Postdoc stipend, carbon fluxes and agricultural plant diversity

Department of Crop Production Ecology

We are offering a two-year postdoctoral fellowship to study carbon and water balances in northern agricultural systems at the Department of Crop Production Ecology.

About the position

This project will assess plot-scale carbon flux responses to agricultural grasslands containing varying degrees of plant diversity.

The project is part of a collaboration between the research groups of Prof. Matthias Peichl (Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU) and Prof. David Parsons (Department of Crop Production Ecology, SLU). This postdoctoral stipend will link to an accompanying study at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, assessing the ecosystem-scale exchanges of carbon and water in a typical agricultural crop rotation. The project will be carried out at the well-established Röbäcksdalen Field Research station, a premier facility in northern Sweden for research on crop–livestock production systems.

Links:

• https://www.slu.se/en/research/research-infrastructures/research-infrastructures-at-slu-open-to-external-users/slu-robacksdalen-field-research-station/
• https://meta.fieldsites.se/resources/stations/Robacksdalen
• https://www.slu.se/en/research/research-infrastructures/research-infrastructures-at-slu-open-to-external-users/robacksdalens-dairy-research-facility/

The postdoctoral fellows from this and the accompanying project will closely collaborate with each other as well as with other PhD students and postdocs to create new knowledge and synergies across related research activities.

In this project, the postdoc will investigate a series of agricultural crop management experiments to explore how carbon fluxes vary in response to increasing sown plant diversity. Leys, agricultural grasslands sown in rotation with annual crops, are the most important crop production system in northern Sweden. Typically, ley stands contain low levels of plant diversity (1-2 grass species + 1 legume species). Ongoing field trials at Röbäcksdalen explore how increasing species and functional group diversity influence productivity and resilience. The main task for the postdoc will be to collect and analyze CO2 flux data from manual chamber measurements within these diversity trials to examine how changes in species composition influence carbon fluxes. In addition, the collection of supporting information on environmental variables and plant traits will be an important part. The postdoc will be primarily supervised by Prof. David Parsons.

Your profile

Qualifications:

• The candidate must have a PhD awarded in the fields of environmental sciences, ecology, agricultural science, physical geography or any other closely related subject.
• The candidates must have a strong interest in agricultural management practices and their role in regulating the ecosystem carbon cycle.
• The candidates must be able to independently conduct field work.
• The candidate must be competent in English to be able to write, communicate and interact in an English-speaking research environment.
• The candidates must have documented experience in writing and publishing scientific articles.

The postdoctoral stipend is for a junior researcher, with a PhD preferably obtained within the last three years.

Experience in one or more of the following is considered a merit:

• Experience with collecting and analyzing manual chamber flux data (strongly meriting).
• Experience analyzing soil water data.
• Skills in GIS.
• Analysis of plant data from ground- and/or remote sensing-based monitoring methods.

 About us

The Department of Crop Production Ecology contributes to solving applied problems through research, collaboration and education on sustainable plant production. We teach and research about plants for food, feed and energy. The research and teaching focus on the production of agricultural plants and the interactions with the surrounding environment. The research examines how different production methods, cultivation environments and systems affect yields and other ecosystem services, as well as product quality and the surrounding environment. We teach crop production, plant ecology, weed biology and cropping systems in an ecological sustainability perspective. The department has operations in both Uppsala and Umeå and is also responsible for the Lövsta and Röbäcksdalen field
stations.

The research group Crop production specialized in forage creates knowledge that promotes sustainable and competitive agricultural systems that are based on forages, such as leys and pastures, and ensures the supply of environmentally sustainable food from ruminants. The research includes development of growth models, crop production management with remote sensing tools and spectral techniques, and agronomic studies. Ongoing projects involve the use of optical and radar satellite imagery, drone RGB and multispectral imagery, field spectrometry, and lab-based hyperspectral imaging.

For more information about the department or division visit: https://www.slu.se/en/departments/crop-production-ecology/

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

The postdoc location will be at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), in Umeå, Sweden.

Form of employment:

No employment. Scholarship holder for 24 months.
The scholarship is awarded through the Kempe Foundation.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

According to agreement, but before May 1, 2026

Application:

Please send a CV, a publication list, copy of PhD diploma, copies of up to three relevant publications and a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) that outlines previous research, current research interest and any other activities of relevance for the position. Names and contact information of at least two references are also required. All application documents should be written in English.

You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Please submit your application before the deadline of November 17, 2025.

 

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.