PhD student position in Agricultural and Food Economics

Department of Economics
Are you looking for an exciting PhD position in agricultural and food 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”. This position is linked to a research theme with a focus on agriculture’ transition towards sustainable production approaches.

Description:
A transition to fossil-free agriculture is probably the most important measure of all to achieve a long-term sustainable food supply. But even if this is supported by a number of national and international target documents and agreements, there is today very little knowledge about how the process of achieving fossil free agricultural production should actually be carried out in reality.

We are looking for a PhD student who would like to focus on how Swedish agriculture can transition to fossil-free production approaches, in particular by focusing on economic drivers and consequences of the transition, behavioral drivers and on how political measures can be designed to support a transition. The work is part of a larger interdisciplinary project that studies the transition to fossil-free agriculture from an environmental as well as economic and social perspective. You will work closely together with a PhD student in the subject area technology (placed at the Department of Energy and Technology, SLU) who focuses on how different fuel and system choices affect the resulting climate effects of the transition. As a PhD student in economics, you are expected to carry out supervised research leading to a PhD thesis as well as taking PhD courses to the equivalent of 90 credits. 

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 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 production, 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:
Basic eligibility for third cycle education in Economics. The successful applicant is expected to possess basic knowledge related to research methods in Agricultural and Food Economics or in other related fields. The position requires very good communication skills in English. The successful applicant should be strongly motivated to work with tasks 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. Advanced knowledge related to statistical analyses will be considered of merit, as will an understanding about the Swedish food system. Personal merits will play a significant role in the recruitment process.

Place of work:      
Uppsala

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years)

Starting date:
According to agreement. 

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2022-03-31.

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