Junior Researcher for the project “Reversing pollinator decline in the Alpine Region (PollinALP)”: Developing a GIS toolkit for the conservation of pollinators in the Alps

Institute for Alpine Environment

The Institute for Alpine Environment performs problem-oriented research on mountain environments in the fields of landscape ecology, global change, biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable development. In September 2026 the new project “Reversing pollinator decline in the Alpine Region – PollinALP” started, focusing on the conservation of pollinators in the Alpine Space and on how to reverse their decline. Within this project we want to develop a GIS toolkit to provide practical support on how to plan and improve ecological corridors and pollinator habitat conservation within the Alpine space. For the project “PollinALP” we invite applications for the position of an entomologist with profound GIS experience. Besides profound knowledge on GIS tools, the ideal candidate has gained experience in biodiversity surveys and modelling habitat and connectivity in the Alps or analogous mountain systems. Investigation area will be the whole Alpine space, and the working location is Bolzano/Bozen.

Tasks:

• Collect and harmonize pollinator datasets in the area of the Alpine Space
• Define priorities for pollinator conservation and habitat connectivity
• Develop a GIS toolkit applicable across the entire Alpine area
• Test the tool with practical datasets collected from project partners
• Prepare a technical report on the toolkit and on its application
• Independent work

Requirements:

• Master degree in Biology or Environmental Science with experiences in invertebrate surveys.
• High proficiency in German and/or Italian and of written and spoken English.
• Proven experience in using geographic information systems (ArcGIS, QGis) for ecological research.
• Good knowledge of programming languages (R, Python) to model insect habitat suitability, connectivity and dispersal limitation within the context of the Alps or analogous systems.
• Experience with vegetation ecology, habitats and taxonomic knowledge as these are important requirements to optimally characterize and model pollinator habitat requirements.
• Good interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team and interact with researchers from various institutions and with stakeholders.
• Experience in publishing and presenting scientific studies is of advantage

We offer:

• Gross annual salary ranging from 40.894,56 € to 43.012,23 €
• Workplace location: Bolzano
• Benefits and work-life balance: Eurac Research offers a welfare package designed to support employees’ well-being and work-life balance, contributing to a positive and inclusive working experience in an international research environment. The full and regularly updated list of benefits is available here.
• Temporary contract until 31 March 2027 (full time or part time 75%)
• Opportunity to work in a young, interdisciplinary team
• Attractive living and working conditions (Great Place to Work)

Employment conditions:

• Employment classification and applicable collective agreement: 2nd level of the Italian National Collective Labour Agreement for the Tertiary/Commerce Sector
• Gross Annual Salary range: the gross annual salary range is primarily linked to the advertised position, its requirements and expected level, and is defined according to Eurac Research’s internal remuneration framework. The candidate’s highest academic degree and any relevant professional experience documented in the CV are taken into account where applicable, but always within the salary range defined for the advertised position. The range also reflects whether the position is full-time or part-time.