
• Eagerness and ability to engage in extended periods of field work, sometimes in remote areas and under challenging conditions
• Advanced language skills in English (oral and writing), and an ability to write efficiently and effectively
• Professionalism and academic integrity

Additionally, the project will require the following skills (some of which may also be acquired during the project):

• Experience conducting ecological research under field and greenhouse conditions
• Familiarity with plant identification, propagation, and trait measurements
• A valid driver's license, and ability to drive on steep mountain roads

We offer

The Plant Ecology Group at ETH Zürich conducts research on a diversity of topics within the realm of plant community ecology, including the role of climate, biotic interactions, and demographic lags in constraining range and community shifts, the drivers and impacts of biological invasions, the drivers of alpine wildflower phenology, the factors that limit forest regeneration, and the use of community science for collecting ecological data and engaging the general public. We conduct projects and maintain long-term experimental and monitoring studies in alpine and forest field sites in Switzerland and the USA, and collaborate widely with researchers from around the world. We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in all our activities, as well as to conducting open and collaborative science.

All members of the Plant Ecology Group contribute to teaching, and to mentoring Bachelors and Masters students. Please see this website for more information on the doctoral programme in our Department of Environmental Systems Sciences (USYS).

This project specifically offers outstanding opportunities for collaborations, including the possibility of research stays, at McGill University (PI Hargreaves). Research groups at ETH Zürich, the adjacent University of Zürich, WSL (the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) and EAWAG (the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) offer numerous additional opportunities for interaction and collaboration. Zürich is a cosmopolitan city with high living standards and easy access to research sites, outdoor activities and the rest of Europe.