Staff Scientist for Biodiversity Dynamics Project

Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher education with over 37,000 students and approximately 4,700 employees. The university offers a diversity of high-quality programs and world-leading research in several scientific fields, including the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campus makes it easy to meet, collaborate, and exchange knowledge, fostering a dynamic and open culture.

The societal transformation and significant green investments we see in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, it is about conducting research on – and within – a transforming society. It is also about delivering education for regions that need to expand quickly and sustainably. This is where the future is created.

Interested in learning more? Click here (https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/om-universitetet-som-arbetsplats/).

About the Position

At the Department of Physics, strong and expanding research is conducted in various fields, such as organic electronics, nanotechnology, photonics, space physics, and theoretical physics. The department is part of KBC, the Chemical-Biological Center at Umeå University. We have a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and excellent access to modern instrumentation and infrastructure for analysis.

The Department of Physics is announcing a position for a staff scientist for a project focused on mapping biodiversity dynamics. The position is full-time starting from 2026-02-01.

Main Responsibilities

The project is part of a larger initiative to understand how the geographical organization of life is shaped, changes, and is influenced across multiple spatial and temporal scales. In this sub-project, you will develop and apply advanced methods to map and analyze the dynamics of biological diversity, with a particular focus on how climate, evolution, and species occurrences interact.

You will develop and implement algorithms to integrate species data, climate data, and phylogenetic information into biogeographical networks. The work builds on methodological advances in higher-order network modeling and flow mapping, aiming to construct data-driven ecoregions that capture both stable patterns and transition zones in time and space. This requires both theoretical development and practical code implementation with scalable algorithms such as Infomap. The work also includes the development and improvement of Infomap Bioregions and related tools to make the results accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who is engaged and responsible and who is passionate about developing both as an individual researcher and as a member of a research group.

You have a PhD in physics, applied mathematics, computational science, or another relevant field. You should have extensive experience in analyzing biodiversity data and bioregions. Strong programming skills in languages such as Python and C++ are required.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as collaboration and communication skills, as well as analytical ability. It is important that you have good initiative and the ability to work independently. If you have published in ecological journals, that is an advantage. The project is conducted in an international environment, so very good proficiency in oral and written communication in English is required.

Application

The application can be written in Swedish or English and must include:

1. A cover letter clearly describing your qualifications, research interests, and motivation for applying, as well as your experiences in the area mentioned in the project description above (1–3 pages).
2. A CV with a publication list.
3. Copies of degree certificates.
4. A copy of the doctoral thesis.
5. Names and contact information for two referees.

Information

For more information, contact Martin Rosvall, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Applications should be made via the e-recruitment system Varbi and must be received by 2025-12-30.

Welcome with your application!

Umeå University aims to provide an equal and equitable environment where open conversations between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current position.

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