PhD student in Biology

Department of Crop Production Ecology

The Department of Crop Production Ecology is part of the Ecology Centre and together with the Department of Ecology, it offers a stimulating research environment in Uppsala, with a branch also in Umeå. We provide education and perform research on plants for food, animal feed, and energy. The research and teaching focus strongly on agricultural crop production and its interaction with the surrounding environment. The research programmes address how different production methods, cultivation environments, and systems influence yields and other ecosystem services, as well as product quality and the surrounding environment. We teach about crop production, plant ecology, eco-physiology, weed biology, and crop production systems in an ecological sustainability context.

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/

Legumes for intercropping with cereals

Research subject Biology

Are you searching for a PhD project in which you, together with colleagues from other Universities, will contribute to developing new legume-based cropping systems for a more sustainable agriculture? Do you thrive in a multidisciplinary and international research environment? Then this PhD position in the research education subject biology at the Department of Crop Production Ecology, SLU Uppsala should be of interest to you.

Description:

Intercropping of cereals and legumes holds significant potential for developing sustainable agri-food systems powered by biologically fixed nitrogen to deliver high-quality plant food protein, but innovations on the components of these cropping systems and their interplay are needed to bring them to their full potential.

The project is part of the N2CROP centre for legume innovation, and will focus on intercropping of faba bean and cereals. Above- as well as belowground complementarity and interactions between crops will be examined with focus on nitrogen dynamics, including biological nitrogen fixation, transfer of nitrogen between the intercropped species, and the effect of specific rhizobium strains on the fixation. 

Experiments will be conducted in field trials and greenhouse experiments. Results from the experiments will feed into a crop modelling part while harvested seeds will be used for further analyses in other parts of the overarching project.

As a PhD student within this project, you will have the opportunity to develop your networks within academy and across various disciplines. Your work will include field and greenhouse experiments, as well as data processing and writing.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate should have:

• Exam in crop science, biology or agronomy
• Sound knowledge of plant ecology
• Interest in agriculture and crop production
• Good skills in English (both written and oral) as well as to communicate (understand and speak), or being willing to learn, Swedish or another Scandinavian language

Meritorious:

• Experience of field work
• A valid Swedish driving license or equivalent

Particular emphasis will be placed on your personal skills as team player as well as your ability to take initiatives and work independently.

Place of work:

Uppsala

Forms for funding or employment:

Employment 100 % as PhD student for 4 years.

Starting date:

As soon as possible according to agreement.

Application:

Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2025-12-04.

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/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/how-can-i-become-a-doctoral-student/

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 https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/

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.