Phd position

Department of Forest Ecology and Management
A PhD student position for exploring peatland greenhouse gas exchanges is available at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU. 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/

Name of research project/thesis:
Exploring boreal peatland greenhouse gas exchanges in response to climate and vegetation controls using an automated chamber system

Description:
The main goal of this PhD project is to improve our understanding of the peatland net CO2 and CH4 exchanges as well as their separate component fluxes (i.e. production, consumption and respiration) in response to climate and vegetation controls. The project is based on high temporal resolution measurements of these underlying component fluxes using an automated chamber system supported by a comprehensive suit of environmental and vegetation data. Ultimately, these detailed data will be used to further improve a state-of-the-art process-based wetland carbon cycle model. The study site is the Degerö peatland field station (www.slu.se/en/departments/field-based-forest-research/experimental-forests/vindeln-experimental-forests/degero_stormyr/) which is located close to Vindeln (Västerbotten county) and combines the ICOS (www.icos-sweden.se/station_degero.html) and SITES (www.slu.se/en/departments/field-based-forest-research/experimental-forests/vindeln-experimental-forests/) research infrastructures.  

The candidate will join a collaborative group of graduate students and senior scientists conducting unique research in boreal peatland and forests ecosystems. The student will be given opportunities for cross-project collaborations and to use existing data to explore additional areas of interest.

Qualifications:
We are searching for a highly motivated student with the following qualifications:


• MSc degree in Environmental Sciences, Physical Geography, Ecology or any related field
• The candidate must have good communication skills, a strong work ethic, be a team player and work well in a research environment
• The candidate must be fluent in English to be able to interact in an English-speaking work environment
• A driving license valid in Sweden is required for accessing the field sites
• Ability to conduct field work and interest in solving technical challenges related to instrument maintenance is required
• Previous knowledge of the peatland carbon cycle and its main drivers is desired
• Experience with field data collection methods (ideally from flux chamber measurements) and computer program skills (Matlab, R) for handling large, high-frequency data sets are considered as strong merits         

Place of work:   
Umeå

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

Starting date:
The position start date is flexible but is anticipated to be April-June 2022

Application:
We welcome your application no later than December 20 2021, use the button below.

A person has basic eligibility for third cycle education if he or she has taken a second cycle qualification or has completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at second cycle education. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.

Students interested in this position should send a statement of interest outlining relevant research qualifications and a CV including contact information for three academic references

Selection among applicants meeting the requirements is made with reference to written application including curriculum vitae, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, one copy of the dissertation for masters or undergraduate degree, a list of at least three references familiar with the applicant's qualifications, certified knowledge of the English language and an interview.

Please observe that applicant/s chosen to participate in an interview shall hand in certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or university college) and transcripts in connection to the interview. If the applicant is a foreign citizen we require a certified copy of the page in your passport with your personal data and photography.

Full funding is available for 4 years and the holder of the position is expected to achieve a PhD degree at the end of this project period.

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) develops the understanding and sustainable use and management of biological natural resources. The university ranks well internationally within its subject areas. SLU is a research-intensive university that also offers unique degree programmes in for example rural development and natural resource management, environmental economics, animal science and landscape architecture.

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 in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala.

www.slu.se

SLU is an equal opportunity employer.