PhD Opportunity in Soil Food Webs and Nutrient Cycling

PhD Opportunity in Soil Food Webs and
Nutrient Cycling
Location: Nutrient Movement and Modeling Lab, Western University, London, Ontario (Canada)
Start Date: Flexible, beginning in 2026

The Nutrient Movement and Modeling Lab at Western University is seeking a motivated and curious PhD student to join our team in 2026. This position focuses on exploring the relationships between soil fauna and nutrient cycling, with the goal of advancing our understanding of soil ecosystems
through both modeling and empirical research.

Project Overview
The successful candidate will contribute to the development and application of our ecosystem and food web models, particularly through our open-source R package, soilfoodwebs. The project may involve:
– Enhancing and applying existing models to new ecological case studies
– Collecting and analyzing empirical data to validate model predictions
– Collaborating with and visiting national and international partners, including researchers in the U.S., France (iEES -Paris), Brazil, and at Canadian government agencies
While the position emphasizes ecological modeling, candidates interested in field-based soil ecology are also encouraged to apply. Multiple positions are available, and we welcome applicants with diverse research interests.

Ideal Candidate
We are looking for applicants with:
– A background in ecology, environmental science, forestry, or a related field
– Experience with ecological modeling or statistical analysis in R
– Experience with or interest in soil fauna and nutrient cycling
– Strong communication and collaboration skills
– Interest in interdisciplinary and international research

Additional assets include:
– Portuguese language skills for those interested in our collaborative work in Brazil
– French language skills for those interested in our collaborative work in Quebec

How to Apply
Interested candidates should contact us (rbuchkow@uwo.ca) with a brief statement of interest and their CV. We encourage early inquiries to discuss potential fit and project directions