PhD position (m/f/d) Mountain Forest Management

Freising

Technische Universität München

The Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management Group at the TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich studies how forests change in time and space. We quantify these changes, identify their causes and describe their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. To do this we use a combination of diverse methods, from empirical research to remote sensing and simulation modeling.

A particular focus of our work is on mountain forest ecosystems. A quantitative understanding of ecosystem dynamics provides the foundation for the development of robust management concepts for the sustainable provisioning of diverse ecosystem services and for maintaining the integrity and diversity of ecosystems in a changing world. We are looking to fill the position of a

PhD student (m/f/d) in the field of mountain forest management

65%, available from January 2026

Your profile

• Completed master studies in the field of forest management, mountain ecology, natural hazards management or related fields
• Interested in protective forests and their management
• Good quantitative skills (e.g., data analysis, simulation modelling, remote sensing)
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work in a team
• German language skills are desirable (communication with local stakeholders)
• Driving license category B desirable (access to field sites)

Your tasks

You will conduct research on the effects of different forest management regimes on the protective function of forest ecosystems. The work is embedded in a collaborative project coordinated at the Technical University of Munich and conducted across research groups, with other PhD students working on related topics of natural hazard management in mountain areas. You will specifically use remote sensing and simulation modelling in combination with empirical data to assess how forests under different management regimes protect against natural hazards. A specific focus of the work will be on how climate change will impact protective forests, and if areas managed for biodiversity conservation can also supply protective functions.

Specifically, tasks include:

• Analysis of protective effects of forests based on a fusion of empirical and remotely sensed data
• Compilation of data for running a simulation model, model evaluation against independent data sources
• Assessment of future forest development under different management regimes using simulation modeling
• Quantification of climate change impacts on protective forests (scenario analysis)
• Contributions to evidence-based management decision making in mountain forests
• Publication of peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals
• Communication of research findings at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings

Our offer

• Work in a highly dynamic and international research group at the forefront of the field
• Conduct a PhD within the frame of an innovative and interdisciplinary research project
• Interact with a wide network of peers, scientists and stakeholders both nationally and internationally
• 65% position (26h employment per week) in remuneration group TV-L E13, for a period of three years
• The place of employment is the TUM School of Life Science in Freising, Germany
• Severely handicapped persons will be given preference in case of essentially equal qualification
• The TUM aims to increase the proportion of women in its staff; applications from women are therefore expressly welcomed

Contact

Please send your application with relevant documents by August 28 2025 at the latest to:

Technical University of Munich
Chair of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management
attn. Violeta Aramayo

Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
85354 Freising
Germany

Email: bewerbung.edfm@ls.tum.de

For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Rupert Seidl, rupert.seidl@tum.de.

In case of an online application (preferred) we ask you to send the documents collected in a single pdf file.

In case of a written application, we ask you to send us copies only, as we are unfortunately unable to return your application documents once the procedure has been completed.

As part of your application for a position at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), you will be submitting personal data. Please refer to our data protection information in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) https://portal.mytum.de/kompass/datenschutz/Bewerbung/ regarding the collection and processing of personal data as part of your application. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have taken note of TUM's data protection information.

Find out more about us at https://www.edfm.ls.tum.de/ and https://www.nationalpark-berchtesgaden.bayern.de/