PhD position in ecology

Biodiversity, microclimate and roadside environments

Department of Urban and Rural Development

Department of Urban and Rural Development, SLU

The Department of Urban and Rural Development conducts undergraduate and postgraduate education, research and collaboration. About 180 people are employed in five divisions. The department is the largest at SLU within social sciences, humanities and design. This position will be placed at the Swedish Biodiversity Centre which is a unit within the Division of Political Science and Natural Resource Governance. At the Swedish Biodiversity Centre, we focus on trans- and multidisciplinary research and communication on conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity, acknowledging it as a critical societal resource.

Department of Ecology, SLU

At the Department of Ecology, we conduct research on populations, communities and ecosystems. We generate knowledge on how land use and climate affects animals, plants, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas balance, and develop sustainable solutions for the future. The unit of landscape ecology is a growing group of researchers who use diverse data sources to study different aspects of biodiversity change, and how nature can best be protected, conserved and restored.

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/

Name of research project/thesis:

Impact of the Swedish road network on microclimate variation and its effects on roadside biodiversity

Description:

The doctoral student will be part of a research project funded by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket). The project is a collaboration between Swedish Biodiversity Centre and the Department of ecology and focuses on the relationship between microclimate and biodiversity along Sweden’s road infrastructure. Specifically, we aim to answer how variation in microclimate—due to differences in macroclimate, topography, and roadside management—affects biodiversity. The goal is to contribute practical knowledge to Trafikverket’s sustainability efforts aimed at promoting biodiversity in road environments.

To this end, the doctoral student will conduct observational studies as well as a controlled management experiment with the following objectives:

1. To model microclimatic conditions along Sweden’s road infrastructure and investigate how roads contribute to variation in microclimate at the landscape scale.
2. To understand how variation in microclimate within and between roadsides affects plant diversity, and whether roadsides can facilitate species movement along roads in the context of ongoing climate change.
3. To examine whether tailored management of species-rich and species-poor roadsides can maintain microclimate variation to mitigate extreme temperature conditions, thereby reducing the risk of fire and erosion.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a dedicated candidate who is eager to learn new things and contribute valuable knowledge to society’s work on climate adaptation and the conservation of biodiversity. Applicants should hold a Master's degree or equivalent in climate or environmental science, ecology, biology, geography, or a related field. Due to the large datasets that will need to be handled from the beginning of the project, relevant experience in the analysis of ecological, geographic or climate data is a requirement. Knowledge of and interest in biodiversity and ecological processes is also mandatory. Proficiency in handling large datasets in R or another coding environment as well as good botanical skills are important merits. We also place great importance on personal qualities, as the candidate will participate in a project conducted in close collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket).

Place of work:      

Uppsala

Forms for funding or employment:

Employment (4 years) 

Starting date:

As soon as possible by agreement.

Application:

Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2025-07-31.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: https://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/application-admission-doctoral-studies/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

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.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.