Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) in Butterfly Ecology, University of Helsinki, Finland

Summary

The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fully funded Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position. The researcher will join the Research Council of Finland-funded THERMOTRAIT project (Tracing the impacts of climate change across biological scales), led by Dr. Emilie Ellis and co-supervised by Prof. Tomas Roslin. The project explores how butterflies respond to climate change across Europe using museum specimens, long-term monitoring, field ecology, and advanced quantitative modeling.

Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) in Butterfly Ecology and Climate Change across Europe

Overview Table

Designation

• Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student)

Research Area

• Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Butterfly Ecology, Climate Change Biology, Natural History Collections, Quantitative & Spatial Ecological Modeling, Biodiversity Monitoring)

Location

• Primary Workplace: Viikki Campus, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
• Travel / Visits: Includes European fieldwork (spanning mountain landscapes in Catalonia to boreal Finland) and a 4-month research visit to the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid, Spain, along with shorter visits to collaborating institutions in the UK and Spain.

Eligibility & Qualifications

Required:

• An MSc degree (or equivalent qualification) in ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, zoology, environmental science, biogeography, or a related field. (A BSc (Hons) qualifying for doctoral admission in the awarding country may also be considered).
• Research training/experience through a thesis, dissertation, independent research project, or research assistantship.
• Foundational quantitative skills with a willingness to develop expertise in R, statistical modeling, and reproducible research workflows.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research network.
• Willingness to carry out international fieldwork, museum visits, and research stays.
• Formal admission (or eligibility to apply for admission within the 6-month probationary period) to the Doctoral Programme in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sustainability in Society at the University of Helsinki.

Desirable / Advantages:

• Experience with butterflies/insects, species identification, and ecological field surveys.
• Experience with museum collections, digitisation, or image analysis.
• Experience handling large biodiversity datasets and statistical/occupancy/mixed modeling.
• A valid driving licence (for fieldwork).

Scholarship / Position Description

• Scope of Work: Investigate whether century-long shifts in butterfly body size and wing pigmentation represent adaptive strategies to warming temperatures or signal rising vulnerability.
• Funding & Benefits: Full-time, fully funded position through August 31, 2030. The starting salary is approximately €2,600 gross per month (plus personal performance increments). Includes occupational healthcare, flexible working arrangements, and relocation support.
• Expectations: Completion of an article-based PhD dissertation and 30 ECTS of doctoral coursework, with ~5% of working hours allocated to teaching/undergraduate supervision.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system.

Submit all required documents combined as a single PDF file named lastname_firstname:

1. Motivation Letter (max. 1 page) detailing research interests, motivation, and suitability.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (max. 2 pages).
3. Publication / Manuscript List (if applicable).
4. Names and contact details of two referees.
5. Master’s thesis / Qualifying thesis (or another substantial academic writing sample).
6. Academic Transcripts including GPA and explanation of grading scales.
7. Degree Certificate/Diploma (or details of remaining requirements and expected graduation date).

Inquiries: Contact PI Dr. Emilie Ellis at emilie.ellis@helsinki.fi for project details, or recruitment@helsinki.fi for portal/HR assistance.

Last Date to Apply

• September 30, 2026 at 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki time)

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