PhD student in restoration ecology

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies
We are seeking a PhD student for a collaborative project between SLU and Stora Enso’s Forest Division. The project is part of a larger research initiative between SLU and Stora Enso on 5 Ph D students and 5 post docs, which opens opportunities for external collaboration where we can learn more about forestry.

This PhD position offer an opportunity to work with species conservation, forest ecology and ecological restoration in restoration experiments targeting species associated with deciduous forest and pine forest. In boreal landscapes that are intensively managed for wood production, protection of remnant old-growth forest patches has proven insufficient to mitigate negative effects of forestry on biodiversity. Consequently, there is a need for restoring natural disturbance regimes and accelerate the formation of structures known to be important for biodiversity conservation. Cost efficient utilization of voluntary set-asides, that are well distributed in the forest landscape and covers a substantial percentage of the productive land area, for conservation purposes in combination with adaptive management in some production stands could serve as an important tool for mitigation negative effects on biodiversity and potentially be a sustainable way to combine environmental and production goals in the forest. The aim with this project is therefore to assess the effect of different restoration methods on biodiversity (target species as well as co-occurring non-target species) in voluntary set asides and production stands.

The PhD student will work at the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies and become a part of a strong research environment in focusing on restoration ecology, both by empirical studies and large-scale field experiments (see https://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/research/research-areas/restoration-ecology/).

At the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Sciences in Umeå, Sweden we offer a creative and stimulating environment and perform internationally recognised basic and applied research, education and environmental monitoring in the areas of biodiversity restoration and conservation, fish biology, wildlife ecology and zoonosis. The department has a large proportion of international employees and well established national and international cooperation which gives opportunities for fruitful exchange.

Forest restoration and management for biodiversity: efficiency and trade-offs between competing goals
Description:
Work tasks involves data collection in the field, data analyses, reviewing and synthesizing existing knowledge and scientific writing as part of a larger research group. The study will mainly focus on two different restoration efforts 1) Restoration of decidouous forest for the white backed wood-pecker, 2) Restoration of pine forest for species associated with old pines and sun-exposed dead wood. A third task will be to perform a literature review of the effects of different restoration methods on biodiversity. One year of the PhD will be spent working on the development of Key Performance Indicators for biodiversity conservation within Stora Enso.

Qualifications:
Master degree in biology or equivalent. Good knowledge in forest ecology, biodiversity conservation and statistics as well as field and lab work experience and taxonomic knowledge on e.g., beetles, lichens or wood fungi is meriting. The applicant must be highly motivated and be able to work independently as well as a part of the research group. The candidate must have excellent english skills both in writing and orally. Drivers licence is desirable.

Place of work:      
Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years)

Starting date:
Spring 2020. According to agreement

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2020-03-26, 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.

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 two 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.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/postgraduate-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.