iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Christian Rellstab

WSL Umweltforschung @wslresearch.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

On 21 May 2026, the ETH Board appointed climate researcher Nadine Salzmann and forest ecologist Arthur Gessler to the WSL Directorate. Congratulations! www.wsl.ch/en/news/two-... #forest #climate #cryosphere #forest #forestecology

wsl.ch

Two new members join the WSL Directorate

The ETH Board has appointed climate researcher Nadine Salzmann and forest ecologist Arthur Gessler to the WSL Directorate.

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Very proud to be part of the "Tree Evolution Colloquium" at the Cumberland Lodge in Great Windsor Park, England. For three days, we discussed whether evolutionary rates in trees are underestimated or not.

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

the field season of our brand new project TreeGD hast started! this year, we will sample European beech, downy oak and wild service tree. for more information, visit treegd.wsl.ch/en/ with @domcoqetc.bsky.social

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

"Their high stature makes the world smaller for them." I am reading this for the third time in my life and it confirms to be my most influential paper. So beautifully written and full of facts and thoughts why we love trees so much as evolutionary biologists.

annualreviews.org

Some Evolutionary Consequences of Being a Tree

Abstract Trees do not form a natural group but share attributes such as great size, longevity, and high reproductive output that affect their mode and tempo of evolution. In particular, trees are uniq...

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Katrin Heer @katrinheer.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Application deadline on Monday! PhD position @uni-freiburg.de in the @ecosense-sfb-1537.bsky.social project

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

📣 New EVOLTREE webinar! 🗓️ 8th April 16:00 CET Prof Rasmus Nielsen will talk on "Mapping adaptive genetic variation in non-model species" Link: vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/rasm... Save the date and visit www.evoltree.eu/webinars in a few days for registration and additional information.

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

together with @domcoqetc.bsky.social, i am looking for two interns for field work in our new TreeGD project. please see here for more details: apply.refline.ch/273855/1846/...

apply.refline.ch

Praktikant/in für Feldaufnahmen (w/m/d)

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WSL-Eawag Biodiversity Center @wslbiodiversity.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

The Ecological Genetics group at @wslresearch.bsky.social is looking for a 2-month intern to support an upcoming field survey. A great opportunity for hands-on research experience. More info: apply.refline.ch/273855/1846/... @christian-rellstab.bsky.social

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Reposted by Christian Rellstab

Katrin Heer @katrinheer.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Postdoctoral position in Forest Genetics at @uni-freiburg.de with a focus on local adaptation and/or stress reaction of trees. The position combines research and teaching (4 SWS), and offers the opportunity to develop an independent research profile (4+ years).

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Reposted by Christian Rellstab

Eawag Aquatic Research @eawag.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

🌿❤️🐟@wslresearch.bsky.social and #Eawag are strengthening their long-standing collaboration with the new WSL–Eawag Biodiversity Center. The Center connects researchers, creates synergies and boosts the visibility and impact of biodiversity research in science and practice.

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Teaching is fun! The ETH @evoltree.bsky.social block course "Genomics of Environmental Adapation" at @wslresearch.bsky.social is in full action now.

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WSL Umweltforschung @wslresearch.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

#PostDoc Alert! PhD in #Biologie, #Forstwissenschaften oder #Umweltnaturwissenschaften🌲? Gute Kenntnisse in Evolutionsbiologie und sehr kompetent in #Populationsgenetik und #Landschaftsgenomik🧬? Wir bieten eine #PostDoc Stelle in ökologischer Genomik: apply.refline.ch/273855/1782/... #ScienceJobs

Stellenanzeige: Die Forschungseinheit Biodiversität und Naturschutzbiologie untersucht die Vielfalt des Lebens, von der genetischen Diversität bis zur Arten- und Lebensraumvielfalt sowie ihre Interaktionen. Das für mehr als vier Jahre und vom BAFU finanzierte Projekt TreeGD untersucht die genetische Vielfalt und das Anpassungspotenzial von Haupt- und Nebenbaumarten in Schweizer Generhaltungsgebieten, inklusive ihres Saatgutes. Für dieses Projekt sucht die Gruppe Ökologische Genetik per 1. Januar 2026 oder nach Vereinbarung befristet für 2 Jahre (mit Option auf Verlängerung), eine/-n motivierte/-n
Postdoktorand/-in in ökologischer Genomik 80% (w/m/d)
Sie planen und unterstützen die Beprobung von Baummaterial für die DNA-Extraktion und koordinieren die Laborarbeit. Sie werten die genomweiten Sequenzdaten von je 500 Bäumen von fünf Baumarten aus und berechnen Indikatoren wie genetische Vielfalt, Differenzierung und potenzielle Angepasstheit. Daraus leiten Sie praktische Empfehlung für Schweizer Generhaltungsgebiete und die Saatgutgewinnung ab. In Zusammenarbeit mit den Projektpartner/-innen publizieren Sie die Ergebnisse in wissenschaftlichen und umsetzungsorientierten Zeitschriften und präsentieren die Erkenntnisse an Veranstaltungen mit der Forstpraxis und an inter-/nationalen wissenschaftlichen Fachtagungen.
Sie verfügen über ein Doktorat in Biologie, Forst- oder Umweltnaturwissenschaften und gute Kenntnisse in ökologischer Genetik sowie Evolutionsbiologie, falls möglich bei Waldbäumen. Sie sind vertraut mit genomweiten Analysen auf Hochleistungsrechnern und sehr kompetent in Populationsgenetik und Landschaftsgenomik. Sie schreiben und sprechen fliessend in mindestens einer Schweizer Landessprache sowie Englisch. Sie besitzen einen Führerausweis Kat. B und arbeiten gerne im Freien, auch unter schwierigen Bedingungen. Sie sind teamfähig und kommunikativ, und Sie arbeiten strukturiert und selbstständig.

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Second Day starts with an amazing keynote talk on genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity by Silvia Matesanz from URJC. Great talk Silvia! #EVOLTREE

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Reposted by Christian Rellstab

Jill Hamilton @jillahamilton.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

So happy to be with European colleagues in Madrid for #EvolTREE to share new ideas, technologies, and applications of forest genetics to conservation, restoration, breeding, and much, much more

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

David O'Brien opens the first session ("New Tools for Science to Reach Practice") of the Joint EVOLTREE-FORGENIUS conference with an entertaining talk on how to communicate to politicians, practitioners and the public.

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Reposted by Christian Rellstab

EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Delphine Grivet from the host organisation INIA-CSIC opens the Joint EVOLTREE- FORGENIUS Conference in Madrid! About 200 researchers, including many early-career scientists in the room.

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

The EVOLTREE-FORGENIUS Joint Conference starts tomorrow in Madrid, so much excitement in the air! It is already our 3rd Conference and we continue growing. Thanks for supporting #EVOLTREE

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

i am offering a post-doc position in my brand-new project TreeGD that will investigate genomic diversity of trees species in switzerland, with a special focus on gene conservation units, rare species (but not only), and seeds stands. apply.refline.ch/273855/1782/...

apply.refline.ch

Postdoktorand/-in in ökologischer Genomik 80% (w/m/d)

Die Forschungseinheit Biodiversität und Naturschutzbiologie untersucht die Vielfalt des Lebens, von der genetischen Diversität bis zur Arten- und Lebensraumvielfalt sowie ihre Interaktionen. Das für m...

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Siri Birkeland @siribirkeland.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

In memory of Richard Abbott 🌱❄ 35 years of Arctic plant phylogeography - glacial refugia, trans-oceanic dispersals, and the genomic evidence revealing their hidden histories. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

tandfonline.com

Phylogeography of Arctic plants: where are we after 35 years, and where to go?

The Arctic provides an excellent system to study climate change effects on geographic ranges and genetic diversity. We re-examine the large number of phylogeographic studies of Arctic plants to ass...

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Reposted by Christian Rellstab

Siri Birkeland @siribirkeland.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Tree evolution is surprisingly quirky! 🌳 Trees are likely ancestral in many plant groups, often re-evolve on islands, and Arabidopsis can be made tree-like by tweaking a few genes. We revisited what genes really make a tree a tree using comparative genomics. @trhvidsten.bsky.social #trees #evolution

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

exciting times ahead. the permanent exhibition "breaking the code" about genetic research at @wslresearch.bsky.social is opening soon! with apprentices from ETH, we developed a computer game to assign white oak species (and their hybrids) based on leaf morphology and genetic markers. stay tuned!

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Brand new! Analyzing tree rings in common garden experiments in oak and beech, we show that phenotypic plasticity drives trait variation in both species. However, oak shows, in contrast to beech, also signs of adaptation and genetically-based plasticity. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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International Union of Forest Research Organizations - IUFRO @iufro.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

🚨Join in when IUFRO Working Party 2.02.05 kicks off their brand-new Webinar Series: 🌲Integrating Pollen-Based Assisted Migration and Rolling- Front Landscape Breeding for Forest Adaptation under Climate Change🌳 🗓️Thursday, 25 September 2025 🕕18:00-19:00 CEST 🔗 bit.ly/46cVXaW #ForestScience

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

You have a good research idea in the field of evolutionary genetics and genomics of forest trees, but lack funding to carry it out? Leap into action with the network's research initiative, OPPORTUNITY! The new call has been launched, deadline is 16.11.2025. More information here:

evoltree.eu

Opportunity Calls

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Dorota Paczesniak @dorotdesigns.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

#SciArt #Artshare I’m a scientific illustrator with genetics and evolution background open to commissions of infographics, illustrations, scientific figures, …

A fragment of an infographic about genetic markers, showing a close-up of a plant cell with nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts. A DNA strand is unraveling from a chromosome

A vector drawing of Siberian larch (Larix archangelica, syn. Larix sibirica) tree silhouette and branch fragment with seed cones

A large infographic entitled „Genetic variation in improved forests” with sections about tree breeding in Finland, propagation (seed orchards and vegetative propagation) and forest regeneration. Made in collaboration with the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and the University of Helsinki

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Joint EVOLTREE-FORGENIUS Conference 2025 Call for Abstracts is now open! Deadline 30 June 2025 We invite submissions on evolutionary ecology, genomics, and adaptation in trees and associated organisms. For more information: www.evoltree.eu/conferences/...

evoltree.eu

Joint EVOLTREE-FORGENIUS Conference / Third Biannual EVOLTREE Conference

18-25 November 2025, Madrid, Spain

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Find here my announcement for a 2-year post-doc position in ecological genomics of white oaks in the framework of the Horizon project OptFORESTS. I am looking for somebody with strong skills in bioinformatics, landscape genomics, forest genomics, GWAS, and population genetic simulations.

apply.refline.ch

Post-Doc in Ecological Genomics 80-100% (f/m/d)

The Research Unit Biodiversity and Conservation Biology studies the diversity of life in its various forms, from genetic diversity to the diversity of species and ecosystems as well as their interacti...

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming EvolTree-FORGENIUS Joint Conference "Integrative Diversity of Forest Ecosystems" , which will take place in Madrid, Spain, from 18 to 21 November 2025. You can find all information and the registration here: www.evoltree.eu/conferences/...

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Do you want to learn about methods for detecting genes involved in local adaptation and for predicting maladaptation to future climate? There are still a few slots left in SSMPG2025 course in the French Alps. Very proud to be part of such a great team of teachers. ssmpg2025.sciencesconf.org

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Four outreach publications in one day... Only possible in Switzerland. Check our chapter on genetic diversity in the latest Swiss Forest Report www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home...

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Evolutionary Applications @evolappjournal.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Soil properties – water availability and pH – are strongly associated to the spatial distribution of two hybridizing and sympatric oak species (Quercus spp) at local stand scale. w/@felix-zimmermann.bsky.social, @christian-rellstab.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/eva.70076

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

new paper in @evolappjournal.bsky.social with @felix-zimmermann.bsky.social ! Soil properties – water availability and pH – are strongly associated to the spatial distribution of two hybridizing and sympatric oak species (Quercus spp) at local stand scale. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

The ETH/ @evoltree.bsky.social block course "Genomics of Environmental Adaptation" at @wslresearch.bsky.social successfully ended on Friday afternoon. Thanks to everybody who made it possible!

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Detecting genomic signatures of environmental adaption, an ETH/ @evoltree.bsky.social block course, running now with full intensity at @wslresearch.bsky.social. Great students, motivated instructors, and hot computers.

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Praxis-Empfehlungen: Wie sammle ich Eicheln, damit die genetische Vielalt des Saatguts möglichst hoch ist? Resultate aus dem @wslresearch.bsky.social SeedOpt Projekt. Anwendbar auf viele andere Hauptbaumarten. Jetzt auf @waldwissen.bsky.social www.waldwissen.net/de/waldwirts...

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Now online! Our perspective on the genomic offset simulation paper of @brandonlind.bsky.social and @drk-lo.bsky.social. In short: Genomic offset can predict fitness under changed environments, but performance is reduced under highly novel environments. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Now online! In this study led by Jil Pütz and Simon Jansen, we studied the population structure and introgression of Quercus pubescens at its northern range. We found two major genetic clusters and more introgression in wetter, north-exposed, and more western sites. academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...

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EvolTree @evoltree.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

EVOLTREE - Europe's network for researchers in forest ecology, evolution, genetics & genomics - has joined Bluesky. Follow us here for news on events, training courses, and funding opportunities ...... see evoltree.eu for more!

Image of a twisted old oak tree (Quercus petraea) on a grassy hillside

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

EvolTree has joined Bluesky! Please follow us here to get the latest updates on webinars, conferences, summer schools, and funding possibilities! EvolTree – A dynamic European research group linking #genomics #genetics #ecology #evolution of trees @evoltree.bsky.social

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WSL Umweltforschung @wslresearch.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

#PostDoc Alert! Interested in tree-associated #fungi and being part of a team in #Switzerland and #Azerbaijan? Experience in #mycology & molecular techniques & good knowledge of #bioinformatics? Our #Phytopathology Group is offering a #PostDocPosition: apply.refline.ch/273855/1679/... #ciencejobs #R

Job Ad: The WSL Research Unit Forest Health and Biotic Interactions investigates the influence of biotic factors on forest health and develops the scientific basis for the protection of forests against potentially harmful organisms. For an international cooperation project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Phytopathology Group is looking from April 2025 or up on agreement, for a period of 2 years with the option of extension, for a
PostDoc for a study of tree-associated fungal diversity 80-100% (f/m/d)
As part of a team in Switzerland and Azerbaijan, you will study fungal diversity in leaves and bark of selected tree species from Azerbaijan, with a focus on pathogenic fungi. This includes participation in field work in Azerbaijan; responsibility for performing molecular analysis of leaf material using amplicon sequencing; bioinformatic and statistical analysis of molecular data; presentation of the study results at congresses; publication in peer-reviewed journals, and collaboration with an Azerbaijani doctoral student in statistical analyses and in the publication.
You have a PhD degree in phytopathology, ecology, biology or a related field. You have previous experience in mycology, molecular techniques, and good knowledge of bioinformatics and statistical analysis of metabarcoding data, preferably with R. You have a passion for scientific understanding and an interest in fungal pathogens and forest ecology. Experience in the cultivation of fungi is desirable. In addition, you have a good command of English and have a demonstrated ability in carrying out research projects, including publication of the results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. You are used to work independent, structured and meticulous and have a high level of self-motivation as well as a good team spirit.
In the Phytopathology group, you can expect a dynamic research team of established and young scientists as well as highly qualified lab technicians working together to stud…

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

We are looking for a post-doc in genomics and hybridization in white oaks! See here, I am collaborator in the project: www.bfw.gv.at/wp-content/u...

bfw.gv.at

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Join the second EvolTree Online Seminar of this November! On Wednesday, 27.11.2024, 14 CET, Jens-Christian Svenning @jcsvenning.bsky.social will talk about "A future-oriented, deep-time perspective on European woodlands". For more information and registration see here: www.evoltree.eu/webinars

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

New Evoltree webinars are coming this November! On Wednesday 13.11.2024, 14 CET, Catherine Kidner will talk about the "Hidden diversity and dynamics in rainforest trees". More information and registration here: evoltree.eu/webinars

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Sam Yeaman @samyeaman.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

I'm organizing a working group on the genetic basis of repeated adaptation, by zoom on October 22nd. Broad aim: use common methods to identify genes driving adaptation across many species of plants and animals. Please contact me for details! yeamanlab.weebly.com/repadapt.html

yeamanlab.weebly.com

RepAdapt

Do you want to contribute to a working group on the study of repeated adaptation? Overview The RepAdapt project began with a study of the genetic basis of repeated local adaptation in 25 species of.....

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Christian Rellstab @christian-rellstab.bsky.social · 05/09/2024

Our first outreach publication in the fourth Swiss national language (Rumantsch) is out! doi.org/10.55419/wsl... In this WSL factsheet, we present a detailed portrait of the iconic Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra). Also available in the three other national languages. www.wsl.ch/en/publicati...

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