The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.
Originating in the ELLIS Unit Jena, the research project “AI Generalizability in Non-stationary Environmental Regimes: The Case of Hydro-climatic Extremes (GENAI-X)”, funded by the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, addresses a fundamental AI challenge: achieving robust model generalizability in non-stationary environmental systems. Focusing on hydro-climatic extremes and their impacts, a multi-disciplinary team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, the Jena University Hospital, and the Senckenberg Institute for Plant Form and Function (SIP) Jena jointly develops AI models that function reliably under constantly changing conditions.
Within the framework of the GENAI-X project D3 PHENOLOGICAL SHIFT: Impacts of Extreme Events on Phenological Shifts and Ecosystem Functioning, the Plant Biodiversity Group of the Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, FSU Jena, seeks to fill a
PhD Position (65%)
Combining field observations with remote sensing data
in plant phenology research
commencing on 01 April 2026. We offer a fixed-term position until 31 March 2030.
With this project we aim to harness the fast-growing phenology data from various sources, such as field observations, in-situ intervention experiments, and remote sensing, to curate a comprehensive data collection for causal modeling and as a basis for integration in climate models. The focus will be on data fusion, curation and in-depth analyses of a versatile multi-stream data source, including detailed species-level data for phenology-trait-environment relationships from elevational studies, experimental settings, semi-natural grasslands, phenological networks, PhenoCams, remote-sensing estimates, and meteorological features. This multi-scale, multi-species data source supports causal modeling of phenology representations across different plant species and communities.
Your profile:
- Master's degree in ecology, geography or environmental science with expertise in remote sensing and plant ecology or a related field with an interest in analysing phenological changes across scales
- Very good knowledge of remote sensing techniques, statistical analyses (in R), analyses of large sets (Big Data), and/or plant or vegetation
- Independent and self-motivated personality with excellent problem-solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills suitable for an interdisciplinary and intercultural work environment
- Excellent English language skills
Are you hesitating because you don't meet one or some of our requirements? Please do not hesitate to apply and give us a chance to get to know you.
The position is offered as a fixed-term position for a maximum of four years. This is a part-time position with 65% (26 hours per week) of the working hours of a full-time employee.
Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability.
Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by 03.01.2026 using our online form.
