Vacant job

Department of Forest Resource Management

Do you want to help model the future of forest landscapes? We are now looking for a two-year postdoc position at the Department of Forest Resource Management at SLU in Umeå.

About the job

We are seeking a postdoc with a specific interest in forest landscape modeling. As part of a two-year postdoc project, you will use the decision support system Heureka to analyze how different forest management strategies affect biodiversity and the production of ecosystem services, as well as how these interact with the establishment of wind power. The work involves quantifying conflicts and synergies between different sustainability goals in the forest landscape using simulation and optimization. The analysis will be based on spatially explicit future scenarios, developed in collaboration with various stakeholder groups, and will include indicators such as biomass production, carbon sequestration, recreational values, and wind energy.

The postdoc position is part of the interdisciplinary research project WindyForests, which brings together researchers from several universities and disciplines with the aim of developing knowledge for the sustainable planning of wind power in forest landscapes. For more information, see: http://www.slu.se/forskning/forskningskatalog/projekt/w/windyforests/ (http://www.slu.se/forskning/forskningskatalog/projekt/w/windyforests/)

Your background

You must have a PhD in forestry, ecology, environmental science, systems analysis, mathematics, operations research, or a similar discipline, with a strong interest in forests and forestry, where quantitative modeling and/or optimization constitute a central part of the doctoral work. Experience in working with optimization methods, long-term modeling of forest landscapes and their ecosystem services, and computer-based decision support systems in general, and the Heureka system in particular, is an advantage. Personal qualities such as analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to work independently, and teamwork skills are highly valued. Good written and oral communication skills in English are required.

The position is intended for a junior researcher, and we are primarily looking for individuals who have obtained their PhD within the last three years. If there are special reasons, the degree may have been obtained earlier. Special reasons include leave due to illness, parental leave, trust positions within trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

About us

The Department of Forest Resource Management conducts education and research in the areas of forest remote sensing, forest inventory and sampling, forest planning, forest mathematical statistics, and landscape studies. The department is also responsible for conducting the ongoing environmental analysis programs, the National Forest Inventory and the National Land Cover Inventory in Sweden, which include inventories on coastal shores, in the mountains, in grasslands and deciduous forests, as well as butterflies and bumblebees. In our operations, research and environmental analysis are combined in interdisciplinary projects, providing unique opportunities to develop holistic concepts for the sustainable use of natural resources. In total, we have approximately 120 employees and during the summer half-year, an additional 90 seasonal employees for our field inventories.

More information can be found at 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

Fixed-term employment for 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Scope

100%

Start date

As agreed.

Application

We welcome your application via the button below by 2026-08-11.

Union representatives

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 the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. The main campuses are in Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, but operations are also conducted at research stations, demonstration parks, and educational sites throughout the country. SLU has over 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students, and a turnover of over 4.5 billion SEK. The university invests in attractive environments on its campus areas. We work for an equal and inclusive working environment where open dialogue between people with different experiences lays the foundation for scientific rigor, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome people with different backgrounds and perspectives to apply for the current position.