Doctoral Researcher in Disease Ecology / Spatial Ecology / Eco-Epidemiology
About this role
The University of Helsinki invites applications for the position of
Doctoral Researcher
in disease ecology / spatial ecology / eco-epidemiology, starting in September 2026 or by agreement.
The Project
The PhD project is part of CLIMFOCI, a multidisciplinary research project investigating why tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) occurs only in highly localized foci in boreal environments. The core idea is that TBEV persistence requires a rare "perfect storm" of climatic, ecological, and host-vector conditions, operating across spatial scales.
The PhD will focus on:
Identifying macroscale drivers of TBEV foci across Finland (climate, vegetation, hosts, ticks, migratory birds)
Quantifying microscale drivers of TBEV hotspots within known foci using intensive field and microclimate data
Developing hierarchical, spatially explicit predictive models to identify current and future TBEV risk areas under climate change
The work combines rich empirical datasets (ticks, rodents, hosts, vegetation, microclimate) with advanced statistical and spatial modelling (GLMMs, GAMMs, hierarchical/multilevel models), primarily in R.
The Candidate
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:
A MSc in ecology, biology, environmental science, epidemiology, statistics, or related fields
Strong quantitative skills and interest in modelling
Interest in disease ecology and climate-biodiversity interactions
(Field experience and GIS/spatial skills are a plus but not required.)
The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately: www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell. The requirements for pursuing a doctoral