Department of Forest Resource Management

The Department of Forest Resource Management conducts education and research in the areas of forest planning, remote sensing, forest inventory and sampling, forest mathematical statistics, and landscape studies. The department is also responsible for the implementation of ongoing environmental analysis programs such as the National Forest Inventory, National Targeted Forest Damage Inventory, National Landscape Inventories in Sweden, Terrestrial Habitat Monitoring, and Butterfly and Bumblebee Inventories. The activities combine research and environmental analysis in interdisciplinary projects, providing unique opportunities to develop comprehensive concepts for sustainable utilization of natural resources. We have approximately 110 employees and about 90 seasonal workers during the summer in our field inventories. More information can be found at www.slu.se/srh (http://www.slu.se/srh).

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/)

WIFORCE Graduate School

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

Biodiversity and the role of forests in climate work are central societal issues today that require more knowledge. To sustainably manage and secure the biological diversity of forests, a coherent fundamental scientific research program is needed to address 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 (http://www.slu.se/wiforce)), has been established.

Remote Sensing of Fire Impact and Its Dependence on Management Methods in Boreal Forests

Research Subject: Technology/Forest Management/Biology

Content Description:

The department is seeking a PhD candidate in the field of forest remote sensing. Using remote sensing, the PhD candidate will develop methods to quantify fire impact and analyze how this depends on forest structure and management methods in the boreal forests of Fennoscandia. The work includes, among other things, the development of methods to estimate the impact of fires and fuel structure, processing various remote sensing and mapping data, statistical modeling, mapping fire risk, and analyzing the impact of management methods on fire behavior.

Remote sensing data considered includes airborne and ground laser data, satellite and aerial images. Collection of field data and participation in burning experiments may also be part of the work. The research group includes experts in boreal forest management, forest remote sensing, fire behavior, and fire risk. The faculty grants a PhD in technology, forest management, or biology depending on the candidate's background. The student will work closely with researchers and technical staff, as well as connected external stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Requirements

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, forestry, biology, remote sensing/geoscience, fire technology, or another relevant discipline.
• Good knowledge of English for communication and scientific writing. The candidate must demonstrate their ability to deliver written English of good quality by attaching scientific work (e.g., a master's thesis or other work) to their application.

Meritorious

• Knowledge and experience in:
• Forest fires
• Forest ecology and management
• Nordic forestry
• Remote sensing data: Airborne and/or ground laser, satellite (e.g., sentinel2), aerial images
• Statistical modeling and analysis
• GIS e.g., ArcGis, Qgis, R
• Programming, e.g., R, Python, C etc.
• Fieldwork
• Driving license B

We place great importance on personal qualities such as collaboration skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to work independently.

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 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 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, knowledge of English. 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 the candidates who are called 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, and that candidates with foreign citizenship must also submit a certified copy of the page in their passport that contains a 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 throughout 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 a gender-equal and inclusive work environment where open conversations between people with different experiences lay the foundation for scientific rigor, creativity, and development. Therefore, we welcome people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply for the current position.