PhD student in forest pathology: biotic risks to birch

Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

Third-cycle subject area

Forest management

Description of the doctoral project

Birch is becoming increasingly important in Swedish forestry as a complement to conifers and as part of climate-adapted forest diversification. Its wider use, however, requires better knowledge of the interacting biotic and abiotic threats that affect young plantations and older stands.

This four-year doctoral project will investigate biotic risks associated with birch and builds on research initiated during the first phase of Trees For Me. It combines two connected research tracks: damage in newly planted birch stands, including browsing, insects, pathogens and abiotic stress; and an emerging decline syndrome in older birch stands where trees show severe crown deterioration or mortality and the causal agents remain unresolved.

The project is based at the Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre in Alnarp and is part of Trees For Me, a Centre of Excellence focused on fast-growing broadleaved trees for sustainable forests, materials and energy. The doctoral student will join a multidisciplinary forest research environment and work with academic, public- and private-sector partners. The project will combine field experiments and forest health surveys with disease and damage assessment, fungal isolation and culturing, molecular diagnostics, and ecological and statistical data analysis.

About the position

The doctoral student will plan and carry out field and laboratory studies, analyse and interpret data, and communicate results through scientific articles, conference presentations and engagement with project partners. The work will involve substantial field activities at sites across Sweden as well as laboratory work in Alnarp. The doctoral student will complete relevant doctoral courses and is expected to develop increasing independence in research planning, implementation and scientific writing.

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 Forest management are at least 90 credits in subjects relevant to forest management, of which at least 30 credits 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.

Your profile

We are looking for a motivated candidate with a strong interest in forest health and interactions among trees, damaging organisms and environmental stress.

The following are required:

• A Master’s degree in forest pathology, biology, forest science or another relevant subject that fulfils the specific entry requirements in Forest management.
• The ability to communicate scientific work clearly in spoken and written English.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively in field, laboratory and multidisciplinary research settings.

The following are desirable:

• Experience of fieldwork, particularly forest health inventories or field experiments.
• Experience of fungal isolation or other microbiological methods, molecular laboratory methods, or DNA-based analyses.
• Experience of ecological or statistical data analysis.
• Knowledge of Swedish or another Scandinavian language, or a willingness to learn Swedish.
• A valid driving licence.

Personal qualities, including curiosity, initiative, reliability, organisational ability and willingness to collaborate, will be important in the selection process.

About us

The Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre is an interdisciplinary department conducting research and teaching across a broad range of subjects related to sustainable forest management. Our work has global relevance, with particular expertise in forests and forestry as complex socio-ecological systems. Our research spans silviculture and forest management, forest ecology, forest pathology, and forest policy and planning. We work closely with stakeholders and offer a collaborative, international research environment at SLU’s Alnarp campus.

Trees For Me brings together academic, public- and private-sector partners to develop knowledge and competence for resilient and diversified forest landscapes. The doctoral student will become part of this active network and the department’s forest pathology research environment.

Read more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee on https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/ 

Read more about third-cycle courses and study programmes on www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/.

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:

Alnarp

Scope:

100%

Start date:

11 January 2027, or as agreed.

Application and selection:

Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 31 October 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.