Postdoc in forest restoration ecology

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Sciences, Umeå Postdoc in forest restoration ecology SLU develops the understanding and sustainable use of biological natural resources.This is achieved through research, teaching, environmental monitoring and assessment and information extension.SLU has 3000 employees, 4200 undergraduate and postgraduate students.Main campuses are located at Alnarp, Skara, Umeå and Uppsala www.slu.se Habitat and species loss in forest ecosystems has become a major issue in conservation biology.Swedish forestry is one of the most intensive and technically developed in the world, which unfortunately has lead to a decrease in many forest organisms.To maintain biodiversity it is no longer possible to rely on passive conservation measures.An increase of the protected forest area in combination with ecological restoration measures are needed to fulfil Swedish environmental goals for forest biodiversity.The aim with this project is to evaluate ecological effects and cost efficiency of two different restorations methods developed for low-quality voluntary forest set-asides: prescribed burning and selective cutting combined with dead wood creation to emulate gap-dynamics.We will evaluate how these two restoration methods influence a variety of organism groups (e.g.mammals, insects, fungi, lichens, mosses and vascular plants).The project is conducted in close collaboration with the Swedish forest company Holmen skog and is a part of the research programme Future Forest www.futureforests.se Required qualifications: The Postdoc position (stipend) is available for one year with a possibility for prolongation one additional year.Applicants for the Postdoc should have a solid ecological background, for example PhD in Biology or Forestry.Experience and interest in conservation biology and knowledge in one or more of the organism groups studied (saproxylic insects and wood fungi in particular) is valuable but not necessary.SLU is an equal opportunity employer.The salary is based on your individual qualifications. (SEKO) Submit your application, labelled with the reference number 327/10 no later than February 22, 2010 to "Registrator", SLU, Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.Include in the application an academic CV with contact details.The CV should also include the name, phone number and e-mail of two referents.