PhD position in remote sensing of boreal forest fires

Department of Forest Resource Management

The Department of Forest Resource Management conducts education and research in the areas of forest planning, forest remote sensing, forest inventory and sampling, forest mathematical statistics and landscape studies. The department is also responsible for the implementation of the ongoing environmental monitoring programs the National Forest Inventory, National Inventory of the Landscape in Sweden, Terrestrial Habitat Monitoring and the Butterfly and Bumblebee Inventory. In total, we are about 110 employees. More information can be found at www.slu.se/srh.

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/

WIFORCE Research School

Do you want to contribute to the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join 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 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. 

Remote sensing of fire severity and its dependency on management practices in boreal forests

Research subject: Technology/Forest management/Biology

Description:

The Department is looking for a PhD student within the area of remote sensing of forest. Using remote sensing the PhD student will develop methods to quantify fire severity and analyze its dependency on the pre-fire forest structure and management practices in Fennoscandian boreal forests. Work includes e.g. developing methods to assess burn severity and fuel structure, processing of different remote sensing and mapped data, statistical modelling, mapping of fire risk and analyzing the effect of forest management for fire behavior. Considered remote sensing data includes airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data (ALS, TLS), satellite and aerial images. Collecting field data as well as participating in burning experiments may also be part of the work.

The research team includes expertise in boreal forest management, forest remote sensing, fire behavior and fire risk. Faculty gives doctoral degree in technology, forest management or biology depending on the candidate's background. The student will work in close collaboration with researchers and technical staff, as well as connected stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications

• A master’s degree (or equivalent) in technology, forest science, biology, remote sensing/geoscience, fire engineering or other relevant discipline.
• Proficiency in English for communication and scientific writing. The candidates must demonstrate an ability to deliver quality written English by appending scientific work (e.g. a master’s thesis or other work) to their application.

Merits

Knowledge and experience in:

• Forest fires
• Forest ecology and management
• Nordic forestry
• Remote sensing data: ALS, TLS, satellite (e.g. sentinel2), aerial images
• Statistical modelling and analysis
• GIS e.g. ArcGis, Qgis, R
• Programming, e.g. R, Python, C etc.
• Field work
• Driver's license level B

Great emphasis is placed on personal qualities such as team work, analytical and problem solving ability, ability to work independently.

Place of work:      

Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:

Employment (4 years of PhD-studies) 

Starting date:

According to agreement. 

Application:

Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2026-02-10.

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 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 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.