Postdoc in forest entomology

Department of Ecology
Unit of Forest Entomology

The Department of Ecology conducts internationally strong empirical and theoretical research and education aimed towards sustainable forestry, agriculture and conservation. Our research on populations, communities and ecosystems form the basis of our research on the effects of land use and climate on animals, plants and soil. We aim at finding solutions that will contribute to improve greenhouse gas balances, conserve threatened species, support biodiversity and ecosystem services, sustainable wildlife management and pest management in forest and agricultural landscapes as well as in urban areas. At the department researchers work on a wide-range of subjects, i.e. ecosystems ecology, insect ecology, forest and agricultural ecology and landscape ecology. The strong connections to other research areas makes forest entomology at the Department of Ecology a unique research environment with a great potential for future development of forest ecology and protection in terms of intra- and interdisciplinary research.

Duties:
At the Unit of Forest Entomology we conduct research in the context of anthropogenic effects that already have and will continue to affect forest insects, like climate warming, increased trade and changes in land use. Understanding how forest insects are affected by such changes will provide us, in turn, with insights on how forest ecosystems will be altered by global changes and how we can mitigate the impact of such effects. Our work is driven by the ambition to reveal mechanisms behind variation in the distribution and abundance of forest insects to provide solid basis for decisions in the forest sector, contributing to the goal of sustainable forestry. Another driving force is our fascination for revealing the intricate interactions involving insects and plants.

We are seeking a postdoc that will work independently in a project on omnivore-mediated plant-defense induction. We will examine how omnivorous arthropod damage to plants can induce plant defenses and provide increased plant protection against pests. This will be examined with a series of lab and field experiments in Sweden and abroad in our collaborators’ respective institutions. The project requires advanced knowledge of omnivore behaviour and plant defense. Data analysis and writing up of results is expected to be performed by the researcher hired.

Qualifications:
You will have a PhD degree in ecology with emphasis on trophic interactions involving omnivores feeding on plants and insect prey. Theoretical and practical knowledge on omnivore behaviour and plant defense are required to complete the project. You will also have advanced data analysis and good scientific writing skills. You will work and participate in an active research team, but are expected to take initiative and drive the progress of the project independently.

Place of work:
Uppsala, campus Ultuna.

Form of employment:
Fixed term employment of 24 months (March 2022-March 2024), with possible extension.

Extent:
100%.

Starting date:
March, 2022.

Application:
Please press the button below to apply - latest date for application 2022-02-18.

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