PhD position (4 years): environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tracer of hydrological processes in snow and ice dominated catchments
100 %

In the Hydrology Group at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern
Starting date: January 2026

You will be part of the bilateral research project "Hydrology from Genes: what does eDNA tell us about melt contributions?" led by Dr. Natalie Ceperley. The project examines stream contributions and flow paths in snow and ice-dominated catchments of the Oregon Cascades (USA) and the Swiss Alps. By combining traditional tracers (stable isotopes and geochemistry of water) with naturally occurring environmental DNA (eDNA) data, we will perform a detailed analysis of hydrologic transitions, such as seasonal shifts. This project will conduct eDNA sampling across four catchments, where non-target metagenomics analysis will be conducted on samples of watershed discharge and water sources throughout the catchment to identify the individual genes present in water samples. In the last years of the project, the PhD student will also be involved in outreach workshops in Switzerland and Oregon.

The project connects research partners across continents (collaboration with Oregon State University's Dr. Stephen Good at the Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering and Dr. Byron Crump in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences). You will be based at the Hydrology Group, Institute of Geography, University of Bern, and fully integrated into the larger hydrology group led by Prof. Dr. Bettina Schaefli spanning hydrologic modeling, machine learning led by Dr. Pascal Horton, and process based research led by Dr. Natalie Ceperley, who will supervise your PhD. Sequencing will take place at the Next Generation Sequencing Platform at the Vetinary school of the University of Bern followed by bioinformatic support from the Interfaculty Bioinformatic Unit.