MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network Researcher in “Drought and soil warming effects on soil bio[...]

Karlstad University; Marseille; Sur place; EUR 32 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prestigious research institution in Marseille is hiring an MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network Researcher to study the effects of drought and soil warming on soil biodiversity. The role requires a Master's degree in Ecological/Environmental Sciences, strong communication skills, and a commitment to interdisciplinary research. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for international collaboration.

Prestations

Full employment contract with competitive salary

Access to state-of-the-art research facilities

International secondments and training events

Qualifications

• Must have a relevant background in ecological studies.
• Good English proficiency and writing skills are required.
• Must be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project.

Responsabilités

• Study soil biodiversity and its effects on soil C fluxes.
• Participate in long-term rainfall manipulation experiments.
• Conduct research on forest response to climate change.

Connaissances

Knowledge of ecological and environmental sciences

Strong communication skills

Field research aptitude

Formation

Master's degree in Ecological/Environmental Sciences

Description du poste

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MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network Researcher in “Drought and soil warming effects on soil biodiversity and organic matter decomposition and soil C fluxes”, Aix-Marseille Université, France

RESEARCHER PROFILE: PhD/R1: First stage Researcher
RESEARCH FIELD(S)1:Ecological/Environmental Sciences, Ecology
MAIN SUB RESEARCH FIELD OR DISCIPLINES1: Forest ecology, soil ecology, soil biodiversity, soil processes, climate change, experimental study in natura

JOB /OFFER DESCRIPTION

The FutureForests Doctoral Network is an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie’s Actions (MSCA) initiative, which aims to train 15 next generation scientists in assessing the impacts of global change on European forests utilising a unique network of European flagship field forest facilities covering the dominant forest types and regions (dry Mediterranean, temperate and boreal) in Europe. FutureForests connects nine manipulation facilities for addressing emerging research questions and engages >20 academic and associated partners (NGOs, Industry & Government organizations) for delivering an interdisciplinary, integrated and transferable career skills programme.

Individual projects within the FutureForests programme maps into four key interrelated science objectives with a focus on assessing responses of 1) tree functional processes including leaf metabolism, growth, C and water relations, 2) soil processes including nutrient cycling and soil organic matter dynamics, 3) impacts of global change on biodiversity and tree vulnerability to pest and diseases, and, 4) advancing modelling of forest responses to climate extremes and fire risk reduction. FutureForests combines excellent trainings for doctoral researchers, diverse supervisions and international mobility for impactful research to benefit society and the economy and to inform forest policies under the EU Green Deal and international climate mitigation efforts (Paris Climate Agreement, 2015). FutureForests is to provide next generation scientists with skills and knowledge “most wanted” in academic and non-academic employability sectors.

This Doctoral Researcher position at the Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology at Aix-Marseille University (Marseille, France) focuses on soil biodiversity driven degradation of SOM and the long-term soil C sequestration in Mediterranean oak forests. SOM decomposition and heterotrophic soil respiration are major determinants of forest C budget and are predominantly controlled by temperature and precipitation. As current climate change in Europe predicts simultaneous warmer and dryer conditions, these two climatic component variations are expected to exhibit antagonist or synergistic effects on soil biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions. The DR will study soil biodiversity and their cascading effects on soil C fluxes and stocks 1) in response to altered precipitation regimes in long-term rainfall manipulation experiments, 2) in response to the interactive effects of drought and warming.

Key objectives of this studentship are: to describe the effect of experimental drought, soil warming and forest management on soil biodiversity (fauna, microorganisms) linked to litter decomposition, soil respiration and C stocks on AnaEE (O3HP, Puechabon) forested experimental sites. The student will be seconded to ELGO-FRI and UNIBO for 2 months each (M20-23) in order i) to study the impact of N deposition on soil fauna taxonomic and functional community structure (UNIBO Nitrogen manipulation study site) and ii) to improve research skills in microclimate instrumentation and use of field sensors for environmental monitoring (ELGO-FRI Understory removal study site).

TYPE OF CONTRACT:TEMPORARY
JOB STATUS: FULL TIME
HOURS PER WEEK:39h10

APPLICATION DEADLINE:06/11/2025 12:00
ENVISAGED STARTING DATE:05/01/2026
ENVISAGED DURATION: 36 months

JOB FUNDED THROUGH AN EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME:FutureForests Doctoral Network, EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie’s Actions (MSCA) initiative

WORK LOCATION(S):IMBE LAB, Campus Saint Jérôme Aix-Marseille Université
Two months in each of the two other partner institutionsELGO-FRI (Hellenic Agricultural organization, Greece) and UNIBO (University of Bologna, Italy).

WHAT WE OFFER:

1) Full employment contract with competitive salary for three years;

2) Access to state-of-the-art forest manipulation facilities, laboratories and expert supervision;

3) International secondments and training events.

Additional information: The Euraxess Center of Aix-Marseille Université informs foreign visiting professors, researchers, postdoc and PhD candidates about the administrative steps to be undertaken prior to arrival at AMU and the various practical formalities to be completed once in France: visas and entry requirements, insurance, help finding accommodation, support in opening a bank account, etc. More information onAMU EURAXESS Portal

QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIRED RESEARCH FIELDS, REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, OTHER RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
In terms of experience, we are looking for someone with a relevant background and a Master’s degree in Ecological/Environmental Sciences.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must not have a doctoral degree (PhD) by the recruitment date
• Should comply with the MSCA mobility rules: in general, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date (Jan 2026).
• Can be of any nationality
• Must hold a Master’s degree by the start date (Jan 2026).
• Should be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project
• Good English proficiency and writing skills
• Be available to start full time from January 2026
• Have a driving licence

Soft skills:Applicants should demonstrate strong communication skills, self-motivation, an aptitude for field research and a commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS OF APPLICATION, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SELECTION PROCESS

Application Process

Your complete application must be submitted through AMU PhD applicant portal. The application should include the following documents:

• A max wo-page cover letter for the applicant vision for the selected project and how they see meeting the essential criteria of the project
• BSc and MSc diplomas along with their translations in English
• If available, links to the scientific publications, degree or diploma theses.
• Contact details of at least two academic or professional references.

Selection process

Our selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based, impartial, and equitable, in line with the MSCA Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (link ).

The selection procedure will consist of the following steps:

• Eligibility check: The Recruitment Committee in each institution will check each application is complete and that applicants fulfil the eligibility criteria described in the previous section.
• Remote Evaluation: Each eligible application will be evaluated independently by the main and co-supervisors of each institution, a co-supervisor from the associated partner and member of the doctoral supervisory board of FutureForests network.
• Online interviews: The selection panel will include main and co-supervisors at host institutions, a supervisor from the Associated Partner involved in the DR supervision (also acting as non-academic expert) and FutureForests Coordinator. Gender balance should be ensured and in cases where there are male supervisors, then female beneficiaries from across the FutureForests network will be requested to join the panel.
• The short-listed candidates will be interviewed by a Doctoral Recruitment Committee that will include the recruiting Principal Investigators. Selection committees will bring together diverse expertise and competencies and have an adequate gender balance.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in France.

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A max wo-page cover letter for the applicant vision for the selected project and how they see meeting the essential criteria of the project * Allowed file types: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF Please upload your file here

BSc and MSc diplomas along with their translations in English * Allowed file types: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF Please upload your file here

If available, links to the scientific publications, degree or diploma theses * Allowed file types: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF Please upload your file here

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Job details

Title

MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network Researcher in “Drought and soil warming effects on soil biodiversity and organic matter decomposition and soil C fluxes”, Aix-Marseille Université, France

Published

2025-10-09

2025-11-06 12:00 (Europe/Paris)
2025-11-06 12:00 (CET)

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