We are recruiting candidates for two complementary Doctoral projects:

Doctoral position 1 – Animals, seed dispersal and seedling establishment

• The project will investigate how animals influence forest regeneration through seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and the dispersal of soil microorganisms, particularly mycorrhizal fungi 
• The candidate will combine field experiments, molecular approaches and ecological analyses 
• Fieldwork will primarily take place in Panama, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)

Doctoral position 2 – Herbivory, animal communities and seedling survival

• The project will investigate how herbivores and predators influence seedling survival, plant community composition and carbon recovery in regenerating tropical forests 
• The candidate will work with exclusion experiments, animal monitoring, vegetation surveys and ecological modelling 
• Fieldwork will primarily take place in Brazil
• Both candidates will work closely with the PI, other group members and an international network of collaborators 
• They will contribute to data collection, analysis, scientific publications and dissemination of project results

Profile

The successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary and international research environment at ETH Zürich, with opportunities to develop expertise across field ecology, molecular ecology, quantitative analysis and emerging biodiversity-monitoring technologies. The projects include close collaboration with research institutions and local partners in Latin America and substantial opportunities for international fieldwork.

The positions will be funded according to ETH Zürich doctoral salary conditions.

In line with our values, ETH Zurich encourages an inclusive culture. We promote equality of opportunity, value diversity and nurture a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all our staff and students are respected. Visit our Equal Opportunities and Diversity website to find out how we ensure a fair and open environment that allows everyone to grow and flourish. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

We look forward to receiving your online application by 10 November 2026 with the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of motivation/intention explaining your research interests, relevant experience and motivation for joining AniCaRes
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Contact details of two referees

In your letter, please indicate whether you are particularly interested in Doctoral position 1, Doctoral position 2, or both.

Further information about the Insitute for Integrative Biology can be found on our Website. Questions regarding the position should be directed to carolina.bellolozano@usys.ethz.ch, Prof. Carolina Bello (no applications).

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

ETH Zurich is one of the world’s leading universities specialising in
science and technology. We are renowned for our excellent education,
cutting-edge fundamental research and direct transfer of new knowledge
into society. Over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries find our
university to be a place that promotes independent thinking and an
environment that inspires excellence. Located in the heart of Europe,
yet forging connections all over the world, we work together to
develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.