PhD position in biology, specialisation in aquatic ecology

Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua)

Third-cycle subject area

Biology

Description of the doctoral project

A PhD position in biology with specialisation in aquatic ecology is available at the Department of Aquatic Resources at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU Aqua). The theme of the PhD project is on management and conservation methods of critically endangered fishes, focusing on Anguillid eels.

Trap and Transport (T&T) is a management method used to enable fish to continue their migration in fragmented riverine systems, and to reduce hydropower turbine mortality for downstream migrating fish. T&T of downstream migrating adult eel is conducted in many countries and approximately 100 tonnes of eel undergo T&T annually within Europe. However, there are no common guidelines nor scientific evaluations regarding how T&T should be conducted to optimize the method from an eel’s perspective.

Eel that undergoes T&T will experience several unnatural handling steps, each which could have negative impacts, which in turn can affect an eel’s possibilities to succeed with their spawning migration. How the handling and procedure in each step of the T&T process should be conducted in the best way possible for the eel is largely unknown. The focus of this project is to answer some of these knowledge gaps through field studies, experiments, analysis of existing data, modelling of turbine mortality rates under various scenarios, and via international expert knowledge exchange.

The main questions that will be addressed in the project are:

• How can the core aspects of the T&T process be optimized from an eel’s perspective?
• How is T&T currently conducted in different countries and what can we learn from each other?
• In which Swedish watersheds should T&T be prioritized today and in the future?
• In addition, the project aims to develop best practice guidelines for T&T to be used at a national and international scale.

About the position

The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, which includes development of the PhD student's methodological experience (e.g., laboratory work, fieldwork, fish tagging, modelling and qualitative survey-based research), analytical skills (statistics), writing skills (first authorship of scientific publications), presentation skills, and development of the student's theoretical depth and breadth.

To answer the questions above, the PhD student will conduct experiments in the field on live animals, including handling and maintenance of eels, behavioural and physiological field experiments, tagging eel in the field, and organize a workshop with international researchers. The work will be done at SLU Aqua, Drottningholm (Stockholm), and at various field sites (mainly river Kävlingeån in southern Sweden and at various T&T fishing sites). The student will also take part in the analysis of large datasets containing existing migratory data from telemetry studies, gathered in Sweden and Finland.

The student will be supervised by main supervisor Associate Professor Josefin Sundin (SLU Aqua), and co-supervised by Dr. Philip Jacobson (SLU Aqua) and Dr. Derek Evans at the Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI), Northern Ireland. The supervisory roles are expected to change during the project so that Philip Jacobson is the main supervisor and Josefin Sundin one of the co-supervisors. This change will be according to plan and will not affect the PhD-students work. The position also includes close collaboration with Dr. Jani Helminen, Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) Finland, and with a large group of scientists from the international working group on eels (WGEEL). This implies great possibilities for international collaboration.

 Examples of duties of the position:

• Leading various field studies and experiments with eel
• Tagging of live eel in the field
• Collaboration with commercial fishers, hydropower companies and management agencies
• Organization of an international T&T workshop
• Robust reproducible data handling and analyses
• Writing scientific papers
• Presenting at meetings and conferences (national and international)
• Teaching or other duties at the university (optional)

Requirements

To meet the general entry requirements you must have been awarded a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance 1993:100, Chapter 7, Section 39).

Specific entry requirements for the third-cycle courses and study programme in biology. To meet the specific entry requirements, you must have at least 90 HEC in biology-related subjects. This must include a degree project, and at least 30 HEC must be at second-cycle level.

You must also meet the equivalent English language requirements as those necessary for the Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6.

Desirable experience

• Experience with animal experiments and/or fieldwork.
• Experience working with fish.
• Experience with relevant practical and statistical methods.
• Experience with independent writing.
• Experience with organising workshops or large meetings.
• Experience with analysis of large datasets.
• Good ability to collaborate.
• Experience in collaboration with commercial fishers, industries and management agencies.
• Ability to contribute to a good working climate.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Driver’s licence is meriting for the field studies.
• Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as collaboration skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and the capacity for independent work.

About us

At the Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua) we are passionate about conservation and sustainable management of aquatic animals, including fish. We are geographically distributed across Sweden, and this PhD position will be based in Stockholm at the Institute of Freshwater Research, beautifully situated on the countryside on the island of Lovön right by lake Mälaren. We offer:

• an excellent and professionally stimulating working environment with dedicated colleagues.
• access to a broad international network of scientists.
• salary as PhD research fellow in the state salary scale.
• good welfare benefits, as a PhD student you are a regular taxpayer in Sweden with general rights to free healthcare, sick leave, free school and education for children, subsidized childcare, rights to paid parental leave, paid annual leave (vacation), unemployment benefits, and pension earnings.

Read more about SLU Aqua: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/organisation/departments/aquatic-resources/

Read more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Read more about PhD courses and PhD study programmes: https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/

Form of employment / Funding

Employment as a doctoral student (4-year programme)

Doctoral student’s salaries are set following the local collective agreement. Salary progression is fixed.

Location:
Drottningholm, Stockholm

Scope:
100%

Start date:

2027-04-01, or upon agreement.

Application and selection:
Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 30 November 2026.

Read more about the attachments that your application should include at https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/how-can-i-become-a-doctoral-student/application/

Selection among eligible applicants is based on the documents attached to the application, and is carried out with regard to the applicant’s ability to complete the programme within the allotted time.

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 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 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.