Research position in Urban Forestry

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The Faculty of Technology strives to ensure that the vision of the Linnaeus University, with a focus on the keywords: Attractive knowledge environment, excellent research, social drive, and global values, is included in all activities. The Faculty of Technology has broad operations spanning ten different departments through which Linnaeus University provides education and conducts research. The faculty has approximately 3 100 students at the undergraduate and advanced levels, 90 doctoral students and 300 teaching staff including administration. More information can be found at: https://lnu.se/.

Subject area: Urban Forestry
Location: Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Växjö. Fieldwork will be located to Scania, in southern Sweden.
Terms of employment: Planned start date January 1st 2023. 100% position for 8 months.

Work description:
Trees in cities often grow under difficult circumstances with limited resources and a stressful environment. The below ground conditions therefore need to be well functioning both physically, chemically, and biologically. Many different solutions have been developed but few have been evaluated scientifically. The use of biochar in the planting pits/growth beds is gaining increasing interest as a way to improve the tree growth condition. This project will study the effects of biochar amendment to the establishment and growth of urban trees.

The aim of the project will be to study the effects of biochar on physiology, growth, and vitality of urban trees. The work includes soil and biochar analyses and physiological measurements of saplings and mature trees. The project will be a part of Rest till Bäst (biokol.org) and the experiments are included in the larger aim of that project. The position is a research position with the possibility to be involved in teaching and supervision at bachelor and master levels if the successful candidate is interested.

Qualifications
To become eligible for this position the applicant needs to have a doctoral degree in forestry, urban forestry, plant ecology, ecophysiology, plant physiology, soil science or equivalent. Further, the candidate needs to present documented scientific skills in the subject area described and the ability to communicate science in English is required. Much of the teaching at bachelor level is in Swedish and the ability to perform teaching in Swedish will be meriting.

Assessment criteria
The applicants will be assessed based on the scientific publications, knowledge and skills related to the work description, the ability to formulate and approach scientific problems, written and oral communication and cooperation skills.

The following will also be considered: ability to work with others, ambition, independence, and personal aptitude, as well as the applicant’s assessed ability, based on their own experience and competence, to successfully complete project.

Some of the work will be done in cooperation with urban tree owners and a good ability to cooperate with people deployed in this line of work is meriting for the position.

In the combined assessment the persons potential to become a senior scientist will be included.

Contact persons:
Docent Ann-Mari Fransson, annmari.fransson@lnu.se, +46 (0) 470-76 78 84
Head of Department Erika Olofsson, erika.olofsson@lnu.se, +46 (0) 470-70 89 99  
HR-partner: Jesper Pettersson, jesper.pettersson@lnu.se, +46 (0) 470-70 83 74 

Last day to apply is 30th September 2022


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. Your application should be designed according to the Template for application which can be found in the Guide to Appointment procedures under important documents below the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. Other documents, including various types of scientific works, must be submitted digitally along with the 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.