Researcher - to reduce deer – human conflicts

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies
 

The Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies (WFE), SLU, Umeå, is looking for a researcher with strong interests in the ecology and management of deer. She/he will work within a project that will test if and how artificial fear landscapes can reduce conflicts between deer and humans by scaring deer off cropland or forestland. Many parts of Europe are experiencing strong increases in deer populations. While this is celebrated as a conservation success, this also leads to conflicts between deer and land owners, such as farmers and forest owners. Hunting is a widely used method to reduce such human-deer conflicts, but is not always effective. In this project, you will contribute to the development of additional tools to reduce these conflicts, more specifically scaring tools that use predator sounds or other risk cues.

The department offers a creative, stimulating, and highly international environment and performs internationally recognised research, education and environmental monitoring in the research areas: animal ecology, aquatic ecology, molecular ecology and restoration ecology (see https://www.slu.se/en/departments/wildlife-fish-environmental-studies/research/). The department has many international employees and well-established national and international collaborations, which gives opportunities for fruitful exchange.

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 successful candidate will perform a systematic literature review to assess how deer respond to different types of cues (visual, olfactory, acoustic) that signal risk from predators and humans. The review will focus on the full geographic extent of the world’s common deer species. You will then translate these findings into expectations for what type of artificial landscape of fear could most effectively alleviate human-wildlife conflict.

Qualifications:
Applicants should hold a PhD in ecology. You should have a strong track-record of studying the ecology of deer and their ecological impacts. Experience with ecosystems in different parts of Europe and/or the world will be an advantage due to the global focus of the review. We expect you to have strong experience with complex statistical models and with systematic reviews of scientific literature. The successful applicant frequently publishes in high-quality journals. A track record of successful grant acquisition will be seen as a merit. We are looking for a highly motivated and team-oriented candidate.

Place of work:
Umeå

Form of employment:
Temporary employment, 6 months

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
1 January 2023 or according to agreement

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2022-11-15, 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