PhD student

Department of Forest Ecology and Management
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/

Exploring effects of alternative ditch management strategies on greenhouse gas fluxes in drained boreal forests
Description:
Over 2 milion ha of land has been drained in Sweden during the past century to increase forest production. Today, we are facing an extensive network of mostly degraded ditches for which we require management strategies that are sustainable, ecological and climate-friendly.  

Within this context, a PhD student position for exploring how alternative management strategies for forestry on drained soils affect greenhouse gas exchanges is available at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU. The main goal of this PhD project is to improve our understanding of how restoring drained peatland forests (i.e. rewetting by ditch-blocking) and conducting post-harvest ditch cleaning in forest clear-cuts affect the CO2 and CH4 exchanges. The project is based on chamber and eddy covariance flux measurements supported by a comprehensive suit of environmental and vegetation data. The study site is the recently established Trollberget research infrastructure (www.slu.se/en/departments/field-based-forest-research/experimental-forests/vindeln-experimental-forests/trollberget/) which is located close to Vindeln (Västerbotten county) and provides a unique platform for addressing these research questions. The results from this project will create an urgently needed empirical database to guide management decisions towards sustainable and climate-friendly forestry.  

The candidate will join a larger recently funded research project that includes several graduate students and senior scientists that conduct research on the question how management decisions within boreal forestry on drained soils affect processes related to hydrology, biodiversity and biogeochemistry. Within this setting, the student will be given opportunities for cross-project collaborations and to explore additional areas of interest.  

Qualifications:
We are searching for a highly motivated student with a 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. A strong interest in and knowledge on the interactions between the carbon cycle and greenhouse gas exchanges with the global climate is required. Experience from studying the boreal peatland and/or forest carbon cycle is a desired merit. 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 also considered as strong merits. The candidate must be fluent in English to be able to interact in an English-speaking research and work environment. A driving license valid in Sweden is required for accessing the field sites.

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 at the latest June 1, 2022

Application:
We welcome your application no later than February 25, 2022, use the button below

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: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, 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) 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