Doctoral student in ecology

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The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary department include the areas of aquatic ecology, cell and organism biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, environmental science and environmental engineering as well as disease ecology.

Field of subject for the appointment
Ecology/Marine Ecology

Project description
The increased pressure on marine/brackish ecosystems accentuates the need of integrated approaches for sustainable management of coastal areas. The PhD scholarship is part of a multidisciplinary project ALGOLAND, which aims to develop biological solutions to address major societal challenges such as climate change, eutrophication and food/feed production in the Baltic Sea region. Microalgae and blue mussels are ecosystem engineers. They can contribute to both climate change and eutrophication mitigation efforts by reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (microalgae) and extract nutrients from water (microalgae and mussels). The PhD project aims to evaluate and develop the recovery of nitrogen from various “waste” streams (leachate, process/sewage water, coastal seawater) used as algal cultivation substrate, and the recovery and valorization of phosphorus from wood ash and its potential use in algal cultivation. In parallel nutrient extraction by blue mussels in the coastal Baltic Sea will be assessed. The results will contribute to estimate the sustainability indices of these innovative biological solutions. The work includes a combination of laboratory experiments and field work at the ALGOLAND algal production pilot plants and operative mussel farms in the Kalmar Sound. The research will be conducted in collaboration with other scientists within the framework of the research programmes ALGOLAND and ECOCHANGE, the Linnæus Center of Excellence in Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS), international partners and governmental and private stakeholders.

Entry requirements
Eligible candidates will have


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A completed Master of Sciences degree or equivalent in Biology or Aquatic Ecology


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Completed courses equaling at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 at second-cycle level,


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or may have acquired principally equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.

Specific requirements within the field of ecology include




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A minimum of 120 higher education credits within biological subjects on first-cycle level or second-cycle level, 45 credits fields related to second-cycle education in ecology, including 30 credits independent project (thesis) in a related field on second-cycle level.


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Previous experience in plankton/marine ecology research


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Experience of research in phytoplankton/cyanobacterial research


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Very high proficiency in written and spoken English and Swedish


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Holding a driver’s license

Relative importance of assessment criteria

1. Experience in interdisciplinary research addressing societal challenges

2. Important personal qualities are to be creative, good at problem-solving, a team-worker, independent, resilient, and structured.

 Conditions of employment
In accordance to the Higher Education Ordinance, a PhD education is 4 years (48 months) of full-time research and training at third-cycle level. Evaluation of the PhD student is on an annual basis following the general and the individual study plan. At most 20 % of teaching and/or administration can be included in the position and the position will be extended accordingly. The position is located in Kalmar.

 The application (in English) should contain certified copies of all your academic courses and degrees, copies of your theses and any other relevant publications. Contact information of two academic  Candidates with experience in biological solutions for  Reference number 2016/2804-2.2.1



For further information about the position, please contact
Professor Catherine Legrand (catherine.legrand@lnu.se) +46480447309
Head of Department Per-Eric Betzholtz (per-eric.betzholtz@lnu.se), +46480446249;
Human Resources consultant Christian Andersson +46470708506.
Union representatives and the student union can be reached through the university switchboard, +4677228 8000.