Vacant job

The Department of Science, Design and Sustainable Development (NDH) operates at Campus Östersund and Campus Sundsvall, where we conduct education and research within and across our subject areas with a focus on sustainable development. Eco-technology and Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary subject where we strive to understand the interaction between human societies and nature, as well as to design systems for the sustainable use of natural resources.

Job Description

The position comprises doctoral studies at the research level with research work (80–100%) as well as teaching and administrative duties (up to 20%).

The polar regions play a crucial role in the Earth's climate system. This doctoral project investigates the physical processes governing the stability, structural integrity, and mass balance of Antarctic ice shelves to improve predictions of their contribution to future sea-level rise. Ice shelves regulate the flow of land-based ice into the ocean and are therefore critical for long-term sea-level changes. However, the processes governing the response of ice shelves to atmospheric and oceanic forcing remain poorly understood, particularly the interplay between surface processes, basal melting, and structural weakening.

Depending on the project's focus and the applicant's background, the research may cover one or more of the following themes: surface melting and firn processes and their significance for ice shelf stability, crevassing, weakening, and collapse mechanisms, as well as integrated observational and modeling approaches for studying ice shelf processes.

The doctoral student is expected to formulate and develop research questions regarding interactions between Antarctic ice shelves and the ocean, analyze observational data (e.g., radar measurements and weather station data), contribute to the development and application of numerical models, assess uncertainties in future sea-level projections, publish results in international peer-reviewed journals, and present research at national and international conferences.

The position is located at Mid Sweden University within the National School of Excellence in Arctic and Antarctic Research (SEAL), which offers an internationally competitive and interdisciplinary research and educational environment with access to unique infrastructure, field campaigns, and doctoral courses. The role involves close collaboration with an associate supervisor at Uppsala University and the program "Air, Water and Landscape," including regular research visits.

The project is also part of the international research program iQ2300 – East Antarctic Sea Level Rise Contribution in 2300, with logistical support from the Polar Research Secretariat. The work may include field campaigns in polar regions as well as national and international travel for collaboration and conferences. Fieldwork may involve longer stays in remote environments and requires the ability to work under demanding conditions.

Qualifications

Basic eligibility is granted to those who have completed an advanced level degree or fulfilled course requirements totaling at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level, or have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge within or outside the country.

Special eligibility is granted to those who have at least 90 higher education credits in relevant subject areas such as physical geography, glaciology, geophysics, climate science, oceanography, meteorology, applied mathematics, physics, engineering, or have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge within or outside the country.

Selection Criteria

The selection is based on a holistic assessment of the applicant's ability to benefit from the doctoral education. Special emphasis is placed on:

• Academic merits and relevance of previous studies
• Experience with quantitative methods, modeling, data analysis and/or geoscientific methods as well as fieldwork
• Scientific motivation and research potential
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
• Very good ability to express oneself orally and in writing in English
• The successful candidate is expected to be highly motivated and curious, with strong analytical skills.

The position requires good collaboration and communication skills as well as the ability to plan and conduct research independently. Flexibility and interest in interdisciplinary research are meritorious.

Experience in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Fortran or similar), numerical modeling, remote sensing, working with large datasets, or fieldwork is meritorious.

Administration

The processing of the appointment follows the forms specified in Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance and proceeds in accordance with Mid Sweden University's employment regulations.

Employment and Commencement

The doctoral appointment corresponds to four years of full-time study and leads to a doctoral degree. Commencement 2026-09-01 or as agreed.

The first appointment is for a maximum of one year and can thereafter be extended by a maximum of two years at a time. Regulations regarding doctoral appointments are found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), Chapter 5, §§ 1–7.

Active participation in the research environment and regular presence on campus are expected within the framework of the doctoral education.

Place of Work: Östersund

Salary: According to Mid Sweden University's salary scale for doctoral students.

Information

For more information about the research project, contact Dr. Katrin Lindbäck +46 (0)10-1726590, [email protected]. For questions about the employment and doctoral education, contact Proprefect, Professor Oskar Englund +46 (0)10-1726590, [email protected]

Application

The application should be written in English or Swedish and include a cover letter describing research interests and motivation, a CV, copies of degree certificates and transcripts, a master's thesis (or equivalent), and contact details for two academic references.

We welcome your application via our recruitment system no later than 2026-06-30.