Researcher - wildlife animal mapping during dark in Sweden and Norway

About the Department of Urban and Rural development
At the Department of Urban and Rural devlopment, education and research are conducted at the divisions: agrarian history, landscape architecture, rural development and environmental communication. Read more here: https://www.slu.se/sol. The Department of Landscape Architecture teaches and researches in the entire field of landscape architecture, i.e. planning, management and design. 

Tasks:
For the workpackage “Assess wildlife behaviour impact of lighting in urban green spaces” we announce for a researcher that can work at the department of Urban and Rural development at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala - Sweden.

The project is a major collaboration between Nordic universities in Sweden, Finland and Norway. The work package is part of the major transdisciplinary project “Unconventional methods to inform sustainable design: Mediating the needs of people and nature in Nordic after-dark environments”. In this project, a team of researchers and PhDs will investigate the topic of sustainable after-dark design in a holistic way that, supporting human needs, minimizes energy use, light pollution, and negative impacts on wildlife.

In this specific work package, we will monitor wildlife in urban green spaces during the dark seasons. Data collection and analysis include camera traps and the monitoring of the behavior of, movement patterns, activity and density of animals between areas that are lighted and others that are dark. There is increasing evidence that camera traps are as effective, or even more effective, than traditional monitoring methods. In order to obtain a good estimate, we will distribute the cameras in a structured grid with and without lights and not along wildlife trails in Uppsala (Sweden) and Ålesund (Norway). In addition, birds and frogs will be surveyed by using acoustic sensors in the same areas. Both methods are new and innovative and build on machine learning and AI.

In both Sweden and Norway provide a setup of cameras and recorders linked to ecological relevance, apply for ethics to put up cameras, communicate with the municipalities to coordinate the field work and other aspects, sample the photographs and soundscapes, lead the analyses and connect with the other work package, and write manuscripts in close collaboration with the project team.

Qualifications:
The position requires a PhD in wildlife ecology or equivalent. Good knowledge in landscape ecology, modelling and simulation. Good skills using GIS and remote sensing. Knowledge of working with digital twins applications and other visualization tools Experience working with the public sector in areas of landscape planning and natural resources management is an advantage.

Place of work:
Uppsala (Sweden) and Ålesund (Norway)

Type of emplyment:
Part time during 2 years.

Extent:
60%

Starting date:
According to agreement

Application:
Welcome with your application via the application button below no later than 2022-06-24.

Union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/



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