PhD Position: Drought and Soil Warming Effects on Soil Biodiversity, Organic Matter Decomposition, and Soil Carbon Fluxes (MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network) Aix-Marseille Université in France

This PhD position is part of the MSCA FutureForests Doctoral Network, an EU-funded initiative designed to train the next generation of scientists in assessing the impacts of global change on European forests. Hosted at Aix-Marseille Université’s Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE) in Marseille, France, the project focuses on understanding how drought and soil warming affect soil biodiversity, organic matter decomposition, and soil carbon fluxes in Mediterranean oak forests. The research will investigate the cascading effects of altered precipitation regimes and interactive drought-warming scenarios on soil fauna, microorganisms, litter decomposition, soil respiration, and carbon stocks. Experimental work will be conducted at AnaEE forested sites (O3HP, Puechabon), with additional secondments to ELGO-FRI in Greece and UNIBO in Italy to study nitrogen deposition impacts and develop skills in microclimate instrumentation and environmental monitoring. The position offers a full employment contract for three years, competitive salary, access to state-of-the-art facilities, expert supervision, and international mobility. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Ecological or Environmental Sciences, comply with MSCA mobility rules, and demonstrate strong English proficiency, communication skills, and motivation for field-based, interdisciplinary research. The application process is open, transparent, and merit-based, with a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Candidates should submit their application via the AMU PhD portal, including CV, cover letter, diplomas, links to publications or theses, and references. For further information, contact the supervisors via the provided emails.