Postdoctor in eco-epidemiology

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies
The Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies (VFM) is part of the Faculty of Forest Sciences at SLU. Our department is based in Umeå and our research activities extend throughout Sweden and beyond. Our areas of focus are research, education, and environmental analysis (FOMA) within our four focus areas: aquatic ecology, molecular ecology, restoration ecology (terrestrial and aquatic environments) and animal ecology. Activities of VFM contribute to meeting national commitments for terrestrial and aquatic habitat and are needs-driven and open to collaboration both nationally and internationally. VFM has about 70 employees and a turnover of about 60 million per year. Our employees come from more than 10 countries, which contributes to an international and welcoming atmosphere. According to the policy of SLU, employees are our most important resource for realizing the visions and goals of our university. This means making the best use of and developing human resources.

More information is available on the website of our department: https://www.slu.se/institutioner/vilt-fisk-miljo/

The Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environment, SLU, Umeå, is seeking a post-doctoral researcher with a focus on eco-epidemiology.

The position involves work in the subject area of animal ecology

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/

Duties:
The post-doctoral researcher will work within a large-scale EU Horizon Europe project evaluating the impacts of nature-based solutions (nature and biodiversity restoration) on infectious disease risk. In 11 case study areas in Europe, South America, and East Africa, our consortium will test the “biodiversity is good for your health” hypothesis, identifying generalities and exceptions in disease–biodiversity relationships.

The interventions range from installing raptor and owl perches and nestboxes, reforestation, wetland restoration, and urban sanitation and greening. The project, which started in September 2022, will use both longitudinal and space-for-time approaches will be used to quantify environmental, ecological, and epidemiological changes resulting from nature restoration and other public health interventions.

The main tasks of the post-doctoral researcher will be, by working closely with consortium members in the different case studies, to synthesize and analyze already available and newly collected data to test whether and under what conditions does restoration of biodiversity leads to lower disease risk. The researcher will also participate in data collection in the Swedish case study.

Through this project, EU Horizon Europe project BEPREP (Identification of best practices for biodiversity recovery and public health interventions to prevent future epidemics and pandemics), You will work in an international research environment and collaborate with leading researchers and research groups in Europe and the world.

Qualifications:
You have a PhD degree in disease ecology or epidemiology. You have knowledge and experience in study design and developing study protocols and standard operating procedures, and are good at coordinating activities and multitasking. You are experienced in statistical analysis in R and database management. We look for a candidate with good writing and excellent communication skills, is able to work in different scientific and social/cultural contexts, and is proactive.

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, Sweden

Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 24 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
According to agreement. 

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-11-24, 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