[ES_JOBS_NET] Fully funded 4-year PhD in Bern

Thu Oct 2 00:25:15 MDT 2025

Dear ES jobs,
I would like to advertise a fully funded 4-years PhD position at the University of Bern.
Find the full job opening here:

<https://ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jobs/6d851004-5aa7-483e-b67b-2b9db45503aa>
Uni Bern: PhD student position in climate sciences, fully-funded for 4 years<https://ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jobs/6d851004-5aa7-483e-b67b-2b9db45503aa>
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PhD Position with a focus on Paleoclimatology and/or Data Science

Duration: 4 years
Starting date: April 2026

Description:
Lake sediments are natural archives of Earth’s history, but traditional analysis methods often fall short of capturing their full story. This project, titled Pixel2Paleo, represents a pioneering effort to use a "deductive approach" to reveal the complex interplay of environmental variables. We will use a powerful combination of high-resolution imaging techniques—µXRF elemental mapping, Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI), and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI)—to explore the biogeochemical fingerprints of past environments. This includes elemental composition, mineralogy, as well as organic compounds such as alkenones, and bacterial and algal pigments.

A key part of the project involves connecting these sedimentary signals to real-world, modern data. We will analyze the most recent sediment layers (from the last ~200 years) from a network of Swiss lakes that are actively monitored. By correlating the high-resolution data from the selection of Swiss lake sediments with existing observational and monitoring data on factors like water temperature, nutrient levels, and lake productivity, we will build a foundation for our fingerprint database. This will allow us to evaluate the reliability of our proxies and apply this knowledge to reconstruct older, pre-anthropogenic climate conditions.

The ultimate goal of the project is to build a publicly accessible database that correlates biogeochemical sediment composition with specific climate and environmental conditions, setting a new standard for paleoclimate research. This is part of a larger effort to establish a PaleoIMAGING community and ensure all data and code are open and adhere to FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Tasks:
As a key member of a team of researchers, your primary role will be to conduct fundamental research, data acquisition, and data analysis. using these advanced imaging techniques. We offer flexibility in how you achieve the project's goals, allowing you to tailor your focus based on your skills and interests. You will have the opportunity to be responsible for obtaining high-resolution data from sediment cores, running laboratory incubation experiments to understand the stability of sedimentary signals, and participating in fieldwork. You can also focus on the application of advanced data science approaches, including supervised and unsupervised pixel clustering and neural networks, to discover unique "fingerprints" of past cold and warm climates. The project is structured into three main work packages that will guide you from initial data acquisition to final fingerprinting. A research assistant will support you with the imaging methods and/or data science.

Requirements:
We are seeking a highly motivated and curious candidate with a Master's degree in Earth Sciences or a related field. We strongly encourage applications from a diverse range of academic backgrounds, including those with experience in biogeochemistry, limnology, sedimentology, environmental research, ecology, hydrology, data science, and image processing. While data science experience is a plus, a passion for hands-on analytical work, fieldwork, and a willingness to learn advanced data science techniques is most important. We value strong analytical skills and a collaborative spirit. The project is designed to provide comprehensive training in advanced analytical methods and data science, ensuring you have all the tools you need to succeed.

Candidate's profile:
You are an independent, curious, creative, and ambitious team player who enjoys interdisciplinary science, learning, and mastering new things/skills.

•                Interest or experience in advanced imaging techniques

•                Interest or experience in data science

•                Good ability to work independently, to formulate and tackle research problems and work in a team

•                Good written and oral communication skills in English

We are committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in geology and especially encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

How to apply?
Applications must be submitted to hyperspeclab.giub at unibe.ch and should include:

  *   motivation letter describing your interests, experience, and relevance for this position (max 2 pages),
  *   a CV which includes the following sections:
     *   Education and training,
     *   Previous and current employment,
     *   Major achievements/scientific activities,
     *   ORCID iD number (if available).
  *   Further, attach the MSc certificate or transcriptions when available at the time of application,
  *   a summary of the MSc thesis, and
  *   the names and contact details for two referees (name, surname, institutional addresses, email, and phone number).

Please send your application via email with all sections combined in a single PDF named «surname.firstname», indicating «Pixel2Paleo PhD» in the email subject.
Contact Petra Zahajská (petra.zahajska at unibe.ch) with any scientific questions.

The application deadline is December 15th, 2025. Interviews online are foreseen during the second half of January 2026.

Best regards,
---------------------------------
University of Bern
Institute of Geography & Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research,
Lake Sediments and Paleolimnology Group

Petra Zahajská, PhD.
Postdoctoral Researcher

Hallerstrasse 12, Rm 312
3012 Bern, Switzerland
petra.zahajska at unibe.ch
Teams (Tel.).: +41 (0)31 684 50 94

https://www.oeschger.unibe.ch/  (Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research)
https://www.geography.unibe.ch/research/paleolimnology_group/index_eng.html (Paleolimnology, Research Group)
https://www.geography.unibe.ch/research/paleolimnology_group/hyperspectral_scanning_laboratory/index_eng.html (Hyperspectral Scanning Laboratory)
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5858-0616

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