Centre for Functional Ecology: Science for People & Planet

Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet (CFE) is a multidisciplinary research centre bringing together researchers from ecology, environmental and territorial sciences, social sciences and humanities. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge that supports biodiversity conservation, ecosystem functioning and sustainable development, in close alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda.

CFE adopts an integrative research approach spanning genes to biomes, combining experimental ecology, molecular and genomic tools, environmental assessment and socio-ecological perspectives to address complex global challenges such as climate change, soil and ecosystem health, biodiversity loss and sustainable land management. Disciplinary diversity is considered a core strength, enabling a systemic understanding of the interactions between People, territories and the Planet.

The centre comprises over 120 integrated PhD researchers and approximately 400 researchers organised into 10 strategic research groups, with strong cross-group collaboration as a defining feature. Two cross-cutting thematic lines—Open Science and the UNESCO Chair on Biodiversity Safeguard for Sustainable Development—reinforce CFE’s commitment to responsible research, international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

CFE provides an excellent training environment for MSCA fellows, offering strong supervision, access to advanced infrastructures, and a vibrant international research culture. Early-stage and postdoctoral researchers are fully integrated into research teams, project design and dissemination activities, benefiting from interdisciplinary training, transferable skills development, and international mobility opportunities through European and global networks.

A strong emphasis is placed on knowledge transfer and societal impact, with active engagement with policymakers, the private sector and local communities. Research outcomes contribute directly to environmental monitoring, conservation strategies, risk assessment and sustainable territorial management.

Through its research, training and outreach activities, CFE aims to push the boundaries of ecological science and its interfaces with technology and society, producing high-quality, impactful research in the spirit of Science for People & the Planet.