Phd student

Department of Forest Ecology and Management
The department includes about 100 people of which 11 are professors. Our mission is to advance the understanding of forest ecosystem processes and to progress the principles of forest ecosystem management. For more information: http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/

Assessing biodiversity patterns in managed and natural Swedish boreal forests

Description:
Society is actively debating the role of rotational forestry in delivering a multitude of ecosystem services, including biomass production, biodiversity, and climate benefits. These debates are based on incomplete information about how these ecosystem services are delivered across the full rotational time scale of managed forests relative to comparable timescale of young and old forests originating from natural wildfire disturbance.  We seek a new PhD student to work within an interdisciplinary project comparing ecosystem services in managed versus natural forests.  The project will focus upon two parallel chronosequences (forest age gradients), a wildfire and managed forest gradient. The PhD position will focus on assessing a variety of stand level biodiversity variables within this study system.  Biodiversity variables may include plants, lichens and fungi, as well as characterize forest structural attributes that may help to explain biodiversity patterns. The work may include traditional survey techniques as well as innovative approaches such as Lidar and Next Generation DNA sequencing. The position will complement work carried out by other project participants working on forest carbon stocks and fluxes, and as well as other variables relevant for understanding the climate impact of forestry.   

The main supervisor for the PhD student will be Professor Michael Gundale (SLU, Umeå) and Dr. Maja Sundqvist (SLU, Umeå) will be the co-supervisor.   

We seek a PhD student to use traditional survey methods, as well as novel technological approaches to assess forest biodiversity, with a focus primarily on Plants, Lichens, and Fungi. The work will be carried out in northern Sweden (Norrland and Västerbotten), and will require extensive field and lab work. The student is expected to develop at least 4 scientific papers focused on forest biodiversity and a PhD thesis.     

Qualifications:
We seek a motivated and enthusiastic individual with good oral and written communication skills. We also seek a candidate who can work effectively in a team environment. The candidate must have a completed MSc degree.  The ideal candidate would have a BSc and MSc degree in subjects such as Biology, Ecology, or a natural resource conservation related field. 

Place of work:      
Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment 4 years as a PhD student

Starting date:
Suggested start is August or September 2022 or according to agreement. 

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is March 30 2022.

The application should contain the following written in English: 1) a cover letter describing yourself and your interest and match for the above mentioned project; 2) a CV describing your education and relevant work experiences, as well as any publications, if any; and 3) names and contact information for three references; 4) degree certificates; 5) a copy of your Master’s Thesis.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses.

www.slu.se