The Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, Institute of Botany is currently seeking two positions as:

Postgraduate Research Associate (project employment)

(Reference code: 77)

We are recruiting two PhD candidates to study the ecology and evolution of epiphytes in a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). Our project tests the Epiphyte Enemy Escape Hypothesis, which proposes that epiphytes evolved to escape enemies in the soil. We suggest that epiphytes may have lost resistance to soil pathogens, making it difficult for them to survive on the ground. The project combines field ecology, greenhouse experiments, and trait measurements to better understand their evolutionary drivers.

Responsibilities

• You will carry out sampling in the field (lowland and montane forests in Veracruz, Mexico), cultivation of plants in a greenhouse of the Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa and measure functional traits of these plants
• Data analysis and writing manuscripts together with other team members, present work at national and international conferences

Required skills and qualifications

• Diploma degree in biology, ecology, or a related field or other equivalent university degree
• Language skills: Fluency in spoken and written English
• Experience in plant ecology

Desirable skills and qualifications

• Knowledge of Spanish or German (Level A2)
• Experience in field and laboratory work
• Good analytical and scientific writing skills

Applications can be submitted until: 15th of May 2026

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna seeks to increase the number of its female faculty and staff members. Therefore qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. In case of equal qualification, female candidates will be given preference unless reasons specific to an individual male candidate tilt the balance in his favour.

People with disabilities and appropriate qualifications are specifically encouraged to apply.

Please send your job application incl.

• Motivation letter
• CV
• Contact details of 2-3 referees
• Please combine all documents into one pdf

to HR Management, BOKU University, Peter-Jordan-Straße 70, 1190 Vienna; E-Mail: recruiting@boku.ac.at. (Reference code: 77)

We regret that we cannot reimburse applicants travel and lodging expenses incurred as part of the selection and hiring process.

www.boku.ac.at