PHD Graduate Student

Postdoctoral Researcher in Biodiversity Forecasting, Vegetation Dynamics and Rewilding Department of Biology — Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Aarhus University Are you interested in building spatially explicit forecasts of how rural depopulation, climate and land-use change, and alternative rewilding pathways could reshape plant diversity and ecosystem functioning across Europe? The Department of Biology at Aarhus University is inviting applications for a two-year postdoctoral position, offering a great opportunity to join the new Biodiversa+ REDESIGN project. Start date: 1 January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter Duration: Fixed-term, full-time, 1 January 2027 – 31 December 2029 Location: Ny Munkegade 114, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark (some travel for project meetings expected) About the role The postdoctoral researcher will model how depopulation and rewilding affect biodiversity and ecosystem structure under rising biosphere novelty, integrating ecological, demographic, environmental, and remote-sensing data into scenario-based forecasts of European vegetation and biodiversity dynamics. The position is embedded within ECONOVO, a research center focused on providing the scientific foundation to steer emerging environmental conditions toward outcomes that sustain global biodiversity. Main responsibilities:

• Assemble, harmonize, and analyze large spatial and temporal biodiversity datasets (vegetation-plot, environmental, land-use, demographic, and remote-sensing data)
• Develop spatially explicit forecasts of plant diversity and community change under alternative climate, socioeconomic, land-use, depopulation, and rewilding scenarios, with projections extending to 2100 (and, where appropriate, 2300)
• Develop and/or integrate hierarchical species distribution models and dynamic vegetation modelling approaches
• Quantify uncertainty and run sensitivity analyses on climatic, ecological, and socioeconomic drivers of biodiversity change
• Link vegetation forecasts to plant functional traits, ecosystem structure, productivity, carbon storage, and other indicators of ecological integrity
• Compare trophic rewilding and passive-management trajectories, including large-herbivore and carnivore reintroduction scenarios
• Identify potential refugia, ecological traps, and areas with high potential for biodiversity recovery
• Produce reproducible geospatial workflows, scenario maps, publications, and policy-relevant outputs
• Collaborate with project partners across Europe

Your profile Applicants must hold a PhD (or have submitted their thesis before the start date) in ecology, macroecology, biogeography, environmental science, geography, ecological modelling, ecoinformatics, or a related field. We're particularly interested in candidates with several of the following:

• Advanced quantitative skills and experience in spatial ecological modelling
• Experience with species distribution models, joint/hierarchical community models, or dynamic vegetation models
• Strong R and/or Python programming skills, with experience in reproducible workflows
• Experience handling large geospatial, biodiversity, vegetation-plot, or remote-sensing datasets
• Knowledge of climate and land-use scenarios (e.g., SSP/RCP projections) and uncertainty quantification methods
• Experience analyzing plant community composition, functional traits, or ecosystem functioning
• Experience with remote-sensing products and geospatial/cloud computing (an advantage)
• A publication record competitive for career stage, with strong scientific writing and visualization skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to an interdisciplinary, international team

Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. What we offer

• An interdisciplinary environment with national and international collaborators
• A research culture that encourages open, critical discussion across fields
• Close working relationships, networking, and social activities
• A workplace built on professionalism, equality, and work-life balance

Deadline: 1 November 2026, 23:59 CET Contact: Associate Professor Alejandro Ordóñez — for questions about the position

• 🔗 Full details and application: https://www.au.dk/om/stillinger/job/postdoctoral-researcher-in-biodiversity-forecasting-vegetation-dynamics-and-rewilding