PhD Program in Ecology

Completing a PhD research project in the joint University of Zurich (UZH) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, PhD Program in Ecology, in one of the internationally acclaimed research groups, enhances a student’s PhD experience. Students of this program are enrolled at either the UZH or the ETH. The program offers research training in the interdisciplinary field of ecology, general skills training for academic and non-academic excellence, and opportunities to interact with other doctoral students. The program includes a curriculum of at least 12 ECTS credits, teaching experience, and is usually completed within three to four years (full-time). It offers yearly graduate schools, courses on subject specific matters and on methods that are of direct use to the work of doctoral students. Additional courses on transferable skills prepare students for professional life, whether this is in an academic institution or not. Research seminars foster international collaborations and the exchange of experiences among doctoral students and experts from different fields of ecology.

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Drivers and vegetation responses in the Greening Arctic: Insights from Svalbard
Jana Rüthers

Plant surveys and trait measurements in Svalbard ©Lena Bakker & Simone Fior

The Arctic is warming significantly faster than the global average, with regions like the Svalbard archipelago experiencing temperature increases up to six times higher. This rapid change is already reshaping ecosystems, particularly through shifts in vegetation structure and dynamics. One of the most visible trends is the “Greening of the Arctic,” characterized by increased plant biomass, poleward species expansion, and the appearance of non-native species. However, this greening is not occurring uniformly across the Arctic, and the underlying causes remain uncertain. Our interdisciplinary project aims to explore whether local soil variability and microbial processes contribute to these vegetation changes. To address this, we are combining fieldwork in Northern Norway and Svalbard with controlled greenhouse experiments at ETH Zurich. Our methods include vegetation surveys, detailed soil analyses, and the collection of seeds and soils for experimentation. Although the research is ongoing, early results suggest that, beyond warming alone, factors such as soil properties and altered plant competition dynamics are shaping Arctic plant communities. As warming may accelerate soil development, we could see further greening in the near future. Some species appear to respond flexibly to these changes, potentially enhancing ecological resilience but also amplifying vegetation expansion. Others, particularly Arctic specialists, may face increasing pressure, risking suppression or even local extinction under future climate scenarios.

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Photography for Scientists
Science and science communication rely heavily and extensively on photography. In this course organised by the PhD Program in Ecology, student scientists were taught how to be more "visually literate", empowering them to more effectively communicate their science.

Filmmaking for Scientists
In this course organised by the PhD Program in Ecology, students learnt how to prepare their own documentary films, including how to deal with camera and lighting, screenwriting/storyboard and film editing. At the end of the workshop, the PhD students prepared a short documentary film.