2 years Postdoctoral Position in Botany (Plant Science) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden

The University of Gothenburg, Sweden, is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Position in Botany (Plant Science) at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv). The position offers an opportunity to conduct research on the evolutionary diversification of southern African Asteraceae while developing an independent research project connected to the collections and conservation activities of the Gothenburg Botanic Garden.

The postdoctoral researcher will work on a Swedish Research Council-funded project investigating how long-distance dispersal, biome shifts, and environmental change have influenced taxonomic and phenotypic diversification in southern African Asteraceae. The position is a two-year, 100% full-time temporary appointment, with a planned start date of 11 January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter by agreement.

Key Details

Details	Information
Position	Postdoctoral Researcher in Botany (Plant Science)
Reference Number	PAR 2026/629
Institution	University of Gothenburg
Department	Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv)
Subject Area	Botany (Plant Science)
Location	Gothenburg, Sweden
Employment Type	Temporary, full-time
Employment Extent	100%
Duration	2 years
Expected Start Date	11 January 2027 or by agreement
Research Focus	Plant evolution, systematics, Asteraceae, phylogenetics, conservation
Required Degree	PhD in evolutionary biology or systematics
Application Language	Preferably English
Application Deadline	14 September 2026
Main Supervisors	Prof. G Anthony Verboom, Dr Nicola Bergh, Dr Félix Forest
Possible Teaching	Up to 10% of full-time employment
Salary	Individually determined

About the Postdoctoral Position

The position is based at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) at the University of Gothenburg. The department conducts research across diverse environments, including alpine ecosystems, forests, cultivated land, streams, and marine environments. Its research covers several levels of biological organisation, from genes and individuals to populations, communities, and ecosystems. Researchers work across ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and related fields to understand natural and human-driven environmental change. 

The current postdoctoral position is based at Natrium on Medicinareberget in Gothenburg. A major feature of the position is its collaboration with the Gothenburg Botanic Garden (GBG), one of Europe’s largest botanical gardens. The garden covers approximately 75 hectares and holds around 20,000 species from more than 130 countries.

Collaboration with the Gothenburg Botanic Garden

The Gothenburg Botanic Garden has a broad mission covering plant research and conservation, public education, and the promotion of awareness about plant diversity. Its research activities span areas such as:

• Taxonomy
• Systematics
• Evolutionary biology
• Conservation
• Genetics
• Horticulture
• Global change ecology
• Restoration ecology

The postdoctoral researcher will therefore have an opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary environment connecting university research with a major botanical collection and conservation institution. The position also requires the development of an independent research project using the living collections of the Gothenburg Botanic Garden and/or contributing to its conservation agenda.

Research Project: Southern African Asteraceae

The main research project is funded by the Swedish Research Council and uses a comprehensive phylogenetic tree of southern African Asteraceae to investigate the evolutionary processes responsible for diversification. The project will examine the roles of long-distance dispersal, biome shifts, and environmental change as drivers of taxonomic and phenotypic diversification.

Southern Africa provides a particularly valuable setting for this research. Asteraceae has undergone a major evolutionary radiation in the region, producing a flora of approximately 2,500 species occupying environments ranging from deserts to alpine zones. The diversity of southern African landscapes and vegetation, combined with a geological and climatic history involving tectonism and climate change during the Miocene and Pliocene, provides an opportunity to investigate both contemporary and historical drivers of evolutionary diversification.

Independent Research at the Gothenburg Botanic Garden

In addition to the main Asteraceae project, the successful postdoctoral researcher will develop an independent research project connected to the Gothenburg Botanic Garden. The independent project may focus on systematic research, trait evolution, geographical distribution, or conservation.

A conservation-focused project could, for example, address threat assessment or ex situ conservation practices. This part of the position gives the researcher an opportunity to develop an independent scientific agenda while contributing directly to the research and conservation activities of the botanical garden. There may also be opportunities to participate in international plant-collecting expeditions.

Supervision and Research Collaboration

The research will be supervised by Prof. G Anthony Verboom of the University of Gothenburg and Gothenburg Botanic Garden, Dr Nicola Bergh of the Gothenburg Botanic Garden, and Dr Félix Forest of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The postdoctoral researcher will also work closely with a PhD student whose research examines the diversification consequences of intercontinental long-distance dispersal.

This collaborative structure provides an opportunity to work with researchers across university and botanical-garden environments while contributing to a larger research programme in plant evolution and diversification.

Main Duties

The successful candidate will conduct primary research leading to the publication of at least three scientific papers. Two papers will focus on the diversification of southern African Asteraceae, while one will address the independent Gothenburg Botanic Garden-based project. Potential analytical approaches include:

• Bioinformatic processing of sequence data
• Phylogenomic analysis
• GIS-based spatial analysis
• Comparative macroevolutionary analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Plant systematics and evolutionary research

The researcher will also attend local and international conferences to present research findings and contribute to fundraising activities supporting conference travel. Additional responsibilities include delivering seminars and participating in journal clubs and other academic activities at BioEnv and the Gothenburg Botanic Garden.

Teaching and Training Responsibilities

The postdoctoral researcher may contribute to teaching within BioEnv for up to 10% of full-time employment. The position also involves organising and delivering a limited number of training events for scientific and curatorial staff at the Gothenburg Botanic Garden.

One example provided in the vacancy is a series of introductory workshops in R, including RStudio, ggplot, and the tidyverse. This provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to strengthen teaching, mentoring, scientific communication, and research-training skills alongside their research activities.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher, applicants must hold a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art, or a foreign qualification considered equivalent to a doctoral degree. The doctoral qualification must be obtained before the employment decision is made. The University will primarily consider applicants who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the end of the application period.

Applicants whose doctoral degree was completed more than three years before the end of the application period may also be considered where special circumstances apply. These circumstances can include illness-related leave, parental leave, union-related responsibilities, defence service, or other comparable circumstances, as well as relevant clinical or professional service.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD in evolutionary biology or systematics. The vacancy also requires:

• Experience with data management
• Statistical analysis skills in R
• Working knowledge of phylogenetic inference
• Working knowledge of comparative macroevolutionary analysis
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a research group
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to co-lead and coordinate a large research project involving substantial datasets
• Interest in fieldwork
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills

Candidates should demonstrate how their previous research experience prepares them for the analytical and collaborative requirements of the position.

Desirable Qualifications

The following qualifications are considered advantageous:

• Advanced knowledge of plant taxonomy
• Advanced knowledge of plant systematics
• Advanced knowledge of plant evolution
• Experience processing and analysing high-throughput genomic data
• Experience working with spatial data, such as species distribution modelling (SDM)
• Experience working with large datasets on high-performance computing (HPC) clusters
• Previous experience working in a team
• Willingness to mentor undergraduate students
• A driving licence

Experience with genomic, spatial, and computational datasets may be particularly useful because the project can involve phylogenomics, GIS-based analysis, and comparative macroevolutionary research.

Personal Qualities

The University is looking for a researcher who is independent and self-motivated, reflecting the expectation that the postdoctoral researcher will develop an independent research project. At the same time, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with a PhD student and colleagues at both BioEnv and the Gothenburg Botanic Garden.

For this reason, the University is also seeking someone who is collegial, communicates effectively, and can work constructively as part of a team. The most qualified applicants, based on the assessment criteria in the vacancy, will be invited to an interview.

Selection and Assessment Process

Applicants will be assessed using three main sources of evidence:

1. Documentation submitted with the application
2. A short oral presentation during the interview
3. Responses to interview questions

A subset of applicants will be invited for interview. The assessment will consider both academic qualifications and the candidate’s demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, work collaboratively, manage data, and contribute to the broader research environment.

Employment Conditions

The position is a temporary two-year appointment at 100% full-time employment. The position is placed at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. The planned starting date is 11 January 2027, although an earlier start may be possible by agreement.

Salaries at the University of Gothenburg are set individually. The University also identifies benefits associated with employment as a Swedish state authority, including special employment benefits, additional holidays, and a pension.

Information for International Applicants

The University of Gothenburg provides information for international researchers considering employment and relocation to Sweden. Applicants and their families can find information about working and living in Gothenburg, available services, and relocation support through the University’s welcome services and Move to Gothenburg resources. This can be particularly useful for international researchers considering a postdoctoral career in Sweden.

Why This Postdoc Position Is Interesting

This postdoctoral position combines plant evolutionary biology, systematics, phylogenetics, biodiversity, conservation, and computational research within a strong university and botanical-garden collaboration. The main research project offers an opportunity to investigate the evolutionary diversification of southern African Asteraceae using large-scale phylogenetic and spatial datasets.

At the same time, the independent research component gives the successful candidate scope to develop a research direction using the living collections of the Gothenburg Botanic Garden or contribute to its conservation agenda. The combination of university research, botanical collections, international collaboration, potential fieldwork, and advanced analytical approaches makes the position particularly relevant to researchers pursuing careers in plant science, evolutionary biology, systematics, biodiversity, and conservation.

Application Documents;

The application should preferably be written in English and must include:

• A cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and how you meet the selection criteria
• A CV or list of qualifications
• Certificate confirming completion of the PhD
• A complete list of publications, including submitted and accepted manuscripts
• Applicants should ensure that their cover letter clearly connects their previous research experience to the advertised Asteraceae project and the independent Gothenburg Botanic Garden research component.
• Applicants should submit their application through APPLY NOW

Publications and Postal Submission

Publications that cannot be attached digitally to the application should be mailed in a single copy to:

Department of Biological and Environmental Science
Att: G Anthony Verboom
University of Gothenburg
Box 463
S-405 30 Gothenburg
Sweden

The envelope should be labelled: “Postdoctoral Fellowship in Botany (Plant Science), PAR 2026/629” Any publications submitted by post must be received no later than the application deadline.

Application Deadline

The University of Gothenburg must receive applications by: 14 September 2026

APPLY NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the postdoctoral position about?

The position is in Botany (Plant Science) and focuses on the evolutionary diversification of southern African Asteraceae, including the roles of long-distance dispersal, biome shifts, and environmental change.

Where is the postdoc position located?

The position is based at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden. The current position is located at Natrium on Medicinareberget.

What degree is required?

Applicants must hold a PhD in evolutionary biology or systematics, or an equivalent doctoral qualification recognised under the University’s eligibility requirements.

How recent must the PhD be?

The University will primarily consider applicants who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the end of the application period. Applicants with older PhDs may be considered in certain circumstances.

Is experience with R required?

Yes. Experience with data management and statistical analysis in R is listed among the required qualifications.

Is phylogenetic experience required?

Yes. Applicants need working knowledge of phylogenetic inference and comparative macroevolutionary analysis.

Will the researcher work with the Gothenburg Botanic Garden?

Yes. The position represents a collaboration between BioEnv and the Gothenburg Botanic Garden. The postdoctoral researcher must also develop an independent project using the garden’s living collections and/or contributing to its conservation agenda.

Is fieldwork involved?

The vacancy states that there is a possibility to participate in international plant-collecting trips, and an interest in fieldwork is listed as a required qualification.

How long is the postdoctoral contract?

The employment is a two-year temporary, full-time position.

When does the position start?

The planned start date is 11 January 2027, or by agreement as soon as possible thereafter.

Is teaching required?

The postdoctoral researcher may contribute to teaching in BioEnv for up to 10% of full-time employment.

What is the application deadline?

Applications must be received by 14 September 2026.

What documents are required?

The application should include a cover letter, CV or list of qualifications, PhD certificate, and a complete publication list including submitted and accepted manuscripts.

Who supervises the research?

The research is supervised by Prof G Anthony Verboom, Dr Nicola Bergh, and Dr Félix Forest of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.