Postdoc

Department of Ecology

 

About the position

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a project studying the effects of climate change on epiphytic hair lichens using airborne eDNA samples. Hair lichens, i.e. lichens of the genera Alectoria, Bryoria, and Usnea are an important part of boreal forest ecosystems, and highly sensitive to drivers of global change. They have been widely regarded as indicators of ecosystem health, and their decline in abundance has been correlated with air pollution and forestry. Climate change poses a new threat to hair lichens, but its effects are so far poorly understood.

This project uses a long time series (ca. 50 years) of eDNA samples collected in the northernmost region of Sweden. With these data, we aim to understand how climate change and other global change drivers influence different species of hair lichens. The postdoc will participate in dataset assembly, field work (hair lichen surveys), data analysis, and writing of the resulting scientific manuscripts. The specific tasks will be adjusted to the skills of the candidate and the overall fit within the research group. The postdoc will be based at the Department of Ecology in Uppsala (Sweden), and the project includes collaborators at other universities, such as Umeå University (Sweden).

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated applicant with experience in working with DNA sequence data. Applicants should hold a PhD in biology, ecology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, or other relevant, closely related field. As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at most.

The applicants are required to have:

• Experience of DNA sequencing data analysis
• Experience of scripting in e.g. R or Bash
• Basic bioinformatics skills
• Good statistical knowledge
• Good English skills, both spoken and written

In addition, knowledge or experience of the following are regarded as strongly meriting:

• Lichen or cryptogam ecology, functional traits or ecophysiology
• Programming in e.g. Python
• Analysis of very large datasets
• Genome assemblies
• Working on computer clusters
• Time series analysis
• Mathematical modelling

Emphasis is also put on the applicant’s personal qualities, such as the ability to work independently.

Location

Uppsala.

Form of employment:

Postdoctoral researcher on a scholarship for 24 month, with the possibility of extension.

Scope:

100%.

Start date:

October 2026, or according to agreement.

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 15 June 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

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.