PhD position in global change biology

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

PhD position in global change biology

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) we have teaching and research activities that stretch from the alpine ecosystem, through forests, cultivated land and streams, all the way into the marine environment. In these environments we study different levels of biological organisation from genes, individuals, and populations, to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and combinations of these fields to understand the impact of natural and anthropogenic changes of the environment. The department is placed at two different localities: in Natrium at Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg and at the Kristineberg marine research station operated by the Marine Infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg. The current employment is based at Natrium, with the possibility to conduct research projects at the marine station.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages. https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

We offer

The University of Gothenburg is a state authority, which means special benefits, more holidays and a great pension. You can read more about our employment benefits https://www.gu.se/jobba-hos-oss/formaner-och-forsakringar-vid-goteborgs-universitet. 

Project description

Climate change and the increased frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves pose growing threats to the persistence of animal biodiversity. A central challenge in global change biology is to understand why species and populations differ in their vulnerability, so that research can inform conservation, management, and policy. However, we still cannot reliably predict how climate change will affect animal populations across their full life cycle. Accumulating evidence suggests that early life stages can be more sensitive to extreme heat than adults, yet developmental stages remain critically understudied. Current methods used to quantify climate vulnerability are also often not directly comparable between embryos and later life stages, which has further limited our ability to identify critical windows of sensitivity to climate change. New methodological advances now allow us to standardise how we compare vulnerability across life stages, opening up exciting opportunities to understand how climate change affects all stages of life.

The central question of this PhD project is: How and why does thermal sensitivity vary across the life cycle, and what are the consequences for animal populations under climate change?

This fully funded PhD project is part of a research program funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) on the vulnerability of fish life stages to climate change. The PhD project is expected to combine empirical research with evidence synthesis and comparative analyses. While some projects will primarily focus on fish, comparative studies can be broader in scope, and there will be opportunities to study other taxa (e.g., freshwater and marine invertebrates). 

The project plan is flexible in its scope, and the PhD student will be encouraged to develop original questions and take increasing intellectual ownership of their research agenda. The applicant is also expected to take part in collaborations at both local and global scales, and contribute to the Thermal Ecology Alliance. Therefore, the PhD student will have excellent opportunities to develop a large collaborative network and address broad questions in global change biology.

Duties

The principal duty is to undertake doctoral education and complete a doctoral thesis under supervision. This includes developing theoretical understanding, methodological expertise, analytical skills, scientific thinking, and increasing research independence.

The PhD student will:

• Develop research questions and study designs;
• Conduct laboratory experiments and, where relevant, field sampling or environmental monitoring;
• Collect, manage, analyse, and interpret data using transparent and reproducible workflows;
• Conduct evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, comparative analyses, or environmental modelling;
• Comply with relevant animal-welfare, ethical, data-management, and health-and-safety requirements;
• Communicate results through the doctoral thesis, scientific publications, seminars, conferences, and other appropriate formats;
• Participate constructively in departmental and collegial activities
• Contribute to leading and managing collaborations

Periods of fieldwork at Kristineberg marine station or research visits elsewhere in Sweden or abroad may form part of the project. The need, timing, and accessibility of such activities will be discussed and planned with the PhD student. As part of the employment, the PhD student may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout the study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.  

Application 

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline. 

Please read more about the doctoral position here: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=41267

Applications must be received by: 21 September 2026