The stipends are part of the project, “From Catchment to Coast” that aims to predict the effects of climate change across Arctic terrestrial, limnological and marine ecosystems using a natural environmental gradient. The project is a collaboration between three institutions, Aarhus University, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and Aalborg University.

Overall aim:
To determine how climate-driven changes propagate across interconnected terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems along environmental gradients in Greenland, and to develop a predictive framework for understanding present and future Arctic ecosystem responses. We seek three PhD students that in collaboration with their supervisors define their PhD science program. You will be expected to join field campaigns in South Greenland and spent time at the participating institutions.

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PhD 1 - Terrestrial

Climate change effects on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems: From vegetation and soils to catchment export

Supervisors: Associate Professor Simon Bahrndorff – Aalborg University. Scientist Katrine Raundrup – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Core question:
How does climate warming alter terrestrial ecosystem structure and biogeochemical processes, and how do these changes influence the freshwater and marine environments downstream?

This PhD will investigate how changes in temperature, precipitation, snow cover, soil moisture and seasonality directly and indirectly affect vegetation and invertebrates, soils, microbial communities as well as carbon and nutrient cycling across a climate gradient.

The project will use terrestrial species data and could include (but not restricted to) automated weather station data, vegetation and invertebrate observations, soil measurements, DNA barcoding, drones and automated imagery/video systems.

Key questions

• How do terrestrial ecosystems respond to increasing temperature along the Greenland gradient?
• How does warming alter carbon and nutrient cycling in Arctic soils?
• How do changes in vegetation and soil processes influence catchment runoff?
• Which terrestrial variables best predict downstream freshwater and marine ecosystem responses?
• Can southern Greenland sites provide an analogue for future conditions farther north?

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PhD 2 - Limnological

Climate change and catchment–lake connectivity: Predicting Arctic freshwater ecosystem responses

Supervisors: Professor Tenna Riis – Aarhus University. Senior scientist Dorte Søgaard – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Core question:
How do climate-driven changes in terrestrial catchments propagate into Arctic lakes and freshwater ecosystems, and how do changing freshwater ecosystems mediate the transfer of material and organisms to the marine environment?

This PhD will act as the central freshwater link between the terrestrial and marine projects.

The project will investigate how catchment characteristics along a climate gradient affect hydrology and terrestrial nutrient and carbon runoff, and how these further influences water chemistry, primary production, microbial communities and diversity in streams, lakes and coastal plumes.

A particular focus could be placed on the coupling between catchment processes and freshwater ecosystem function. This would allow the PhD to determine when changes occurring on land are amplified, buffered or transformed within freshwater systems before material reaches the marine environment.

The project could include (but not restricted to) novel study approaches such as environmental DNA, automated imaging/video and high-frequency sensor measurements, tracer analysis and in situ nutrient and carbon experiments could be combined with conventional limnological sampling.

Key questions

• How do catchment characteristics relate to nutrient and carbon runoff to streams, lakes and fjords?
• How do changes in terrestrial runoff alter freshwater carbon and nutrient functional dynamics?
• How rapidly are terrestrial signals transferred through freshwater systems?
• Do lakes act as sources, sinks or transformers of carbon and nutrients?
• How does changing freshwater biodiversity influence the material flux from land to fjords?

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PhD 3 - Marine

Climate change from fjord to coast: Predicting marine ecosystem responses to changing Arctic catchments

Supervisors: Professor Søren Rysgaard – Aarhus University. Scientist Sascha Schiøtt – Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Core question:
How do climate-driven changes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems affect Arctic fjord and coastal marine ecosystems?

This PhD will investigate how climate-forced changes in freshwater discharge, nutrient supply, organic carbon, sediment transport and biological communities influence marine ecosystem processes along a Greenland climate gradient. The project aims to identify mechanisms, thresholds, and early-warning indicators of ecosystem change.

The project will build on the existing marine moorings and meteorological infrastructure in different locations in Greenland and expand observations of temperature, salinity, nutrients, oxygen, productivity, plankton and marine biodiversity.

Importantly, the marine project would also examine the feedback from the ocean and fjord to the wider ecosystem. Changes in marine productivity, sea-ice conditions and marine-derived nutrients may influence seabirds, marine mammals and human activities, while coastal processes can affect sediment and nutrient dynamics within fjords.

The project could include (but not restricted to) eDNA and automated video/image approaches particularly valuable for detecting changes in marine biological communities, while continuous measurements allow ecosystem responses to be related directly to changing climate and catchment conditions.

Key questions

• How do changing freshwater input affect Arctic fjord ecosystems?
• How do terrestrial and limnological changes alter marine productivity and biodiversity?
• Can changes in fjord conditions be predicted from climate and catchment variables?
• How do marine ecosystem changes feed back into the wider catchment-to-coast system?
• Can observations in southern Greenland predict future marine conditions further north?

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Your competencies   

A relevant educational background in biology, oceanography or similar is necessary and fieldwork in Arctic regions will be expected. Excellent oral and written English language skills are a requirement, and the applicant must be interested in working in an interdisciplinary research environment etc.

How to apply 

Your application must include the following: 

• Cover letter of 1-2 pages describing the motivation for applying and an account of the applicant’s background in relation to the announced position
• Project description, where you apply for one of the PhD projects. The project description should be a maximum of 1 page (not including references)

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) 
• Diplomas (bachelor and master's degree diploma)  

• Other relevant documents 
• The application must be submitted through the recruitment system of the university administering the specific PhD position. Please use the application link provided for the relevant project below.

Important application information

The three PhD positions are administered by different universities and therefore require separate application procedures.

Applicants must ensure that they submit their application through the correct recruitment system for the specific PhD project:

• PhD 1 - Terrestrial: Apply via Aalborg University.

• PhD 2 - Limnological: Apply via Aarhus University.

• PhD 3 - Marine: Apply via Aarhus University.

Applications submitted through the wrong recruitment system cannot be transferred, forwarded or shared between Aalborg University and Aarhus University. Applicants must therefore carefully verify that they are applying for the correct PhD position through the correct application link before submitting their application.

Applications submitted to the wrong institution will not be considered for another PhD position.

Do you have any questions?      
If you have any questions about the scientific aspects of the position, you are more than welcome to contact:

PhD - Terrestrial: This stipend will be administered through Aalborg University. Place of employment is Aalborg University, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Section for Bioscience and Engineering, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9200 Aalborg East, Denmark.

Relevant applicants for PhD 1 – Terrestrial should submit their application using the following link. For further information about scientific aspects of the stipend, please contact Associate Professor Simon Bahrndorff (sba@bio.aau.dk) or Scientist Karine Raundrup (kara@natur.gl).

Please note: The apply link in the job advertisement is exclusively for PhD 1 - Terrestrial. Applications submitted through the wrong recruitment portal cannot be transferred to Aarhus University or considered for another PhD position.

PhD – Limnological: This stipend will be administered through Aarhus University. Place of employment is Aarhus University, Department of Biology, 1134, 220, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. Relevant applicants for PhD 2 – Limnological should submit their applications using the following link. For further information about scientific aspects of the stipend, please contact Professor Tenna Riis (tenna.riis@bio.au.dk) or Senior scientist Dorte Søgaard (doso@natur.gl).

Please note: The application link in this section is exclusively for PhD 2 - Limnological. Applications submitted through the wrong recruitment portal cannot be transferred to Aalborg University or considered for another PhD position.

PhD - Marine: This stipend will be administered through Aarhus University. Place of employment is Aarhus University, Department of Biology, 1134, 220, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. Relevant applicants for PhD 3 – Marine should submit their applications using the following link. For further information about scientific aspects of the stipend, please contact professor Søren Rysgaard (rysgaard@au.dk) or Sachia Schiøtt (sasc@natur.gl).

Please note: The application link in this section is exclusively for PhD 3 - Marine. Applications submitted through the wrong recruitment portal cannot be transferred to Aalborg University or considered for another PhD position.