Laboratory engineer for the Department of Soil and Environment

We at the Department of Soil and Environment conduct state-of-the-art research on the soil system in both national and international contexts. Our research focuses on fundamental soil properties and processes, as well as how soil functions are affected by changes in environmental conditions, including climate change. Through research, environmental analysis and education, we contribute knowledge about future sustainable land use and develop new solutions as a basis for decision-making in agriculture, forestry and the urban environment. The working environment at the department is international and we have around 100 employees.

Our research is carried out in seven subject groups with a focus on soil biology, soil nutrient cycling, soil chemistry, agricultural water management, soil and environmental physics, soil mechanics and soil management, and the biogeochemistry of forest soils. We are responsible for important research infrastructure in the form of soil chemistry and soil physics laboratories, an X-ray scanner, long-term field experiments, a lysimeter facility, and the field research stations at Lanna and Lövsta. The Department contributes to approximately 30 courses at undergraduate and advanced level.

We are a part of the Soil, Water and Environment Center at SLU (MVM-center), which provides links to environmental monitoring and research on water systems, recycling and bioenergy. Our work is aligned to national environmental and climate goals as well as to the Sustainable Development Goals. We are situated at Campus Ultuna in Uppsala and in Skara.


Inquisitive and responsible laboratory engineer for soil physics laboratory
We are looking for an inquisitive and responsible laboratory engineer for the Soil Physics Laboratory, to participate in our research in soil physical characteristics and processes in agricultural and forest soils.

Duties:
You will be part of a team at the Department of Soil and Environment laboratories with activities in research and routine soil sample analyses. Specifically, you will be responsible for work in the Soil Physics Laboratory. This means:


• Take responsibility for the Soil Physics Laboratory's analysis activities together with the activity manager
• Coordinate work in the Soil Physics Laboratory with other laboratory activities together with the Laboratory Manager
• Be responsible for sample preparation and analyses in the Soil Physics Laboratory including receiving, registering, performing and reporting analysis results and having customer contact (internal and external)
• Plan and carry out maintenance of analysis equipment if necessary
• Participate in quality assurance and development work of Soil Physics Laboratory analyses
• Report activities and carry out administration
• Ordering materials needed in laboratory operations
• To carry out sample preparation and analysis tasks at the Department of Soil and Environment other laboratories if necessary

To be suitable for the role, we believe that you are inquisitive and have a desire to adapt to new business needs that take place in a research environment. You must have a structured way of working to be able to coordinate and prioritize the tasks of the l Soil Physics Laboratory. We are looking for a communicative team player who contributes to a positive working climate. At the same time, you must demonstrate that you can plan and carry out analyses accurately and autonomously as part of the activities that are within your responsibility.

Qualifications:
For this position, applicants must have:


• Post-secondary degree (BSc , MSc or equivalent) in natural sciences subject
• Previous experience in laboratory operations
• Fluent in Swedish and English, both spoken and written
• B driving license

  Meritorious is if you have:


• Experience in soil analyses, preferably from a research laboratory
• Training and/or experience in soil analyses methodologies or field monitoring /measurements in agriculture or forestry

It is important that you have a flexible approach and can adapt to new circumstances and make new priorities when developing tasks and activities. We pay great attention to personal suitability.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Permanent with 6 months trial employment.

This position is initially to replace colleague on parental leave, and will be developed for responsibilities forward.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
As soon as agreed.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2023-04-21, use the button below.

Submit your application as soon as possible as we continuously make selections and have interviews for the position with suitable candidates.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

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