Postdoctoral researcher in forest dynamics and environmental response modeling in Picea abies

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

Updated: 3 months ago

The Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology was founded in the late 1970s - when the College of Forestry moved to Umeå. The number of employees has since grown steadily is now around 100, including postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students. In the late 1990s it was decided to join with the Department of Plant Physiology at Umeå University to form a research center, Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC). The Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology moved into the premises adjacent to the partner department and together have developed a close and successful collaboration on research issues, technology platforms, and training of master's and doctoral level students. The international element within UPSC is large, with over 40 nationalities represented. The department conducts introductory and advanced training in plant physiology, ecophysiology, plant molecular biology, forest genetics and forest biotechnology within the Forestry program and at the master level. The department offers postgraduate studies in biology, specializing in plant physiology, ecophysiology, plant molecular biology and forest genetics. Postgraduate courses are generally held in cooperation with the Department of Plant Physiology. For more information about the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology and UPSC visit www.upsc.se. 

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


About the position

The Tree-ring Genomics group at the Umea Plant Sciences Center is seeking one or two postdoctoral fellows to analyze our collection of increment cores of over 5,000 primarily Norway spruce (Picea abies) from across southern Europe. The aim of the project is to understand the genetics underlying adaptation to changing climate, with the overall applied goal of identifying adapted trees to use in forestry contexts.

Increment cores were collected from trees nested within a multi-scalar, complete (>5cm dbh) circular plot design so that microsite, regional and continental environmental signals can be extracted. The majority of these cores are measured but not fully cross-dated, and the fellow is expected to finalize the cross-dating to further the main aims of the project. The fellow is also expected to contribute to future field collections, which can be optimized to suit experimental goals, and support and train students and interns as needed.

While the fellow is expected to contribute to overall project, there is significant room to develop independent research interests (e.g., forest dynamic modeling, between species responses, etc). This can be accomplished using the existing dataset, but also in terms of influencing future field collections.


Your profile

The applicant should hold a PhD in ecology, biology or equivalent. We are looking for highly motivated and team-oriented candidates with a background in dendroecology, regression modeling and ecological fieldwork. Documented mastery of tree-ring analytical approaches, especially cross-dating, as well as general statistical and computational skills are prerequisites for the position. Computational skills are a plus. Very good skills in written and spoken English is obligatory. 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.


Location:

Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, SLU, Umeå (Sweden) 


Form of employment:

Fixed-term employment 12 months.


Scope:

100%


Start date:

According to agreement.


Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 9 February 2024. 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 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

URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=9564&rmlang=UK


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