Ref SLU.ua.2023.2.5.1-1985
Department of Forest Resource Management
The department conducts teaching and research within the areas of Forest Planning, Forest Remote Sensing, Forest Inventory and Sampling, Mathematical Statistics Applied to Forest Sciences and Landscape Studies. The Department is responsible for several environmental monitoring and assessment programs including the Swedish National Forest Inventory, National Inventory of Landscapes in Sweden, Terrestrial Habitat Monitoring and the Butterfly and Bumblebee Inventory. Research at the Department is focused on multilateral cooperation combining expertise from our many research groups. This gives unique possibilities for creating holistic solutions for the sustainable use of natural resources. The Department has approximately 100 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/
Forest growth modelling in continuous-cover forests
Forest management
Description
We are looking for a doctoral student with a particular interest in forest growth and yield (G&Y) modelling of forests managed with various forms of continuous cover forestry methods and practices such as single-tree selective fellings, shelterwood forestry or gap cuttings, hereafter called CCF. Today’s forest decision support systems are typically based on deterministic empirical G&Y models, but present Swedish G&Y models are not fully designed for projecting the state of the forests resulting from CCF practices. Thus, improving the G&Y models to more accurately address CCF is crucial for assessing the effects and potential benefits of adapted management practices, which is essential for providing evidence-based decision support. While the empirical experience from CCF is limited in Sweden, long-term field experiments on various forms of CCF do exist and are a key asset in this task.
Within the framework of a PhD project involving a strong and dedicated team, the successful applicant will develop new knowledge of forest growth dynamics. The project starts with validations and tests of current G&Y models and continues with development of new G&Y models, where necessary and feasible. Results from the project will be implemented in the Heureka system, a decision support system that allows the user to perform a large amount of different analyses and management plans for forestry (www.slu.se/Heureka).
This doctoral position is coordinated under E-tools, a four-year research project funded by FORMAS where researchers from several departments at SLU collaborate with the overall aim of providing new knowledge, improved models and accessible tools for forest management planning and thereby increase the knowledge-base needed for a widespread transition to alternative management practices such as CCF. Two other research platforms at SLU also participate in this PhD project: T4F, a research programme at SLU on the traits and demands on trees for the future in times of climate change, and Future Forests, an interdisciplinary hub for developing knowledge about forest use, in a collaboration between science and society.
Qualifications
When starting the position, you must have a master’s degree in statistics, forestry or ecology, with a strong interest in the intersection of those subjects. Experience from work with long-term field experiments, G&Y modelling and computer-based forest decision system is a merit. Personal qualities such as analytical and problem-solving ability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, are of high importance.
Place of work
Umeå
Forms for funding or employment
Employment 4 years
Starting date
According to agreement.
Application
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2023-06-12.
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: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/
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 www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/
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 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.
Contact person
Lars Sängstuvall
Resacher
+46(0)90-786 83 95
firstname.surname@slu.se
Göran Ståhl
Professor
+46(0)90-786 85 59
firstname.surname@slu.se
Torgny Lind
Head of division
+46(0)90-786 85 18
firstname.surname@slu.se
URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=8524&rmlang=UK