Postdoc position: Continuous cover forestry - managing for complex forest stand structures

Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre SLU is one of the world's highest ranked universities in several subject

areas and is ranked #1 in forestry (CWUR). At our centre we carry out research, teaching and dissemination of scientific findings with direct application to the sustainable management of forests. We have a multidisciplinary profile, with global relevance and specialized expertise on forests and forestry as complex socio-ecological systems. We closely collaborate with multiple stakeholders and conduct applied research in silviculture, forest ecology, pathology, policy and planning. We teach bachelor, Masters and PhD level courses addressing all of these subject areas.

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/

Duties:

We are seeking a highly motivated person to conduct research within the subject: Continuous cover forestry - managing for complex forest stand structures. The change to more diverse continuous-cover and resilient forestry types has a broad range of motivations; including the need to mitigate and adapt to rapid climate change, overcome the biodiversity crisis, and achieve societal goals for a wider range of forest-derived ecosystem services. However, despite a clear and justified motivation to embrace more such stands in the forest landscape, there remain substantial knowledge gaps regarding the optimal approach to managing multi-species and multi-aged stands. This project will focus on how the effect of selective cutting on stand structuring changes with site quality and climate. For this research, we will use existing data from a long-term experiment on selective cutting, and data from the National Forest Inventory. This will be complemented with new measurements during the project. There is also a great possibility to include your own ideas and thoughts to the project. Both field work and laboratory work may be included.

Qualifications:

We are seeking for a highly motivated person with a PhD degree in forest management, forest production, forest science, biology, ecology, biostatistics, forest restoration or equivalent, ideally with a focus on understanding complex stand structures, plant-plant interactions, stand development and growth modeling. Applicants should also have:

Excellent verbal and written English

Excellent knowledge in data analysis and modelling using R, or similar programs

Experience in writing and publishing of peer-reviewed articles

Ability to contribute to a positive environment in an inclusive and diverse team

Ability to work independently and in a team

Taking pride in original and high-quality work

Works well under pressure and meet deadlines

Have strategic and creative mindset

Driver's license and experience from fieldwork

Willingness to participate in mentoring undergraduate research.

We offer you:

Possibility to publish in high impact journals

A stimulating work environment

Possibility to join a research team

Possibility to contribute with your skills and personality

Warried work tasks and great freedom to develop your own ideas together with colleagues.

Participation in national and international scientific conferences and meetings

Collaboration with end-users in government and industry

Mentorship and support in an expanding team

Opportunity to contribute novel and original insights to forest management in the face of global change.

As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is four years old at most.

Place of work:

Alnarp

Form of employment:

Scholarship 24 months.

Extent:

100%

Starting date:

According to agreement.

Application:

We welcome your application no later than 2024-02-29, use the button below.

Your application should consist of:

A one-page motivation or reflection discussing your personal interest in the topic

A current curriculum vitae (CV)

Publication list

Contact information for two academic references Copy of your PhD thesis

Copy of PhD degrees

Copy of one selected publication.

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

Magnus Löf

Professor, Head of department

+46 40-41 51 19

[email protected]