The University of Camerino invites expressions of interest from postdoctoral researchers wishing to develop a proposal for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 in the field of forest ecology, biodiversity conservation, and environmental biology.

This research opportunity is hosted by Prof. Stefano Chelli at the School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine and focuses on the role of protected areas in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functionality under global environmental change. The project is embedded in a well-established research framework combining long-term ecological monitoring, functional ecology, and multitaxonomic approaches.

Supervisor

Prof. Stefano Chelli is Associate Professor of Botany and Ecology at the University of Camerino. His research focuses on forest ecosystems, with particular attention to biodiversity patterns and their drivers, investigated through trait-based and functional approaches across spatial and temporal scales.

He has authored around 70 scientific publications, with more than 3,800 citations, and has participated in several national and international research projects, both as Principal Investigator and as a member of interdisciplinary research teams. His work includes the coordination of national projects on biodiversity monitoring and contributions to European initiatives such as LIFE programmes and forest monitoring networks.

Research Group and Facilities

The research is carried out within a group specialized in plant ecology, biodiversity science, and long-term ecosystem monitoring. The group manages national databases based on permanent plots and long-term resurveys in forest ecosystems and is actively involved in European monitoring networks such as ICP Forests.

A key infrastructure is the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in the Central Apennines, located in the Montagna di Torricchio Nature Reserve, where long-term vegetation and multitaxonomic datasets are available.

The research environment also includes expertise and instrumentation for measuring plant functional traits, including leaf, belowground, and anatomical traits, and benefits from a multidisciplinary team working across ecological gradients and biodiversity datasets at national and international level.

Research Topic and Project Idea

The project, titled “Conserving forest biodiversity: a multitaxonomic assessment of protected areas effectiveness”, aims to evaluate how protected areas contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality in forest ecosystems.

The research adopts a multitaxonomic and functional approach, integrating different organism groups (such as vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes, fungi, soil arthropods, gastropods, and saproxylic insects) to assess biodiversity patterns both inside and outside protected areas.

Particular attention will be given to forest ecosystems representative of European contexts, including Mediterranean evergreen forests and temperate beech forests. The project will combine field data, long-term monitoring datasets, and ecological modelling to investigate the effects of climate, soil, and forest structure on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

By providing new evidence on the effectiveness of conservation strategies, the project aims to support the development of more informed policies and management practices for biodiversity protection across European forest landscapes.

Candidate Profile and Career Development

The position is particularly suitable for candidates with a strong background in ecology, biodiversity science, environmental biology, or related disciplines. Experience in plant ecology, forest ecology, or community ecology will be considered an asset, as well as familiarity with biodiversity monitoring and ecological data analysis.

During the fellowship, the researcher will have the opportunity to develop advanced competences in:

• multitaxonomic biodiversity assessment
• trait-based ecological approaches
• long-term ecological data analysis
• conservation science and ecosystem monitoring

The project offers a dynamic and collaborative research environment, supporting the development of independent research skills and contributing to the candidate’s long-term academic and professional career in environmental and ecological sciences.

Contact

Prof. Stefano Chelli - stefano.chelli@unicam.it