Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

PhD position “Projecting the Human Impact on Biodiversity” (4 years position)

The Altermatt lab at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies of University of Zurich and the Department of Aquatic Ecology of Eawag have a vacancy for a
Biodiversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the services on which society depends, yet human activities are driving rapid biodiversity loss across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Understanding, attributing, and ultimately projecting these changes across space is now a central challenge in ecology and conservation science. The SNSF-funded project “BioTesselate” will address this challenge by building the first high-resolution and spatially continuous projection of human impacts on biodiversity. The project will integrate a uniquely large global database of human impacts on biodiversity with environmental and pressure layers and will use modern geospatial machine learning approaches to generate present-day and scenario-based forecasts of biodiversity change. 

In this PhD project you will expand and consolidate a large-scale database of human impacts on biodiversity. Using these data, you will apply a modelling pipeline to generate the first integrated global and continuous layer of human impact on biodiversity and to explore scenarios under alternative socioeconomic pathways and restoration targets. 

The position is suited for a candidate who is excited by big-picture ecological questions and at the same time enjoys careful empirical and analytical work. You should be interested in how multiple human pressures shape biodiversity across scales, and in how modern computational approaches can help translate ecological data into policy-relevant evidence. The project offers the opportunity to contribute to a highly ambitious and timely research agenda that seeks to move biodiversity science from diagnosis to forecasting. 

To apply, you must have a Master’s degree in Ecology, Biodiversity Science, Environmental Science, Quantitative Data Science or a closely related field. Strong quantitative skills, proficiency in a programming language, and a good understanding of ecological theory are expected. Experience with biodiversity data analysis, spatial data, GIS, machine learning, or ecological modelling is highly desirable. Familiarity with literature synthesis, meta-analysis techniques, open-science workflows, or large-scale data analysis would be an advantage. The working language in the group is English. Fluency in speaking and writing is required. 

The project is led by Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt (UZH/Eawag) and coordinated together with Dr. François Keck, postdoctoral researcher and lead methodologist within the BioTesselate project. The successful applicant will be based and hired in the group of Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt, with a shared base at University of Zurich and Eawag (Zurich/Duebendorf, Switzerland) and be part of the PhD program in Ecology of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. The project involves extensive collaborations within the Altermatt lab. The position is fully funded for four years and is expected to start in the second half of 2026 (ideal starting date: Aug/Sep 2026 or soon thereafter). 

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and independent person with a passion for science and implementation. 
At Eawag, we have a working environment in which people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and further develop. Here, you can help us advance! We promote genuine participation, exchange, and mutual understanding. We cre-ate structures that enable the compatibility of work and other areas of life, such as care work, and continuously make efforts to reduce barriers. 

Do you have specific requirements regarding the application process or the position, or do you need additional information? Talk to us about it—we will be happy to support you with possible flexible workplace, working hours, and job design solutions. For further information please visit our website about Eawag as well as our conditions of employment.
Applications must be submitted by 31 May 2026. Your application should include a letter describing your interests and their relevance to this position, a complete CV, university diplomas, and the names and contact information for three references (all in one pdf file). 

For further questions, consult www.altermattlab.ch or contact Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt. 

We look forward to receive your application through this webpage. Any other way of applying will not be considered. Please click on the button below, this will take you directly to the application form.
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology