Doctoral Candidate (PhD) in Biodiversity Policy and Response Diversity

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Project DC11: Integrating response diversity into policy and policy into response diversity Network ReDiLEEP - Using science-driven Response Diversity knowledge to Leverage Efficient Ecosystem Preservation and restoration Funding Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN), Horizon Europe (36-months); University of Zurich (12-months) Host institution University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland Supervision Main supervisor: Prof. Owen Petchey; co-supervisors: Prof. Maria Santos, Dr Cornelia Krug, Dr Ute Jacob Duration 48 months, full-time Secondments 4 months total, including BioAgora, Swansea University, CarU, and Advanced Invasives Application deadline 01 October 2026 Salary In accordance with the regulation of the Marie Curie Fellowship Response diversity describes the variation in how individuals, species, or functional groups respond to environmental change and the concept is increasingly recognized as a key driver of ecosystem resilience. Understanding and promoting response diversity is therefore essential for conserving biodiversity and supporting resilient ecosystems in a changing world. The University of Zurich invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate position in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP. ReDiLEEP brings together leading universities, research institutes, and non-academic partners across Europe and beyond to advance response diversity research and translate new knowledge into ecosystem management, restoration, and biodiversity policy. The Doctoral Candidate will contribute to this effort by investigating how response diversity is represented in European biodiversity, restoration, and sustainability policy, focusing on the development of policy-ready indicators through AI-assisted text analysis and network analysis. Research Project DC11 EU policy and legislation frequently reference biodiversity and resilience, yet major gaps remain regarding the mechanistic basis of resilience, particularly RD. Current policy instruments, including the EU Nature Restoration Law, Common Agricultural Policy, and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, lack clear RD metrics, quantitative targets, and monitoring requirements. DC11 will bridge science and policymaking by analysing how RD research can inform, and be informed by, European biodiversity and sustainability policies. Using AI-assisted text and network analysis, the doctoral researcher will identify conceptual alignments and mismatches between RD science and policy frameworks for biodiversity, restoration, and resilience. The project aims to guide the development of policy-ready, measurable indicators that capture RD as a mechanism underpinning ecological stability and policy effectiveness. Your Responsibilities Review and synthesise response diversity research relevant to EU biodiversity policy needs, especially restoration, deforestation, and corporate biodiversity reporting. Apply AI-assisted text analysis and network analysis to scientific literature, policy documents, and decision-making frameworks. Identify conceptual alignments, mismatches, and evidence gaps between RD science and European biodiversity, restoration, and sustainability policy. Analyse governance processes to determine where ecological resilience, system stability, and diversity mechanisms can strengthen conservation and restoration policy. Specify research needs for RD metrics and assessment methods that support biodiversity policy goals. Develop draft indicator sets and monitoring templates linking RD to ecosystem function, resilience, and sustainability goals. Produce peer-reviewed publications, policy-relevant outputs, and recommendations for embedding RD metrics in environmental assessments, reporting standards, and restoration funding guidelines. Participate actively in ReDiLEEP network training, secondments, dissemination, reporting, and cohort activities. Secondments and Network Training The position includes 4 months of planned secondments, w