PhD position in agricultural and food economics

Department of Economics
Are you looking for an exciting PhD position in Agricultural Economics? Would you like to work in a dynamic research group with several ongoing disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations? Are you highly motivated to undertake PhD training?

The Department of Economics at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) invites applications for a PhD student to join its research group “Agricultural and Food Economics”.

SLU is a world-class university in the fields of life and environmental sciences, with a vision to play a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Within this framework, the Department of Economics provides an important platform for research and teaching in Economics and Business studies. The teaching activities are centered around educational programmes at Bachelor and Master level. The research departs from four thematic fields, where agricultural and food economics is one.

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/

Description:
The position is primarily embedded in the Horizon Europe project “AnalysinG of fossil-ENergy dependence in agriculture to increase RESilience against input price fluctuations (AgEnRes)”. AgEnRes designs sustainable pathways for policy making to reduce direct and indirect dependence of farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole on fossil fuels and synthetic fertilisers produced from fossil fuels, and to increase the resilience of agriculture to volatile energy prices, taking into account farmers’ behaviour and the synergies and trade-offs between European economic and environmental objectives at micro- and macro-level.

The PhD will collaborate closely with colleagues in the department of economics as well as with our researcher colleagues from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies in Germany, and the University of Trento in Italy who are partners in AgEnRes. In addition, the position may be partly linked to other externally funded research projects. In addition to the research project, tasks include courses at PhD level (90 HEC). PhD training at SLU is a four year programme.

The position will be placed within the research group Agricultural and Food Economics at the Department of Economics, SLU. In this group, the successful candidate will be offered a stimulating context with colleagues who focus on various aspects of agricultural and food economics, including production economics, consumer economics, agricultural and food policy, and trade. The topics of interest in the group add to the literature in agricultural economics and related fields. We have vivid disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary collaborations, for instance with researchers in technology, crop ecology, animal health and veterinary epidemiology. The group currently consists of about 20 staff-members, including several PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, senior researchers, research assistants, a senior lecturer and a professor.

Qualifications:
Eligability for third cycle education in Economics. The successful applicant is expected to have a solid background in empirical research methods and quantitative data analysis related to agricultural and food economics or to economics in general.

Familiarity with efficiency analysis in production economics or advanced econometrics are a merit, but not a formal requirement. Good knowledge of the agri-food sector is also a merit. The position requires excellent communication skills in English. The successful applicant should be strongly motivated to work within the framework of the European research project outlined above. She/he is expected to work to establish own initiatives to move the PhD project forward and to work well in a research team. Personal merits will play a significant role in the recruitment process.

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. The specific entry requirement for the subject of economics is at least 90 HEC within economics-related subjects, with at least 30 HEC awarded at second-cycle level (see syllabus for doctoral programme in economics). Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement.

Place of work:      
Uppsala

Forms for funding or employment:
PhD employment (4 years)

Starting date:
According to agreement

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 7 January 2024.

Application should contain: (1) a personal letter (no more than two pages), (2) tentative research questions/ideas that you would like to address within the framework of the project (not more than one page), (3) a curriculum vitae, (4) copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, (5) one copy of the dissertation for masters or undergraduate degree, (6) contact information of at least two references familiar with the applicant's qualifications, and (7) certified knowledge of the English language.

Read more about PhD education at SLU

Academic union representatives:
Union representatives at SLU



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.