Postdoc, Biodiverse buffers

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/

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/

Riparian forests are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in boreal forests, at the same time as they are among the most affected by modern forestry practice. The sustainable management of riparian forests along waterways is instrumental to the protection of biodiversity and water quality. Historic forest management and fire suppression has led to a dominance of Norway spruce in riparian zones in Sweden. When mature spruce trees are left as narrow buffers, they often blow down which recruits deadwood, but simultaneously decreases shade and increases erosion on the stream banks. To avoid those negative effects, it has become common to perform thinning of all merchantable spruce in riparian buffers that are highly prone to windthrow, and leave all deciduous trees. Not only does this reduce windthrow, but might promote diversity of tree species in riparian zones that is likely beneficial for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of streams and riparian zones in general. Nevertheless, in spruce-dominated sites, there is often little to no forested buffer left after this type of management and it is not known how this affects biodiversity and ecological functions.

This project is funded by Stora Enso and will support a postdoctoral fellow for 2-years. The postdoc will be supervised by Eliza Maher Hasselquist and Lenka Kuglerová, and will meet with the Stora Enso Reference Group every six months.  

Duties:
This project will address the contemporary buffer management along small streams and their relation to ecosystem functions, with specific focus on biodiversity. The work will include measurements in riparian forests before and after they become buffers, detailed inventories of biodiversity parameters in buffers of different configurations, development an assessment protocol for riparian buffer quality and/or addressing landscape scale biodiversity patterns through integrated riparian quality-biodiversity relationships.  

Qualifications:


• The candidates must have a PhD awarded in the fields of environmental sciences, biology, ecology, forestry, or a closely related subject at the time of decision of employment (CAN apply before PhD is complete).
• Demonstrated experience with identifying macroinvertebrates and/or vascular plants including data processing and interpretation.
• The candidates must be able to independently conduct field work, which also requires a driver's license
• The candidates must be fluent in English to be able to write, communicate and interact in an English-speaking environment.
• The candidates must have documented experience in writing and publishing scientific articles
• Experience in either one or more of the following is considered a merit: analysis of community data with multivariate techniques, as well as skills in GIS, and R.

As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at most.


Place of work:
Umeå

Field work could potentially take place throughout Sweden, May-October.

Form of employment:
Temporary employment 24 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
Summer 2023 – Latest September 1, 2023

Application:
We welcome your application no later than April 11 2023, use the button below.

1) Cover letter demonstrating the applicants motivation and interest in the topic (max 2 pages, in English) 2) C.V., including the date of disputation, the list of published work (if any), and names and contact information for three references 3) Copies of transcripts of academic records 4) A copy of doctoral thesis ( in english or swedish)

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