Postdoctoral stipend: Biological nitrogen fixation and interactions among diazotrophs, fungi, and plants in boreal forests

Department of Forest Ecology and Management

We are offering a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, focused on biological nitrogen fixation in boreal forests.

The postdoctoral fellow will investigate biological nitrogen fixation activity in ecological niches including soil, deadwood, and mosses through field and/or greenhouse experiments using techniques such as stable isotope labeling and/or DNA-based approaches. Interactions among nitrogen-fixing organisms (diazotrophs), fungi, and plants may also be explored. The postdoc will join the Forest Vegetation Ecology group and be supervised by Dr. Stefan Hupperts and Prof. Michael Gundale. See more about the Forest Vegetation Ecology group here: https://www.slu.se/en/research/research-catalogue/grupper/f/forest-vegetation-ecology/ 

Your profile

The successful candidate should have strong written and verbal communication skills in English and demonstrate the ability to study both independently and collaboratively. The candidate should have the capacity to develop scientific publications for international peer-reviewed journals and provide evidence of this potential through their CV and/or cover letter. Applicants should hold a PhD in forest ecology or a related field, with expertise in areas such as plant community ecology, microbial ecology, soil ecology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem science, community and ecosystem genetics, and/or forestry. We particularly value candidates with field and laboratory experience and/or experience in bioinformatics. Experience with stable isotope techniques, soil sampling, molecular or gene-based methods, or measurements of plant community composition and functional traits is beneficial but not required.

As postdoctoral scholarships are career-developing opportunities for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates who have earned their doctoral degree within three years at the most. 

About us  

The succesfull candidate will belong to 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/

Location:

Umeå  

The scholarship is funded as research stipend paid bi-annually over two years from the Kempe Foundation. The stipend equates to 30,000 Swedish kronor per month tax free. For more information about stipend positions, please inquire with Stefan Hupperts (stefan.hupperts@slu.se)

Scope:

100%

Start date:

The starting date is flexible, from autumn 2026 to spring 2027, but the candidate must start no later than April 15th, 2027.

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline August 27 2026 . You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Specific documents attached: The application should contain the following three items written in English: 1) a cover letter describing yourself, your motivation for applying for the position, and a short description of what you want to work on during the post doc position, and why; 2) a CV describing your education, publications, and relevant work experience; and 3) a list of names and contact information for three references.

 

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.