Postdoc on food web responses to artificial flood restoration in alpine rivers (m/f/d)

• 11 July 2026 • 100% • Indefinite duration • Kastanienbaum Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally connected aquatic research institute within the ETH domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, provides training, and offers expert advice to achieve the dual objectives of meeting direct human water needs and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Postdoc on food web responses to artificial flood restoration in alpine rivers (m/f/d) # The Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution (FishEc) offers a vacant position The Trophic Ecology group studies how nutrients and contaminants flow through animals, within food webs, and across ecosystem boundaries, as well as how global changes such as land use and climate change modify these processes. The objective of the current project is to understand how artificial floods used as a river restoration tool modify the food webs of watercourses and riparian forests, aquatic-terrestrial connectivity, and resource pathways in hydroelectric-regulated alpine rivers. The objectives of the postdoctoral project are to understand: 1) how artificial floods modify the availability and use of aquatic and terrestrial resources within the food webs of watercourses and riparian forests, and 2) whether the food webs of watercourses follow consistent recovery trajectories when floods are restored after a prolonged interruption. The project will leverage long-term data on flood restoration collected in the Spöl river in the Swiss National Park from 1999 to today, and will also involve field sampling before and after the resumption of artificial floods in this river. Field sampling is planned as well as bulk stable isotope analyses of new and already collected samples for the project. These data will be linked to flood-induced changes in habitat structure and hydromorphology. We also encourage the postdoc to bring their own creative research questions related to the project themes and to use their additional analytical skills whenever possible within the project's timeframe and budget. The postdoc will contribute to the science-practice interface of artificial flood management in Switzerland. The results from the Spöl river will be interpreted in a broader context of environmental flows and adaptive restoration in hydroelectric-regulated rivers, with the possibility of engaging with Swiss practitioners involved in hydropower and aquatic resource management through meetings, presentations, and outreach publications. The position will be within the Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution (FishEc), located on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Kastanienbaum, Switzerland, and will also work in close collaboration with researchers from the Department of Aquatic Ecology in Dübendorf as well as with researchers based at ETH Zurich in the Department of Environmental Systems Science (USYS) and at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Zurich at the Institute of Natural Resource Science (IUNR) (ZHAW). The successful candidate will be able to work independently as well as in a small team, be motivated to develop new skills or explore new topics, and possess a resilient and growth-oriented mindset. Previous experience in wet laboratory work including stable isotope analyses and other biogeochemical analyses, as well as proficiency in performing laboratory work independently, is expected. An interest in the link between mechanistic food web ecology, hydromorphology, habitat dynamics, artificial floods, and adaptive river management is also particularly appreciated. You must also possess excellent communication and data analysis skills. An interest in mentoring junior researchers, including Master's students, is a plus. The working languages of the laboratory and the department are English, but an interest in learning and/or knowledge of a Swiss national language would be useful for fieldwork and outreach. At Eawag, we offer a working environment where people with diverse experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and develop. Here, you can help us progress! We promote authentic participation, exchange, and mutual understanding. We create structures that allow compatibility between work and other areas of life, such as care responsibilities, and we continually strive to reduce barriers. A Do you have specific requirements regarding the application process or the position, or do you need additional information? Talk to us - we will be happy to support you with possible solutions for flexible workplace, working hours, and job arrangements. For more information, please consult our website on Eawag as well as our employment conditions. Evaluation of applications begins on 17 August 2026 and continues until the position is filled. The start date is flexible but ideally in January 2027. Your application must include a cover letter, a CV, the names and email addresses of two references, as well as