Department of Forest Resource Management

The Department of Forest Resource Management is seeking a motivated researcher to drive the digitalization of forestry. The position focuses on developing and integrating automated, cost-effective methods for collecting tree-level data to support precision forestry.

About the job

You will work at the intersection of advanced remote sensing and practical forestry. The research involves integrating data from multiple sources – particularly airborne and mobile laser scanning – with operational machine data to create practical workflows. A specific but complementary part of the role involves evaluating the economic benefits (information value) of these new inventory methods compared to traditional methods.

Responsibilities:

• Algorithm development: Develop and validate workflows for estimating forest characteristics using high-resolution LiDAR data (ALS, MLS/TLS).
• Research funding: Actively lead the application process for external research funding, writing grant applications to secure long-term project funding.
• Sector collaboration: Collaborate closely with partners in the Swedish forestry sector to ensure the relevance of the research.

Your background

Requirements:

• PhD in forest remote sensing or a related field.
• Knowledge of Nordic forestry, particularly mechanized harvesting and boreal forest management.
• Advanced programming skills in Python and R for statistical analysis and spatial data processing.
• Experience in applying for research funding or documented ability to write high-quality grant applications.
• Documented experience in coordinating data collection campaigns, processing, and analyzing LiDAR data.

Desirable qualifications:

• Experience with decision support systems for forestry (e.g., Heureka) and economic analysis of inventory data.
• Experience in the Swedish forestry sector, with a documented history of collaboration with forestry companies.
• Knowledge of Deep Learning frameworks applied to forestry.
• Experience in generating synthetic data.

About us

The Department of Forest Resource Management conducts education and research in the fields of forest remote sensing, forest inventory and sampling, forest planning, forest mathematical statistics, and landscape studies. The department is also responsible for implementing ongoing environmental analysis programs such as the National Forest Inventory and National Landscape Inventories in Sweden, which includes inventories of coastal areas, mountains, grasslands, and deciduous forests, as well as butterflies and bumblebees. The operations combine research and environmental analysis in interdisciplinary projects, providing unique opportunities to develop holistic concepts for sustainable resource utilization. We have approximately 110 employees and an additional 90 seasonal employees during the summer months in our field inventories.

For more information, visit https://www.slu.se/srh (https://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/)

Location:

Umeå

Employment type:

Permanent position. SLU may apply a probationary period.

Extent:

100%

Start date:

By agreement.

Application:

Welcome with your application via the application button below by 2026-03-03.

Union contacts:

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, grounded in 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 operations are also conducted at research stations, experimental parks, and educational sites across the country.

SLU has over 4000 employees, 6000 students, and researchers, with 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. We therefore welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to apply for the current position.