Industry and collaboration PhD student in drought resistance biology

The Research school in Future Silviculture:
Sweden is a country where forests have been and still are of great importance. The use and utilization of the forest is an issue where the balance between forest production and the environment is in focus. Growth in Swedish forests has declined over the past 15 years. In order to both sustainably use and safeguard forest biodiversity, a coherent basic science research program is needed that addresses large and complex issues and develops new analytical tools. It is against this background that the Research School in Future Silviculture is established with a focus on the future sustainable use of forests. The Research School Future Silviculture is part of the Wallenberg Initiative in Forest Research (WIFORCE) at SLU and around 50 doctoral students will be admitted to the Research School. Would you like to make a difference for the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join the Research School in Future Silviculture!

We are looking for an industry/collaboration-based PhD student in drought resistance biology. The doctoral studies will be performed at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, which is part of Umeå Plant science Centre (UPSC), at SLU in Umeå. The employment will be with Sveaskog, where the PhD student will gain practical work experience. The doctoral student will be supervised by M. Rosario Garcia Gil (Senior Lecturer, SLU), Nathaniel Street (Umeå University, Fredrik Klang (Sveaskog), Oskar Skogström (Sveaskog) and Johanna Gårdebrink (Sveaskog). 

Research subject:
Biology

Description:
The forests in Sweden are facing challenges due to anthropogenic climate change, with temperatures projected to increase by 5°C by 2100. This will raise the frequency and severity of drought events, impacting the survival of seedlings and overall forest productivity. With 85% of annually planted spruce coming from seed orchards, soon to be 100%, the current breeding model prioritizes yield and wood quality over resilience to future climate conditions. Consequently, existing plant material is not optimized for anticipated climate changes, affecting forest ecology, societal well-being, biodiversity, and the economy. Urgent measures are needed to include drought tolerance in breeding programs and identify suitable parent plants for future planting in drought-prone regions. 

You will work in seed orchards and controlled greenhouse experiments, using techniques such as transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics, and remote sensing. The objective is to generate new insights into the genetic mechanisms controlling drought adaptation in pine and spruce and to develop tools for assessing drought tolerance. 

Qualifications:
We are looking for someone interested in forest genetics, bioinformatics, tree physiology (drought), and remote sensing. A MSc degree, or equivalent is required, in a subject relevant for the project position in, biology, bioinformatics, plant physiology, genetics, or statistics.

Applicants must meet certain English language requirements. For students from Swedish high schools, this means English B/English 6. Alternatively, applicants must hold an internationally recognized English qualification (TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge ESOL). For more information, see: www.universityadmissions.se

It is desirable to have a fundamental understanding of the boreal forest ecosystem. Experience with remote sensing methods is advantageous. Knowledge of Swedish and a swedish or international driving license is desirable.

We will place great emphasis on personal suitability. 

Place of work:      
Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:
Doctoral student position at SLU

5-year employment at Sveaskog with 80% study activity as a doctoral student (4 years) and 20% time for industrial practice at Sveaskog (1 year)

Starting date:
According to agreement

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2024-08-19.

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: https://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/application-admission-doctoral-studies/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, 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) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.