PhD Position in Social Dimensions of Ecosystem Restoration

Department of Forest Ecology and Management

Third-cycle subject area

Forest Management

Description of the doctoral project

This PhD position focuses on social dimensions of ecosystem restoration. It is part of a broader research project, “Restoration Futures in Sweden’s forests for biodiversity & human well-being". This social science project explores how Sweden will scale up the European Union’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), what is needed to address the needs and values for individual private forest owners, and opportunities for connecting multiple human and environmental goals across rural landscapes of Sweden.

The project is a part of the broader research program Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research, WIFORCE. It will also engage in interdisciplinary collaboration by combining social scientific data with ecological analysis from the “Blue Leads Green” project.  

About the position

The PhD student will have the freedom to co-design their project that may explore questions related to, but not necessarily limited to:

• How can the NRR address diverse needs, values, and aspirations of different stakeholders in Sweden, especially individual private forest owners?
• How do human values, perceptions, and sense-making relate to ecological dimensions of forest restoration and biodiversity?
• How might the NRR encourage the adoption of alternative forest management strategies?
• How do multilevel forest and environmental governance play out in the NRR’s implementation?
• How can research and knowledge extension better respond to the needs of forest owners in restoration decision-making?
• What are stakeholders’ broader goals and visions for more sustainable and thriving rural landscapes of the future?
• How can restoration science better integrate analysis of societal processes that shape ecosystem degradation and recovery?

This project is envisioned as a social scientific research project. However, we encourage interdisciplinary research that will connect social scientific analysis with natural scientific research in the Blue Leads Green Project.

Those employed as doctoral students will focus on their third-cycle (doctoral) courses and study programmes. As a doctoral student, you will operate independently and must be prepared to contribute to your department’s work and development in various ways.

Upon agreement, you may have to participate in departmental duties involving teaching and administration. These duties may take up to a maximum of 20 per cent of your full working hours. If you participate in these duties, your period of study will be extended. 

Research Environment: The successful candidate will join a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive research environment.  The main supervisor of the student will be Associate Professor Harry Fischer (SLU), with co-supervision from Assistant Professor Irina (Umeå University). Fischer and Mancheva are both social scientists, and they will support the student in developing strong foundations within the environmental social sciences. The student will have the opportunity to be a part of building a “Restoration Futures” research group.

The PhD student will be employed at The Department of Forest Ecology and Management at SLU. The department is primarily a natural science department, thus offering an exceptional opportunity for deep interdisciplinary engagement in connection with the social science focus of this project. The student will also have the opportunity to be a part of seminars and intellectual life in the Environmental and Natural Resource Politics Research Group at the Department of Political Science at Umeå University (where Mancheva is based).

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).

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

Your profile/Qualifications

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in a social scientific field engaging in sustainability research, or at least 240 credits, of which a minimum of 60 credits are from second-cycle courses;
• Experience & proficiency conducting research using qualitative social scientific methods;
• Fulfill English language requirements: For students from Swedish upper secondary schools, this is English B/English 6. Alternatively, applicants must hold an internationally recognized English language qualification (TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge ESOL). More information is available on universityadmissions.se.);
• A valid driver’s license
• The possibility to do extensive field work in remote locations. The position is based in Umeå, Sweden, but there is a requirement that the student will be able to travel and be away from Umeå for up to one month at a time doing field work in middle/southern Sweden and potentially other locations (> 8 hours drive from Umeå).
• Fluency in the Swedish language. Although the working language of the research project is English, the student will need to be able to conduct interviews and analyze material in Swedish at a very high level of proficiency.

Applicants’ qualifications are assessed in terms of their ability to complete PhD dissertations and fulfil the course requirements of the PhD program. The evaluation includes a review of the applicants’ previous academic performance and the quality of submitted writing samples and project plans.

The evaluation of the ability to complete the PhD program also includes assessing the applicants’ analytical skills, communicative skills (written and oral), critical skills, independence, and ability to complete tasks within a given time frame.  

Other meriting qualifications are:

• Knowledge of forestry and forest policy debates in Sweden
• Experience conducting research on or analyzing human values for nature
• Experience, or interest in European Union politics and policy implementation
• Proficiency in qualitative and/or ethnographic field methods
• Basic knowledge of forest ecology
• Ability to work both independently and in collaborative teams
• A passion for science and a positive attitude

 

About us

The PhD student will be employed at The Department of Forest ecology and management. The department includes about 115 people of which 9 are professors. Our mission is to advance the understanding of forest ecosystems and how these should be managed today and in the future.

For more information: http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/

Read more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee on Work at SLU | slu.se 

Read more about third-cycle courses and study programmes on Doctoral (PhD) studies | slu.se 

Form of employment / Funding
Employment as a PhD  student for 4 years

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

Location:
Umeå.

Scope:
100%

Start date:
Accordin to agreement, but fall 2026 preferred 

Application and selection:
Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is May 18 2026.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

• 2 page CV
• Cover letter describing yourself, your scientific background, research interests and your motivation for applying for this position
• 2-3-page idea for a research project addressing one or more of the question area(s) outlined above, including your specific research questions, methods, possible findings, and why it is meaningful and significant for you
• Copies of graduation degrees, or equivalent, as well as other relevant certificates, e.g. English-language certificate if you did not do your previous studies in Sweden or in a native English speaking country (see here for more information on what is acceptable)
• A copy of your master’s thesis, and other manuscripts of relevance for the position (e.g., scientific or popular science publications)
• Name and contact information of two professional references.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programs, 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.

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 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.