Postdoc in Water Quality and Ecohydrology

The Department of Soil & Environment is a leading center for soil science, nationally and internationally. We conduct research, environmental monitoring & assessment and higher education for sustainable soil management in agricultural, forest and urban environments. Outcomes are aligned to and contribute towards national and international strategies on food security, national environmental objectives and climate reporting as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The majority of the department’s activities are located in the Soil-Water-Environment center at the SLU Ultuna campus in Uppsala with one research group situated in Skara.

Remediated agricultural ditches in Sweden: evaluation of ecological and chemical status and water quality at a catchment scale under current and future climate.
Duties:
The aim of this project is to evaluate if remediation can improve chemical and ecological status of agricultural streams and ditches in Sweden and thus help in reducing eutrophication. Remediation aims at widening of traditional narrow agricultural streams and ditches and therefore can increase water retention time and rates of biogeochemical processes that can remove excess nutrients and sediments from water. The project involves two tasks: 1) field sampling to gather information on hydrology, geomorphology, and chemical and ecological status of remediated and traditional ditches and 2) modelling in HEC-RAS to evaluate how different types of ditch remediation and different maintenance routines impact nutrient and sediment removal.

This new knowledge will help to form guidelines on how to effectively manage agricultural streams and ditches to reduce eutrophication and erosion. The work is part of a 3-year research project, which brings together scientists and stakeholders working on improving water quality in agricultural landscapes.

 The postdoc is expected to:


• conduct flow, water quality, and stream profile measurements
• conduct macroinvertebrate surveys and species identification
• perform statistical analysis of hydrochemical and ecological data
• calibrate and validate hydrochemical model
• publish and present high-quality science publications
• travel extensively within Sweden during fieldwork
• in addition, the candidate is expected to contribute to teaching and supervision in relation project activities, to interact with catchment and other stakeholders in sharing findings and contribute to sourcing new research funding.

Qualifications:
The applicant should have:


• a PhD in hydrology, biology, environmental science, ecology, water engineering or similar subjects
• evidence of relevant scientific publications and presentations
• practical knowledge of hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological methods
• experience in planning and conducting field and laboratory experiments
• proficiency in statistical tools
• excellent ability to communicate in both written and spoken English
• willingness to communicate with Swedish stakeholders
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work independently and in team
• driving license (B)

Skills in species identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates and hydrological and/or hydrochemical modelling are especially sought after.

This position is aimed for a junior researcher and we look for persons who finished their PhD at most five years ago.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 24 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
As soon as possible or according to agreement.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-04-30, use the button below.

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