2-year postdoc in phylogenomics and evolution of fire adaptations in Malagasy Erica

This two-year position focuses on reconstructing the evolutionary history of the plant genus Erica in Madagascar using phylogenomic and comparative approaches. The project is funded through a stipend from the Carl Trygger Foundation.

The position

The postdoc will contribute to the project "Reconstructing plant–fire associations in Madagascar using the genus Erica."

Fire both harms and benefits Madagascar’s ecosystems, and poor understanding of how plant–fire associations vary impedes effective management. We need to characterise fire adaptations in Madagascar’s plants so that we can relate them to different fire regimes. We need to trace fire adaptations since the Miocene so that we can provide baselines for pre-human prevalence of fire in Madagascar. This project will integrate phylogenomics, fieldwork and modelling, using Madagascar’s Erica species as case study for understanding associations between traits and fire. We will measure fire traits in Erica species using a specimen-based approach to characterise variation in fire adaptations. We will also model the evolution of Erica fire traits over the past 5-7 million years to trace fire adaptations since the Miocene. A better understanding of how plant–fire associations vary in space and time in Madagascar will enable more targeted conservation and fire management.

The postdoctoral researcher will join the Hackel group at DEEP and collaborate closely with project partners at the Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre (Antananarivo, Madagascar), the University of Bergen (Norway), and the Swedish Natural History Museum (Stockholm).

Responsibilities will include sampling plant material from museum collections, molecular laboratory work, phylogenomic and comparative data analyses, and publishing the results. Depending on experience and interest, the researcher may contribute to—or lead—fieldwork in Madagascar to collect plant samples and trait data.

The postdoc will be part of a vibrant department and university environment, with opportunities for further professional development beyond the scope of the project.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with the following qualifications:

• PhD in biology, ecology, or a related field
• At least one peer-reviewed publication as lead author
• Experience generating and analysing genomic DNA libraries for sequencing
• Experience analysing phylogenetic datasets
• Experience using R, Python, or a similar environment for data analysis
• Good written and spoken English

Additional skills and attributes that are advantageous:

• Experience working with preserved botanical specimens
• Fieldwork experience
• Knowledge of Malagasy and/or French

How to apply

Your application should include a single PDF file containing:

• A cover letter (1–2 pages)
• A short CV
  

Please submit your application directly by e-mail to Jan Hackel by Friday, 30 January 2026. You are of course welcome to contact us for more information about the position.

If you are passionate about plant evolution and tropical ecosystems, we encourage you to apply!

Note that this postdoc stipend is only open to candidates who are not currently based at DEEP. Candidates should have obtained their PhD at an institution other than DEEP no more than six years prior to the application deadline.