Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Agroecology programme. The position is available from 01 October 2025 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.
Title:
Pollinators at the Edge: Exploring Forest Habitats in a Changing Agri-Food System
Research area and project description:
Pollinators are essential to the resilience and productivity of agri-food systems, yet their populations are under increasing threat from intensive land use, pesticide exposure, climate change, and habitat loss. The European Commission has set the ambitious goal to reverse the decline and ensure the long-term conservation of pollinator diversity and the ecosystem services they provide. While much attention has been given to pollinators in agricultural and open landscapes, forest ecosystems and forest-like edges remain underexplored, despite their potential as critical habitats for diverse pollinator communities.
This PhD is one of two PhD fellowships funded as a part of the European research projects RestPoll (Restoring pollinator habitats across European agricultural landscapes based on multi-actor participatory approaches) and Butterfly (Mainstreaming pollinator stewardship in view of cascading ecological, societal and economic impact of pollinator decline). You will join the project team with an exciting international and interdisciplinary research environment and industrial collaborators. We seek a highly motivated PhD student who will explore the configuration of the agri-food system as a basis for management and improving conservation of pollinator diversity and the delivery of ecosystem services.
The PhD project more specifically should aim to investigate pollinator-plant interaction restoration actions in the Danish agri-food system. Specifically, with focus on monitoring and ecological analysis of pollinators in Danish forest habitats, with a particular emphasis on wild bees inhabiting forest interiors, forest edges, hedgerows, and flowering shrubs. The aim is to understand how these habitats support pollinator diversity and function, and how their role may evolve under changing land-use and climate conditions. The PhD student will work with existing and new datasets on pollinator distributions, habitat characteristics, and landscape context. The project may include:
i) field-based monitoring of pollinator communities in forest and edge habitats,
ii) spatial and statistical analysis of distribution and diversity patterns,
iii) ecological modelling of habitat suitability and connectivity,
iv) contributions to policy-relevant indicators for pollinator conservation.
Application instructions: Please upload a project description (½–1 pages) outlining your ideas, approach, and overall research plans for this specific project. If relevant, you may include a link to further information or a portfolio.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants should hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in agroecology, biology, entomology, or a related discipline.
We invite applications from enthusiastic and motivated candidates with a strong academic background to join our research team and contribute to advancing knowledge in pollinator-plant interactions. We are particularly interested in candidates with knowledge of pollinator taxonomy—especially bees, hoverflies, and butterflies—and experience in ecological and biological data collection and analysis.
Familiarity with data handling in R or similar coding environments is an advantage. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to address complex research questions, including designing experiments and interpreting results within the broader context of ecosystem dynamics.
Strong written and spoken English skills are essential, as is the ability to produce scientific publications. Experience in communicating scientific concepts to both academic and general audiences will be highly valued.
We are looking for someone who is proactive, collaborative, and eager to contribute to interdisciplinary and international research teams. A willingness to take initiative, seek guidance when needed, and engage constructively with colleagues is important.
As a PhD student at Aarhus University, you will be part of a vibrant academic and social community. We expect you to be an active and engaged member of our research environment, contributing positively to both the scientific and collegial atmosphere.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Ole Worms Allé 1, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:
How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.
Application deadline is 05 August 2025 at 23:59 CEST
Preferred starting date is 01 October 2025
Please note:
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.
