15 PhD positions in Sustainable Forestry

Do you want to contribute to the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join the WIFORCE Research School at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Sweden!

The PhD positions cover a wide range of forest topics, many of which are related to biodiversity. From remote sensing, earth model systems, peatland forestry AI maps, aerial eDNA to the soil mycobiome, soil carbon dynamics, seedling ecophysiology, riparian forests and microclimate, carbon balance, herbivores, insect communities, pollinating insects and multi-taxon biodiversity assessment.

The WIFORCE Research School 

Biodiversity and the role of forests in climate change are now key social issues that require more knowledge. In order to both sustainably use forests and safeguard forest biodiversity, a coherent basic science research program is needed that addresses large and complex issues and develops new analytical tools. That’s why the WIFORCE Research School, part of the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (www.slu.se/en/wiforce), was created at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden. Read more on SLU at the end of the text.

More information about open positions and how to apply can be found under each individual position description (see links below).

15 Job Announcements sorted in alphabetical order across 6 SLU Departments:

Department of Ecology, SLU in UPPSALA:

Aerial eDNA for forest biodiversity survey

• Main supervisor: Aino Hämäläinen

Functional forest landscapes for pollinating insects 

• Main supervisor: Erik Öckinger 

Insect biodiversity dynamics in production forest landscapes

• Main supervisor: Thomas Ranius 

Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU in UMEÅ:

Carbon balance and biodiversity in boreal forests

• Main supervisor: Matthias Peichl

Peatland forestry – new knowledge from AI maps

• Main supervisor: Anneli Ågren 

Riparian forest biodiversity and microclimate

• Main supervisor: Eliza Maher Hasselqvist

Seedling ecophysiology in multilayered mixed-species forests in Sweden

• Main supervisor: Torgny Näsholm 

The role of herbivores for biodiversity in forest landscapes

• Main supervisor: Maja Sundqvist 

Quantification and characterization of soil carbon dynamics

• Main supervisor: Michael Gundale

Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU in UPPSALA:

Tree genotype and soil mycobiome – importance for soil processes

• Main supervisor: Petra Fransson

Department of Forest Resource Management, SLU in UMEÅ:

In the division of Forest Remote Sensing:

Forest remote sensing for biodiversity assessment

• Main supervisor: Eva Lindberg

Remote sensing focusing on earth system models

• Main supervisor: Rubén Valbuena

Radar remote sensing of forests by passive interferometric microwave imaging

• Main supervisor: Henrik Persson

Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, SLU in UMEÅ:

Multi-taxon forest biodiversity assessment

• Main supervisor: Jörgen Sjögren

Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SLU in ALNARP:

Forest ecology with focus on carbon dynamics

• Main supervisor: Igor Drobyshev

Last date of application

21 January 2025

Employment

4-year employment as PhD student at SLU

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.

Find more reasons to come and work at SLU: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/