PhD Funded Position in Plant Community Ecology at the University of Helsinki (salary: €4,100–€4,600 per month)

The University of Helsinki is inviting applications for a Doctoral Candidate (PhD) position in Plant Community Ecology within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP. The position is based at the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland, and is one of 13 doctoral candidate positions within the international network.

ReDiLEEP — Using science-driven Response Diversity knowledge to Leverage Efficient Ecosystem Preservation and restoration — brings together universities, research institutes, and non-academic partners to advance response-diversity research and translate scientific knowledge into ecosystem management, restoration, and biodiversity policy.

The University of Helsinki doctoral candidate will investigate response diversity in boreal forest and tundra ecosystems, with a particular focus on how different response-diversity metrics can explain and predict the temporal stability of plant communities under environmental change. The researcher will be based in the Northern Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning research group led by Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi.

The position is a 36-month, full-time doctoral appointment, with employment expected to begin in the first half of 2027. The estimated gross salary is approximately €4,100–€4,600 per month, before taxes and depending on eligibility for family allowance under the applicable Marie Curie Fellowship regulations.

About the ReDiLEEP PhD Research Project

The doctoral project is titled “Response diversity and stability of boreal forest and tundra plant communities under environmental change.” It forms part of the ReDiLEEP Doctoral Network and is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks under Horizon Europe. The University of Helsinki is the host institution, with Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi as the main supervisor.
Response diversity describes differences in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change. The concept is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to ecosystem resilience. This PhD project will examine whether response-diversity measures can help explain and predict how stable plant communities remain when exposed to environmental disturbances.

The research will use data from existing field experiments together with new greenhouse mesocosm studies. The candidate will investigate links between response diversity and community stability under both press and pulse disturbances, while comparing the ability of different response-diversity metrics, including functional traits, to predict temporal stability. The project is particularly relevant to researchers interested in biodiversity change, plant functional ecology, community dynamics, ecosystem resilience, and ecological responses to environmental pressures.

PhD Research Objectives

The central objective is to determine how different approaches for measuring response diversity can help explain and predict the stability of plant communities in boreal forest and tundra ecosystems. The doctoral researcher will work with ecological data from field experiments and develop new experimental evidence through greenhouse mesocosms. The research will combine empirical data analysis with experimental ecology to investigate how plant communities respond to environmental disturbances.

The resulting work will contribute to an article-based PhD thesis and to broader ReDiLEEP efforts to develop response-diversity knowledge that can inform ecosystem preservation, restoration, and biodiversity policy.

Main Responsibilities

The successful doctoral candidate will conduct independent research and doctoral studies leading to a PhD thesis within three years.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct doctoral studies and independent research within the project.
• Review and remain up to date with research on functional traits, response diversity, and community stability.
• Co-design and conduct greenhouse mesocosm experiments.
• Combine, analyse, and interpret empirical ecological data.
• Produce scientific articles linking response diversity with community stability.
• Follow the agreed research plan and work in a focused manner.
• Contribute to scientific discussions within the research group.
• Participate actively in ReDiLEEP training, secondments, dissemination, reporting, and doctoral cohort activities.

The doctoral researcher is expected to complete an article-based PhD thesis and the 30 ECTS of doctoral studies required for a PhD degree in Finland. Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi will supervise the project, with co-supervision from Assistant Professor Laura Antão at the University of Turku.

International Secondments

An important feature of this MSCA Doctoral Network position is the opportunity to undertake international secondments. The doctoral candidate will complete up to four months of secondments during the project. These include:

• Two months at Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) to compare mechanisms influencing ecosystem stability.
• Two months at Cardiff University (CarU) to learn approaches for assessing the role of biotic interactions in influencing response diversity.

The precise timing of the secondments will be agreed between the candidate and supervisors according to project requirements.

ReDiLEEP Training and Career Development

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary cohort of doctoral researchers participating in the wider ReDiLEEP network. The network provides training in response-diversity methods, data management, reproducible coding, R/Tidyverse, machine learning and AI for ecologists, scientific visualisation, evidence-based policymaking, science-policy communication, and policy brief writing.

This training can help doctoral researchers build skills extending beyond their individual research project. The combination of ecological research, reproducible analysis, quantitative methods, and science-policy communication is particularly relevant for researchers considering academic, governmental, conservation, or environmental-policy careers.

Eligibility and Candidate Profile

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in ecology or a closely related field, completed before the start of employment. The successful candidate should demonstrate strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in community ecology and have strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

The following qualifications are considered advantageous:

• A background in plant functional ecology.
• Experience with statistical analysis using R.
• Identification skills for Nordic flora.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience writing or contributing to scientific publications.

Candidates do not need to have every desirable qualification. The essential profile centres on relevant Master’s-level ecological training, motivation for community-ecology research, and strong English communication skills.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Eligibility

Because this is an MSCA Doctoral Network position, applicants must meet specific European mobility and doctoral-status requirements. The mobility rule is particularly important. Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity, such as work or studies, in Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Exceptions apply for compulsory national service, refugee status, and temporary protection.

Applicants must also:

• Not already hold a doctoral degree.
• Be doctoral candidates and be enrolled, or eligible to enrol, in a doctoral programme at the University of Helsinki.
• Work full-time and exclusively for the ReDiLEEP project during the appointment in accordance with applicable MSCA rules.

The appointment is subject to final MSCA eligibility verification and doctoral programme enrolment. 

Doctoral Programme Requirement

The selected candidate must apply for and obtain the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Sustainability in Society at the University of Helsinki. The doctoral study right must be obtained either before the employment begins or within the six-month probationary period.

What the University of Helsinki Offers

The position provides a 36-month full-time doctoral appointment within an internationally recognized research environment. The doctoral researcher will have opportunities to develop new skills and conduct research addressing important questions around biodiversity change. The candidate will also benefit from international collaboration and networking through the ReDiLEEP network.

The University of Helsinki offers occupational healthcare, access to modern sports facilities, and professional-development opportunities. International Staff Services also assists employees arriving from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland.

Salary and Employment Conditions

The position is funded for 36 months on a full-time basis under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks framework. The estimated gross salary is approximately €4,100–€4,600 per month before taxes, with the exact amount depending in part on eligibility for family allowance and the applicable Marie Curie Fellowship regulations. The place of work is the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland, and employment is expected to begin in the first half of 2027.

Selection Process

Recruitment will follow open, transparent, and merit-based principles in accordance with the MSCA Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers. Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, scientific excellence, motivation, project fit, and the potential contribution of the candidate to the ReDiLEEP doctoral network. The selection committee will include diverse expertise and an international perspective, with attention to gender balance and conflicts of interest.

Key Details of the PhD Position

Detail	Information
Position	Doctoral Candidate (PhD)
Research field	Plant Community Ecology
Project	Response diversity and stability of boreal forest and tundra plant communities
Network	ReDiLEEP
Funding	Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks, Horizon Europe
Host institution	University of Helsinki
Research group	Northern Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
Main supervisor	Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi
Co-supervisor	Assistant Prof. Laura Antão, University of Turku
Duration	36 months, full-time
Expected start	First half of 2027
Location	Viikki Campus, Helsinki, Finland
Estimated gross salary	€4,100–€4,600/month before taxes
Secondments	CSIC and Cardiff University, up to 4 months total
Degree	PhD in Finland
Required Master’s field	Ecology or closely related field
Application language	English
Application format	Single PDF
Application deadline	18 September 2026
Deadline time	23:59 EEST

How to Apply:

The application deadline is 18 September 2026 at 23:59 EEST. Applications must be submitted in English as a single PDF file through Apply Now button.

Because MSCA positions have specific eligibility requirements, applicants should check their mobility status and doctoral eligibility before submitting their application.

Documents Required

Applicants should prepare the following documents in English:

1. Cover letter — maximum one page, explaining motivation, relevant experience, and fit with the project.
2. Curriculum vitae — including a list of publications and manuscripts in preparation.
3. Master’s degree certificate and transcripts — including an explanation of the grading system and weighted GPA.
4. MSCA mobility-rule statement — confirming eligibility for Finland and listing countries of residence, work, and study during the previous 36 months.
5. Two referees — contact details for two people who may be contacted for references.
6. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews in English. According to the stated recruitment timeline, interviews are planned for the first half of October 2026.
7. Apply Now

For scientific questions about the project, applicants can contact Dr. Elina Kaarlejärvi at elina.kaarlejarvi@helsinki.fi.

For administrative questions and recruitment-system support, contact University of Helsinki HR Specialists at recruitment@helsinki.fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this PhD position about?

The PhD focuses on response diversity and the stability of boreal forest and tundra plant communities under environmental change. The research will evaluate whether different response-diversity metrics can explain and predict temporal stability in plant communities.

What is response diversity?

Response diversity refers to variation in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change. The project investigates whether this variation can help explain ecosystem resilience and community stability.

Is this an MSCA-funded PhD?

Yes. The position is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP under Horizon Europe.

How long is the PhD position?

The appointment is 36 months full-time.

What is the salary?

The estimated gross salary is approximately €4,100–€4,600 per month before taxes, depending on eligibility for family allowance and applicable MSCA fellowship regulations.

What Master’s degree is required?

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in ecology or a closely related field, completed before employment begins.

Is R experience required?

R experience is listed as an advantage, rather than an essential requirement. A background in plant functional ecology and Nordic flora identification are also considered advantageous.

Is international travel included?

Yes. The position includes up to four months of planned secondments, with two months at CSIC and two months at Cardiff University.

What training is provided?

ReDiLEEP training includes response-diversity methods, data management, reproducible code, R/Tidyverse, machine learning and AI for ecologists, visualisation, evidence-based policymaking, science-policy communication, and policy-brief writing.

Can someone who already has a PhD apply?

No. MSCA Doctoral Network applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree.

What is the MSCA mobility rule?

Applicants must not have lived or carried out their main activity, such as work or studies, in Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately before recruitment. Certain exceptions apply.

What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 18 September 2026 at 23:59 EEST.

What documents are required?

The application requires a one-page cover letter, CV with publications, Master’s degree certificate and transcripts with grading information and GPA, an MSCA mobility-rule statement, and contact details for two referees.