🎓 Forest ecology explores the relationships between forest organisms and their environment, playing a crucial role in understanding biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts, and sustainable forest management. This PhD position focuses on deadwood ecology and mycology, investigating how fungal communities contribute to forest ecosystem functioning and soil health in boreal forests.
✅ Position: PhD Student in Biology/Ecology
✅ Institution: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Ecology
✅ Location: Uppsala, Sweden
✅ Duration: 4 years (full-time employment)
✅ Application Deadline: 10 February 2026, 12:00 UTC
💰 Funding & Compensation:
✅ Full-time PhD student employment (4 years)
✅ Competitive salary according to Swedish standards
✅ Part of WIFORCE Research School (Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research)
🎯 Key Requirements:
✅ Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology, ecology, environmental science, forest science, or related field
✅ Strong interest in ecology, biodiversity, and forest ecosystems
✅ Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English
✅ Ability to work independently and as part of a team
🌟 Preferred Qualifications:
✅ Advanced knowledge in ecology and conservation biology
✅ Experience with molecular methods and bioinformatics
✅ Mycological competence
✅ Experience with statistical analyses (e.g., R)
✅ Valid Swedish driver’s license
✅ Knowledge of Swedish language
📝 Application Documents Required:
✅ Motivation letter (max. 2 pages, in English) describing yourself and what you’d like to research
✅ Master thesis
✅ CV with graduation date, education, work experience, publications, and two references with contact details
✅ Copy of diploma and relevant certificates (including English proficiency if applicable)
🔬 Research Focus:
The Deadwood2Soils project investigates how translocation of dead wood and wood-inhabiting fungal communities affects soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in boreal forests. You’ll work with a large-scale field experiment involving 640 relocated logs, studying interactions between deadwood, fungi, microbial biomass, soil nutrients, and CO₂ efflux.
🛤️ Step-by-Step Application Guide:
1️⃣ Prepare your motivation letter (max 2 pages in English) explaining:
- Your background and interest in forest ecology
- Why you want this position
- What aspects of the research you find most interesting
2️⃣ Gather all required documents:
- Your Master thesis
- Complete CV with references
- Diploma copies and certificates
3️⃣ Visit the application portal using the link below
4️⃣ Submit your application before 10 February 2026, 12:00 UTC
5️⃣ Selected candidates will be invited for interviews
6️⃣ If invited to interview, submit attested copies of degree certificates and transcripts
🔗 Apply Here: Application Portal – SLU
📧 Contact: moa.ostlund@slu.se
🔗 Full Position Details: EURAXESS Job Posting
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