Postdoctoral position, Carbon and water fluxes in boreal forests

Department of Forest Ecology and Management  
Do you want to be part of the future that shapes sustainable use forests? We are recruiting a three year post doc to focus on carbon and water fluxes in boreal forests. This post doc is part of the research program Future Silviculture, in the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (https://www.slu.se/en/Collaborative-Centres-and-Projects/wiforce/about-us/) and will bridge the gap between fundamental and applied science in forest management. You will be part of this research program, focused on research linking how trees, soil, and landscapes function to research on sustainable use of forests, with the aim to develop future forest management practices. 

Boreal forests are globally important sinks for carbon. However, climate change is progressing most rapidly in northern latitudes, and the consequences of an altered water balance for the boreal forest carbon cycle are uncertain. Furthermore, a detailed understanding of the coupling between the boreal forest carbon and water cycles from stand to the managed landscape scale is currently lacking. This project will fill this knowledge gap by integrating data on carbon and water fluxes across the boreal forest landscape. The project is led by Professor Matthias Peichl (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU) with support from a co-supervision team that includes experts in hydrology, tree physiology, vegetation ecology and soil sciences. 

About the position  
We seek a postdoc to focus on exploring the coupling of the carbon and water balances in response to drought and management for boreal forests in northern Sweden. The post doc will work with a decade-long record of eddy-covariance (EC) flux measurements in contrasting boreal forests, which includes the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) ecosystem station Svartberget located within the Krycklan catchment and the nearby Rosinedal long-term fertilization experimental sites. The project will develop estimates of forest-floor, ecosystem and landscape scale fluxes and its underlying controls based on below-canopy, conventional and tall-tower EC measurements, respectively. Thus, the post-doc is expected to process and analyze EC data from several measurement systems, and integrate already existing datasets into publishable manuscripts

Your profile 
The successful candidate must have:

- a PhD in a discipline such as Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Forestry, or any other area relevant for the postdoc project.

- Knowledge of micrometeorological theory and skills in processing, analyzing and publishing flux data from eddy covariance measurements, as evidenced through relevant first-authored publications.

- Very good command of the English language is also required, both written and spoken.

- Previous knowledge of the boreal forest carbon and water cycles are considered as a merit

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.

About us  
The Post Doc will be employed at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Umeå and is funded for three years. The department includes about 115 people of which 9 are professors. Our mission is to advance the understanding of forest ecosystems and how these should be managed today and in the future. For more information: http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:
Umeå

Form of employment:  
Temporary employment 36 months

Scope:
100%

Start date:
Spring 2025, according to agreement

Application:
Please submit your application before deadline February 11 2025 You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Your application should be written in English, and contain: (1) A cover letter summarizing your research accomplishments and how you could contribute to the research project, (2) Curriculum Vitae, (3) Publication list, (4) Transcripts of relevant degree certificates and publications, and (5) Contact details of 2-3 references

Union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 


The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.