Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environment

WIFORCE Graduate School

Do you want to research sustainable use and conservation of forests for the future? Apply to the WIFORCE Graduate School!

Biodiversity and the role of forests in climate action are central societal issues today that require more knowledge. To sustainably use and secure the biological diversity of forests, a coherent fundamental research program is needed to tackle large and complex questions and develop new analytical tools. Therefore, the WIFORCE Graduate School, within the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (www.slu.se/wiforce (https://www.slu.se/wiforce)), has been established.

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environment

We are looking for a PhD candidate with a strong interest in conservation technology, particularly the use of passive acoustic monitoring and AI. The position is based at the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environment at SLU in Umeå and is part of a graduate school funded through the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (WIFORCE). The selected candidate will work on developing bioacoustic monitoring methods using automatic recording devices (autoboxes), deep learning methods, and applied statistical models, becoming part of a growing hub for conservation technology at the department.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/ (https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/)

Developing bioacoustic methods using AI to monitor and quantify biodiversity in Swedish forests

PhD Subject: Biology

Content description:

In this four-year PhD project, the selected candidate will develop an open workflow based on deep learning and hierarchical statistical models to streamline the data flow from acoustic recording devices to ecological insights that inform biodiversity management. The project includes:

• Applying deep learning models to annotate bird and bat species from audio recordings.
• Developing a Bayesian statistical framework to integrate annotation probabilities into hierarchical models.
• Using long-term passive acoustic datasets from at least two projects examining the significance of forest structure and composition for the community structure of birds and bats in Swedish forests.
• Creating an open workflow for ecologists and other non-technical users to enhance the application of acoustic monitoring.

What we offer:

• A dynamic and collaborative research environment, supported by experienced supervisors with expertise in wildlife biology, conservation technology, applied statistics, and deep learning.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and infrastructure.
• Opportunities for professional development through interdisciplinary collaborations and training in advanced analytical methods, including two work visits to partners.
• Contact with international research networks.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a highly motivated and collaborative individual with:

• A master's degree (or equivalent) in computer science, statistics, ecology, biology, or forestry.
• Documented experience in using deep learning as well as advanced statistical analysis and programming (e.g., R or Python).
• A strong interest in biodiversity, conservation, and forest ecology.
• Experience in passive acoustic monitoring, Bayesian statistics, and creating open-source software or open-code solutions is highly meritorious.
• Experience or interest in bird or bat ecology is an advantage.

A CV (max 3 pages, font Arial or Times New Roman, minimum size 11) should include the following headings: education, work experience, research interests, awards, publications, presentations and conferences, software and computer skills, languages, and contact details for at least two referees.

A motivation letter (max 2 pages, font Arial or Times New Roman, minimum size 11) should justify the candidate's qualifications and interest in undertaking this PhD project.

Location:

Umeå

Funding form:

Employment as a PhD student (4 years of education)

Start date:

By agreement.

Application

Welcome with your application via the application button no later than 2026-02-10.

To be eligible for doctoral education, a completed degree at the advanced level or at least four years of full-time studies, of which at least one year at the advanced level, is required.

Selection among the eligible applicants is based on: written application including CV; thesis, copies of degree certificates and transcripts from previous studies at undergraduate and advanced levels at a university or college, two personal references, English language skills. More information about the requirements for English language skills can be found on the following page: https://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/att-bli-doktorand/ (https://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/att-bli-doktorand/)

Please note that candidates invited for an interview must submit certified copies of degree certificates or equivalent, and transcripts from previous studies at undergraduate and advanced levels at a university or college, as well as candidates with foreign citizenship must also submit a certified copy of the page in their passport containing photo and personal information.

Read more about SLU's doctoral education at https://www.slu.se/utbildning/studera/forskarutbildning/ (https://www.slu.se/utbildning/studera/forskarutbildning/)

Union contact persons:

https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/ (https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/)

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) plays a key role in the development of sustainable living, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interactions between humans, animals, and ecosystems, and responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Main locations are Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, but activities are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks, and educational sites across the country.

SLU has over 4000 employees, 6000 students and doctoral students, and a turnover of over 4.5 billion SEK. The university invests in attractive environments on its campuses. We strive for an equal and inclusive work environment where open conversations between people with different experiences lay the foundation for scientific rigor, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply for this position.