Postdoctoral fellow in marine ecology

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The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary department include the areas of aquatic ecology, cell and organism biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, environmental science and environmental engineering as well as disease ecology.

Field of subject for the position: Marine ecology

Placement: Kalmar

Extent and period: Agreement on temporary employment as a postdoctoral fellow, full time for two years as soon as the position can be filled.

Work description

The postdoc will work on the multidisciplinary project “A Multi-Use Offshore Platform in Kårehamn windpark (Baltic Sea)”. In brief, we explore the feasibility of adding aquaculture systems for blue mussels and seaweed settlement around the wind turbine foundations to mitigate eutrophication, reduce carbon emissions, create fish habitat, increase biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, reduce the risk of conflict of spatial use (tourism, fishing), and stimulate social acceptability of blue economy. The project addresses major societal challenges such as climate change, eutrophication, marine conservation, shared resources, and sustainable development in the Baltic Sea region. The postdoc will work in the research group Marine Plankton Ecology and Application, and in close collaboration with various organisations and researchers within biology, ecology, environmental science, marine technology, AI-innovation, sustainable development and economy.

We seek a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with a strong background in marine ecology, industrial ecology, and/or environmental restoration. The work involves exploring nutrients and carbon recovery by blue crops (mussels, seaweed, vascular plants) to contribute to reduced carbon emissions and mitigate eutrophication at a pilot scale offshore in the Baltic Sea. It will also include underwater survey of the environmental impact of the MUOP at the windfarm using biotechnological solutions and AI-based drone-platform-ROV.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with other scientists at the Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Systems (EEMiS) (ecology, evolution, and microbiology), the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment Water (blue bioeconomy, tourism, business), and the Faculty of Business, Innovation & Sustainability at Halmstad University.

Entry requirements

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position (e.g. ecology, applied environmental technology or other closely related field with experience of marine restoration), completed no more than three years before the application deadline. Applicants must not have previously been employed as a postdoctoral fellow with the support of the agreement for more than a year in the same or related subject area at Linnaeus University.

Additional assessment criteria:


• Documented experience of writing scientific reports & and publishing in academic journals


• Documented experience of working interdisciplinary with other researchers


• Very high proficiency in academic writing and spoken English


• Documented experience of marine biomass quality analysis, aquatic system restoration and multivariate statistics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Baltic Sea pelagic ecosystem and real-time environmental monitoring


• B-drivers licence

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the group, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

For more information, please contact

Prof. Catherine Legrand (Catherine.legrand@lnu.se) +46-(0)480- 447309; Dr. Elin Lindehoff (elin.lindehoff@lnu.se) +46(0)-480-447359; Head of Department Jonas Waldenström (jonas.waldenstrom@lnu.se), +46-(0)480-446249; or Personnel Officer Marianne Palmer, +46-(0)480-447303.

Please notice that applications should arrive no later than 7 december, 2022.

The application in English should contain a CV (with the applicant's phone number and e-mail and contact details including phone number and e-mail of two reference persons), a cover letter describing personal motivation and relevant experiences, documentation of exams and grades, copy of passport as well as any other documentation that the applicant wishes to present.


Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the Apply button at the bottom of the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. The application and other documents to be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.