PhD Student

SLU develops knowledge about our biological natural resources - everything that lives and grows.At SLU we conduct research, teach and inform about the opportunities, and possible risks incurred, when using our forests, landscapes, soils and animals in different ways.SLU offers a broad spectrum of educational programmes and single subject courses.About 3 300 undergraduates and 800 postgraduate students are enrolled at SLU.A total of 3 200 people are employed at the University.Main campuses are located at Alnarp, Skara, Ultuna and Umeå.Research and teaching activities are carried out throughout the country. www.slu.se www.ma.slu.se Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Environmental Assessment, Uppsala PhD Student in aquatic biogeochemistry with focus on forestry effects on mercury export from soils to surface waters The Department of Environmental Assessment is a centre for freshwater and forest soil research with a special focus on environmental monitoring and assessment.The department also performs teaching and gives expert support to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, SEPA.At present the department consists of some 65 employees; ca 25 of which are senior and post-doc scientists and some 10 PhD students.The department is divided into four research sections: geochemistry, biodiversity, organic environmental pollutants and modelling, and covers program areas such as (i) environmental monitoring and assessment, (ii) environmental pollutants, and (iii) integrated catchment monitoring.We now would like to enlarge our research group by announcing a Ph D Student position in aquatic biogeochemistry.There are strong indications that forestry operations are contributing to the unacceptably high levels of mercury found in the fish of many Swedish lakes.The doctoral student's research will seek to identify the effect of forestry operations on Hg methylation and mobilization using a whole-catchment manipulation approach.The research will focus on the ways in which site disturbance changes the biogeochemical and hydrological controls on the cycling of mercury in the forest landscape.The results will be used to refine guidance to the forestry sector about how to mitigate the contribution of forest operations to mercury in freshwater fish.We seek for a dedicated candidate with a degree in environmental science or engineering.Specialization in biogeochemistry is desirable.PhD study programmes leading to a doctorate include a minimum of four years of full-time studies after your undergraduate degree.To be admitted as a postgraduate student, you must already have a degree from at least a three-year university course.SLU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications, marked with ref no 1676/07, should include curriculum vitae, copies of degrees and transcripts of academic records, a list of at least two references familiar with the applicant's qualifications and any other relevant documents. The application must have arrived at the Registrar of SLU, P.O.Please note that you need to send in a separate application for each position you are applying for.