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Postdoctoral researcher 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 in order 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.
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 here.
Subject area
Global change biology
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 postdoc 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 2-year postdoc 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 successful applicant 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., invertebrates).
The project plan is flexible in its scope, and the postdoc is encouraged to develop original research questions. The applicant is also expected to take part in collaborations at both local and global scales, and take leadership roles through the Thermal Ecology Alliance (e.g., managing globally distributed experiments). Therefore, the successful postdoc will have excellent opportunities to develop a large collaborative network and address broad questions that no individual lab can tackle alone.
The postdoc will be primarily supervised by Patrice Pottier, and co-supervised by Prof. Fredrik Jutfelt at the University of Gothenburg. The successful applicant will have meaningful opportunities to shape the intellectual and collaborative culture of the group, while collaborating more broadly within the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and beyond.
The successful applicant will benefit from at least one supervisory meeting per week, frequent and structured support during the early stages of all projects, mentoring and career development guidance, and gradual transfer of responsibilities. Expectations, working ethics, and supervision needs will be discussed openly at the start of the position, and revisited through mutual feedback and open communication.
The successful applicant will have opportunities to develop skills in experimental design, laboratory and field research on animals, statistical modelling and programming, evidence synthesis, climate modelling, open and reproducible research, scientific writing, teaching, communication, as well as leadership, project, and people management. The successful applicant will also have opportunities to co-supervise MSc and/or PhD students. Training will be tailored to the career objectives of the applicant.
Duties
The principal duty of the postdoctoral research is to undertake high-quality research, communicate their findings, and develop/strengthen skills that will benefit their scientific career.
The successful applicant 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 scientific publications, seminars, conferences, and other appropriate formats;
- Participate constructively in departmental and collegial activities
- Contribute to leading and managing large collaborations through the Thermal Ecology Alliance
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 successful applicant.
This is a 100% postdoctoral research position (postdoctor) targeted for recent PhD graduates, with potential opportunities to contribute to teaching and departmental duties up to 20% of full-time employment.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.
To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.
In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.
Assessment criteria
Required qualifications for the employment:
- To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in ecology, evolutionary biology, quantitative biology, or related fields
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in written and spoken English
- A clear motivation for research in global change biology and an ability to identify scientific questions relevant to the broad aims of the project
- Experience, relative to opportunity, in planning, conducting, interpreting, and publishing high-quality research
- High levels of curiosity, independence, and excellent organisational skills
- High levels of critical thinking, problem solving, and a general drive to learn new concepts and methods
- Advanced skills in statistical analysis and coding in R or similar programming environment
- A willingness to take leadership roles and manage global collaborations through the Thermal Ecology Alliance
- An ability to receive and give constructive feedback, and work collaboratively and respectfully with people who may have different disciplinary, cultural, or personal backgrounds
- A strong commitment to scientific integrity, fairness, and open science principles
Desirable qualifications for the employment:
- Fundamental knowledge in thermal ecology and evolutionary biology
- Leadership skills and experience managing large collaborations
- Experience with evidence synthesis, meta-analysis, or other comparative methods
- Experience in experimental research with animals or other biological systems
- Experience in field ecology, animal sampling, or environmental monitoring
- Experience in data management, open science, and reproducible analytical workflows
- Experience publishing research in scientific journals
Personal qualifications:
We are looking for an engaged, enthusiastic, and curious person who is passionate about understanding, forecasting, and mitigating the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. We particularly welcome researchers with strong communication and interpersonal skills who enjoy leading and managing collaborative teams. We are also looking for someone with great organisational capabilities who is willing to develop their independence and leadership skills. In addition, we would love to welcome someone who enjoys developing new ideas, thinks critically about the state of the evidence, and is willing to explore concepts outside of their immediate field of expertise.
All qualifications and achievements will be assessed relative to opportunity. Assessment will focus on the ideas, ambitions, and potential demonstrated by the applicant rather than publication counts, institutional prestige, or the linearity of their career path.
The application should be written in English and must include:
- A cover letter (max 2 pages) describing why the applicant is interested in this position and how they meet the selection criteria
- A list of qualifications (CV; max 4 pages)
- A certificate of PhD exam
- A complete list of publications, including submitted and accepted manuscripts
- The contact details of 1-2 referees (candidates will be notified before contact with the referees is made)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a structured interview, which will be conducted in English and may be held digitally. Candidates will receive information about the interview format in advance.
Employment
The employment is a temporary employment for 2 years, 100 % of full time, placed at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science. Starting date preferably before March 2027 (with flexibility to accommodate notice periods and residence permits), or upon agreement.
Contact information
If you have any questions about the position, please contact:
Patrice Pottier
Phone: +46702976011
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: patricepottierlab.com
Åsa Arrhenius, Head of Department
tel. +46 31 786 26 25
Email: [email protected]
If you have any questions about the employment process, please contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, [email protected]
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.
Publications that cannot be attached to the application in digital format should be mailed to:
Department of Biological and Environmental Science
Att: Patrice Pottier
University of Gothenburg
Box 461 or 463
S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Label the envelope “Postdoctoral position in global change biology, PAR 2026/643. The publications must be received no later than the application deadline.
Applications must be received by: 21 September 2026
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Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations. Salaries are set individually at the University. In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed. In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.
