PhD student in microbial ecology

Department of forest mycology and plant pathology
A PhD student position in microbial ecology is available at the Department of forest mycology and plant pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. The department provides a dynamic and international research environment comprising experts who conduct fundamental and applied research in plant-microbe interactions, mycology, microbial ecology and evolution, as well as biodiversity. Central themes are forest and plant pathology, and nutrient and carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Resources within the department include a well-equipped molecular ecology research laboratory and a high-performance computing grid with in-house technical support.

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/

Research subject: Biology
Description:
This position is part of a larger research program aiming to challenge and increase the current undertanding of nitrogen cycling and the mechanisms controlling availability and losses of nitrogen, including emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.

The PhD student will do research on functional community ecology of nitrogen cycling microorganisms in soil. The work will involve designing and carrying out experiments as well as laboratory work for measuring composition and functioning of the soil microbiome combined with bioinformatical and statistical analyses. Writing scientific publications in collaboration with the supervisors and collaborators and communicating research is an essential part of the work.

The PhD student will work within the Soil Microbiology group that works as a well-integrated team and is internationally recognized in the areas of evolution, ecology and genomics of nitrogen cycling microorganisms as well as how to apply this knowledge in sustainable agricultural and environmental engineering.

The student will carry out supervised research leading to a PhD thesis and take PhD courses corresponding to a minimum of 30 higher education credits.

Qualifications:
You should have an MSc degree in microbiology, biology, ecology, or soil science. Formal training in bioinformatics, molecular evolution, and statistics are merits as well as documented knowledge in microbial ecology. The working language is English and excellent communication skills in English orally and in writing are required. We are looking for a candidate that is highly motivated, organized and inquisitive, and interested in academic research. You should like to work in a team and contribute positively to the development of the research environment.

Place of work:           
Uppsala

Forms of employment:
Employment as a PhD-student, 4 years

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
January 2025 or as agreed.

Application
Click the “Apply” button below to submit your application. The deadline is 2024-10-28.

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: https://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/application-admission-doctoral-studies/english-language-requirements/

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