PhD in Evolutionary Ecology of Arctic Phytoplankton, 1.1.2027

Abo Akademi University; Turku, Vaasa; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Occupational health care

State-of-the-art research facilities

Modern teaching facilities

Multicultural work environment

Job summary

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term Doctoral Researcher position in Evolutionary Ecology of Arctic Phytoplankton, based in Turku, Finland. The project runs until 2030, with a possible starting date as soon as possible but no later than 1 January 2027.

The role includes fieldwork in the Arctic, lab work, and international collaboration. The salary starts around €2,700 per month and rises to about €3,500 per month as the PhD progresses, with a six‑month trial period and a

Qualifications

• Hold a Master's degree in marine biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, or a related field.
• Demonstrate strong interest in marine ecology, climate change biology, biodiversity research, and/or evolutionary ecology.
• Have good quantitative and analytical skills.
• Have strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• Have good collaboration skills and ability to work independently and in an international team.
• Motivation to pursue doctoral studies and contribute to field sampling, lab work, data analysis, and publishing.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct Arctic fieldwork and seasonal sampling.
• Isolate and culture phytoplankton strains and perform molecular analyses.
• Carry out experiments on warming and dispersal effects on phytoplankton populations.
• Contribute to data management, analysis, and scientific publishing.
• Collaborate within an international research team and develop a chapter for the PhD thesis.

Skills

Strong quantitative skills

Excellent English communication

Collaborative team player

Independent researcher

Education

Master's degree in marine biology or related field

Job description

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term salaried position as Doctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Ecology of Arctic Phytoplankton, within the Research Council of Finland-funded project on "Climate-driven Dispersal, risk or potential for Arctic diversity". The position is full-time, and the preferred starting date is as soon as possible, but no later than 1 January 2027. The position concerns employment until the project ends, 31 August 2030. 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 Åbo Akademi University.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROJECT

The project addresses the “intraspecific diversity black box” by moving from identifying patterns to uncovering the processes that shape intraspecific diversity under global warming: 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. 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.

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. The doctoral researcher’s dissertation will primarily be based on work conducted in WP2 and WP3 and will focus on the research questions: “Do temperate diatom strains persist across seasons in Arctic environments?” and “Does climate change weaken local adaptation and promote dispersal, with consequences for intraspecific diversity and community resilience?”.

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. 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. Furthermore, the successful candidate will join an 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.

WORK TASKS

The doctoral researcher’s 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’s research. The recruited person will be a part of an international research team and collaborate on various activities around evolutionary ecology.

We offer you a social and independent job on an international and interdisciplinary project in a dynamic and pleasant work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND MERITS

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. The successful candidate must:

• Hold a Master's degree in marine biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, or a related field.
• Demonstrate a strong interest in marine ecology, climate change biology, biodiversity research, and/or evolutionary ecology.
• Have good quantitative and analytical skills.
• Have strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• Have good collaboration skills and ability to work both independently and as part of an international research team.
• Show strong motivation to pursue doctoral studies and contribute to all aspects of the project, including field sampling in the Arctic, laboratory work, data analysis, and scientific publishing.

Applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply as these approaches form a central component of the project (but are not mandatory):

• Molecular laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, microsatellite genotyping, amplicon sequencing, metabarcoding, or related methods.
• Bioinformatic analysis of genetic data.
• Statistical analyses and programming in R.

The following qualifications will also be considered an advantage:

• Background in phytoplankton ecology, arctic ecology, sea ice ecology.
• Experience in conducting experiments.
• Experience with sterile laboratory work and cultivation of phytoplankton.
• Experience with microscopy, including phytoplankton identification and cell counting.
• Knowledge of eco-evolutionary processes, and concepts such as adaptation, dispersal ecology, biodiversity, or biodiversity-function relationships.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

The doctoral researcher’s primary task is to work on the doctoral thesis, as well as to contribute to the activities of the project. Teaching tasks and supervision can comprise a maximum of 5% of the work time. The primary workplace is located at Åbo Akademi University's campus in Turku, where regular campus presence is expected by the doctoral researcher. The principle of total work time (1612 hours per year) is applied to all research staff at the university, including employed doctoral researchers. The supervision and study plan for doctoral researchers will be evaluated annually.

The salary for doctoral researchers is determined according to requirement levels 2–4 for teaching and research staff. Currently, the starting salary for a new doctoral researcher is approximately €2,700 per month. The salary will be adjusted as the dissertation work progresses, reaching approximately €3,500 per month as the doctoral researcher approaches the completion of the doctoral degree.

The selected candidate will be employed from the earliest possible starting date, but no later than 1 January 2027. The position is fixed‑term and will end on 31 August 2030 when the project ends. A trial period of six months applies to new employees.

Please note, that upon acceptance, a separate application process for admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU is required.

BENEFITS

Join our dynamic and innovative international community by seizing the opportunity we present. As a member of the Åbo Akademi University staff, you will gain access to various competitive benefits. These include occupational health care services, state‑of-the‑art research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a multicultural and friendly work environment.

For further information on the position and the project, please contact Giannina Hattich, Principal Investigator, e‑mail giannina.hattich[a]abo.fi, or about the recruitment process HR Specialist Sabina Ringvall, sabina.ringvall[a]abo.fi.