{"id":3845833,"date":"2026-08-21T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laura.fi\/vacancies\/company\/doctoral-researcher-in-evolutionary-ecology-of-arctic-phytoplankton-1-1-2027-31-8-2030\/doctoral-researcher-in-evolutionary-ecology-of-arctic-phytoplankton-1-1-2027-31-8-2030\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T15:45:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:45:03","slug":"3845833","status":"publish","type":"job_listing","link":"https:\/\/laura.fi\/en\/vacancies\/abo-akademi\/doctoral-researcher-in-evolutionary-ecology-of-arctic-phytoplankton-1-1-2027-31-8-2030\/3845833\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Ecology of Arctic Phytoplankton, 1.1.2027-31.8.2030"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00c5bo Akademi<\/a> ledigf\u00f6rklarar en avl\u00f6nad doktorandbefattning i evolution\u00e4r ekologi hos arktiskt fytoplankton<\/strong> med placering vid marin- och milj\u00f6biologin vid Fakulteten f\u00f6r naturvetenskap och teknik i \u00c5bo, Finland. Anst\u00e4llningen inleds senast 1.1.2027 och str\u00e4cker sig fram till 31.8.2030<\/strong>. Den tidsbundna anst\u00e4llningen \u00e4r p\u00e5 heltid.<\/p>\n

V\u00e4nligen se annonsen i sin helhet p\u00e5 engelska nedan.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00c5bo Akademi University<\/a> invites applications for a fixed-term salaried position as\u00a0Doctoral Researche<\/strong>r\u00a0in<\/strong> Evolutionary Ecology of Arctic Phytoplankton<\/strong>, within\u00a0<\/strong>the Research Council of Finland-funded project on “Climate-driven Dispersal, risk or potential for Arctic diversity”.<\/p>\n

The position is full-time, and the preferred starting date is as soon as possible, but no later than 1 January 2027<\/strong>. The position concerns employment until\u00a0<\/strong>the project ends, 31 August 2030<\/strong>. The position is located in Turku, Finland and carried out at the Marine and Environmental Biology unit within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at \u00c5bo Akademi University.<\/p>\n

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ABOUT THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROJECT<\/strong>
The project addresses the \u201cintraspecific diversity black box\u201d by moving from identifying patterns to uncovering the processes that shape intraspecific diversity under global warming:<\/p>\n

Global warming is a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change, but its impacts are not uniform across the globe. In the Arctic, for example, climate change is progressing at an accelerated pace, leading to rapid shifts in species distributions and ecosystem functioning driven by poleward expansion of Atlantic waters and with it dispersal of temperate species. While these changes are documented at the species level, their effects on intraspecific diversity, genetic and phenotypic variation within species, remain poorly understood. Yet, intraspecific diversity plays a critical role in ecosystem resilience and function.<\/p>\n

Phytoplankton, which form the base of marine food webs, are particularly relevant in this context. Their wide distribution ranges, high dispersal capacity, and rapid life cycles make them both capable of northward expansions and rapid adaptation under climate change. However, while their adaptive potential has been widely studied in laboratory settings, the role of dispersal in shaping evolutionary outcomes remains largely unexplored. Conversely, models predicting future Arctic primary production often assume poleward shift of species based on thermal optima, without accounting for the adaptive capacity of local populations. This mismatch highlights the need to better understand how dispersal and adaptation interact to shape intraspecific diversity under climate change.<\/p>\n

This project addresses this gap by focusing on the ecologically important diatom genus Thalassiosira. We combine field sampling, controlled laboratory and community experiments, eco-evolutionary modelling, and state-of-the-art genetic tools to detect shifts in genotype composition and link them to trait variation and ecosystem function. The project is structured into three interconnected work packages. WP1 provides a descriptive understanding of dispersal and population structure. WP2 investigates Arctic seasonality as a potential constraint on the northward expansion of temperate strains. WP3 explores the mechanisms through which warming and dispersal alter intraspecific diversity and examines the resulting impacts on community functioning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The doctoral researcher\u2019s dissertation will primarily be based on work conducted in WP2 and WP3 and will focus on the research questions: \u201cDo temperate diatom strains persist across seasons in Arctic environments?\u201d and \u201cDoes climate change weaken local adaptation and promote dispersal, with consequences for intraspecific diversity and community resilience?\u201d. To address these questions, the successful candidate will plan and conduct Arctic fieldwork and seasonal sampling in Greenland, isolate and culture phytoplankton strains, perform molecular and population genetic analyses, and carry out experiments investigating the effects of warming and dispersal on phytoplankton populations and communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape part of their doctoral research by developing a complementary project aligned with their expertise and scientific interests, forming one chapter of the PhD thesis.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the successful candidate\u00a0will join an\u00a0<\/strong>international research network spanning Finland, Germany, and Greenland. The project includes close collaboration with researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI, Germany), the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (GINR, Greenland), the University of Turku, and the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB, Germany). These collaborations provide opportunities for Arctic fieldwork, international laboratory exchanges, and specialised training in molecular methods, population genetics, phytoplankton ecology, and eco-evolutionary research, enabling the candidate to broaden their scientific expertise and develop a strong international network.<\/p>\n

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WORK TASKS<\/strong>
The doctoral researcher\u2019s primary task is to work on the doctoral thesis, as well as to contribute to the activities of the project. The central work tasks include data collection, data management, and analysis, scientific writing and publishing, communicating research findings, and contributing to the development of the project\u2019s research. The recruited person will be a part of an international research team and collaborate on various activities around evolutionary ecology.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We offer you a social and independent job on an international and interdisciplinary project in a dynamic and pleasant work environment.<\/p>\n

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QUALIFICATIONS AND MERITS<\/strong>
We are looking for a highly motivated doctoral researcher and are particularly interested in applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm for combining ecology, evolution, and genetics to address questions related to climate change and biodiversity in Arctic marine ecosystems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Required qualifications<\/strong><\/p>\n

The successful candidate must:<\/p>\n