Two PhD positions in ecology, focusing on plant community ecology and ecosystem processes in northern Sweden

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science (EMG) at Umeå University is looking for two PhD students in ecology, with a focus on aboveground and belowground responses to environmental gradients and global change drivers. The start date is fairly flexible but ideally sometime between August and November 2024. Deadline for applications is 2024-04-02

Project descriptions and work tasks
The projects will focus on interactions of plant communities with belowground and aboveground ecosystem processes, and their responses to environmental factors (such as wildfire, nutrient availability, climate change and biodiversity loss) in natural boreal forest and subarctic tundra in northern Sweden, through the use of both environmental gradients and ongoing term experiments. Through the use of these study systems, we anticipate one student focusing primarily on ecological interactions involving nutrient availability and the other on ecological consequences of plant biodiversity loss, although there is quite some flexibility around this. The projects will include both field work over the summer and autumn months, and corresponding laboratory work, data analysis and writing. While it is our intention that the students work on these systems, the scope of the project work is deliberately broad, and is adaptable to suit the specific interests of the students that are appointed. These projects would be ideal for anyone intending to specialize in community or ecosystem ecology with a focus on natural ecosystems. The principal supervisor of these theses will be Prof. David A. Wardle at Umeå University and the work will involve collaborators at both Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. 

Qualifications
To be admitted for studies at third-cycle level the applicant is required to have completed a second cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.

To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level within the subject of ecology, the applicant is required to have completed courses within a first-cycle subject relevant to ecology comprising at least 120 credits. At least one course at second-cycle level in a subject that is central to the doctoral student’s planned specialization shall have been completed, as well an independent piece of work (degree project) with relevant specialization of at least 15 credits. The recruitment procedure for the position is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen Chapter 5 and 7). The requirements should be met at the time of acceptance to doctoral studies.

We are looking for candidates with creativity, power of initiative, independence, good collaboration skills, and good ability to write and speak in English. The assessments will be based on the application, reference check and interview.

Terms of employment
The employment is expected to result in a doctoral degree and the main assignment for the doctoral student is thus to be part of the research education, which includes participation in the described research project but also to take relevant courses. Teaching and other departmental work (up to a maximum of 20%) can be included. The employment is limited to four years at full time or up to five years if teaching and other departmental work is performed. The salary is fixed according to the established salary level for doctoral students.

How to apply
You apply through our recruitment system or 2024-04-02, at the latest. The application, written in English or Swedish, should include:

• A short (max 1 page) description of why you are interested in and suitable for the position
• A research draft, where you briefly describe how and with what focus you would like to carry through the research project described above (max 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Certified copies of degrees and certificates from higher education
• List of completed university courses and the grades
• Names and contact information of two reference persons

The documents should be in PDF-format.

Contact
If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Prof. David Wardle, [email protected] 

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science (EMG) is both a research and teaching department situated within the Umeå University campus. The department has approximately 140 staff members, of which 30 are PhD students. For more information, visit https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-ecology-and-environmental-science/