Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) in Butterfly Ecology and Climate Change across Europe
Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) in Butterfly Ecology and Climate Change across Europe
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher position exploring how butterflies are responding to climate change across Europe. The work will be based at the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland.
The doctoral researcher will join THERMOTRAIT - Tracing the impacts of climate change across biological scales, a Research Council of Finland-funded project led by Dr Emilie Ellis. The project brings together field ecology, natural history collections, long-term biodiversity monitoring, image analysis, climate data and ecological modelling.
The doctoral researcher will work closely with Principal Investigator Ellis and will be co-supervised by Prof Tomas Roslin (University of Helsinki). For this project, the doctoral researcher will also work within an international network of researchers, museum curators, Butterfly Monitoring Scheme coordinators and field ecologists across Finland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
This position is available from 11th January 2027, or as agreed.
About the position
Climate change is reshaping biodiversity, but we still do not fully understand how responses by individual organisms scale up to affect population persistence and community change. This doctoral project will use museum specimens and field collections to investigate whether climate-related shifts in butterfly body size and wing pigmentation over the last century help species cope with ongoing climate warming or instead signal increasing vulnerability across Europe. The successful candidate will develop a rare combination of skills in international fieldwork, museum specimen handling and digitisation, standardised ecological data collection, automated image analysis, large biodiversity datasets, advanced statistical modelling in R, open science and collaborative project management.
The fieldwork spans a remarkable European climatic gradient - from mountain landscapes in Catalonia to boreal environments near the Arctic Circle in Finland. A four-month research visit to the Museo Nacional de Ciencies Naturales in Madrid is also planned, together with shorter visits to collaborating institutions and museums. The doctoral researcher should therefore be comfortable with periods of travel and with moving between field, museum and analytical components of the project.
The appointee is expected to complete an article-based PhD thesis based on the material produced in the project, together with the 30 ECTS of studies required for a PhD degree in Finland.
Selection criteria
We are looking for a curious, motivated and thoughtful candidate who is excited by biodiversity, climate change and ecological data, and by a PhD that crosses the traditional boundaries between field biology, natural history collections and quantitative ecology.
The successful applicant should have:
- A relevant MSc or equivalent qualification in ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, zoology, environmental science, biogeography or another relevant field. A BSc (Hons) may also qualify if it permits entry to doctoral study in the country where it was awarded
- Research training or experience through a thesis or dissertation, an independent project, a research assistantship or equivalent research-based work
- A strong interest in ecological research and in developing as an independent researcher
- A foundation in quantitative analysis and a willingness to develop strong skills in R, statistical modelling and reproducible research
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English
- The ability to work independently while contributing openly and reliably to a collaborative research team
- Willingness to undertake international fieldwork, museum work and research visits
The following skills are considered an advantage:
- Experience with butterflies or other insects, species identification, field surveys or biodiversity monitoring
- Experience with R and the analysis of ecological, environmental, spatial or climate data
- Experience with ecological modelling, including mixed models, time-series analysis, occupancy models or related approaches
- Experience with museum or natural history collections, specimen digitisation, photography or image analysis
- Experience working with large biodiversity datasets
- Experience writing or contributing to scientific publications or reproducible analytical workflows
Because fieldwork will involve travel between monitoring sites, often in rural or semi-rural areas, a valid driving licence and willingness to drive during fieldwork will normally be required. However, please do not use this as the sole reason not to apply. Applicants are assessed as a whole, and candidates who have questions about this requirement are welcome to contact Dr Ellis before applying.
Applicants are not expected to arrive with all of these skills. A PhD is a time to learn, develop, try things, make mistakes, ask questions and grow as a researcher. Please do not be put off from applying because you do not tick every box. The most important qualities are curiosity, care and enthusiasm for the project, together with an open and collaborative approach to learning and tackling new challenges.
The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sustainability in Society at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment, or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months. If the selected candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately. See: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell and https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/eligibility-and-educational-documents.
Why work with us?
This position offers the opportunity to work across several levels of ecological organisation - from traits of individual butterflies to population persistence, community turnover and regional vulnerability. You will contribute to new datasets and methods while addressing a central question in global change ecology: when organisms change under warming, does that change help populations persist, or does it reveal growing vulnerability?
You will join THERMOTRAIT at the beginning of a newly funded research programme and will have a real opportunity to help shape its scientific direction. The project has a clear overall scientific framework, but there is room for the doctoral researcher to develop questions, bring new ideas and help shape the analytical and empirical direction of the PhD. The project also has a strong international network. Collaborating organisations include the University of Helsinki and LUOMUS in Finland; the Museo Nacional de Ciencies Naturales (Madrid), Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers (Catalonia) and University of Barcelona in Spain; and the Natural History Museum London, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Butterfly Conservation, University of Sheffield and Northumbria University in the United Kingdom.
At Helsinki, you will be part of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the research community around the Viikki Campus, with opportunities to interact with researchers in global change biology, population and evolutionary ecology, insect ecology, biodiversity monitoring and quantitative ecology.
Salary and working hours
The position is fully funded from the agreed starting date until 31 August 2030.
Interviews will take place online at the end of October.
The gross monthly salary is based on levels 2-4 for teaching and research staff in the salary system of Finnish universities (starting salary approximately EUR 2,600 per month), depending on the appointee's qualifications and stage of doctoral studies, and includes a personal performance component.
Five percent of the working time is expected to be devoted to teaching and undergraduate student supervision.
The doctoral researcher should reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The University provides occupational healthcare, flexible working arrangements and support for international employees relocating to Finland. Further information is available at https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome-finland-information-arriving-staff.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system. Current employees of the University of Helsinki should apply through the internal recruitment portal.
Please submit your application by the 30th September in the electronic recruitment system (23:59 Helsinki time).
Please submit the following documents in English as a single PDF named lastname_firstname:
- A motivation letter (maximum one page) describing your research interests, motivation and suitability for the position
- A curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
- A list of publications and manuscripts in preparation (if applicable).
- The names and full contact details of two referees
- A thesis or equivalent research work from your qualifying degree; if it did not include a thesis, submit another substantial piece of academic or research writing
- Transcript(s) for your qualifying degree(s), including an explanation of the grading system and weighted grade average (GPA), where applicable
- A copy of the relevant degree certificate or diploma; if the qualifying degree is not yet complete, describe your remaining studies and expected completion date
Applicants must complete a qualifying degree before employment begins. The University of Helsinki's Admission Services determines formal eligibility under the applicable doctoral-admission criteria.
Further information
Further information about the position may be obtained from Dr Emilie Ellis at emilie.ellis@helsinki.fi. Support with the recruitment system may be obtained from University of Helsinki HR Specialists at recruitment@helsinki.fi.
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