Lund University, Department of Physical Geograhy and Ecosystem Science

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

The recent (2018) drought reduced the Swedish cereal harvest, reduced available grazing resources and lowered the harvest of animal feed, crucial for maintaining national food production and to sustain animal stocks over the winter. The 2018 cereal harvest was the worst since the late 1950’s. Effects on forest and forestry are still partly unknown but reduced carbon uptake have been observed and drought induced bark beetle outbreaks in southern Sweden have been reported. The rate of recovery and implications for forest production and economy remain to be analyzed. This project will further investigate the consequences of the drought on terrestrial vegetation and ecosystem services in Sweden.

Jobassignment
The PhD candidate will be a part of a research-project called “Drought impact on Swedish terrestrial ecosystems - detecting and mapping vegetation change investigating effects of the 2018 drought in Sweden. The project aim to:

  1. Develop and test change-detection methodologies for terrestrial vegetation based on time series information from new EO satellites at high spatial and temporal resolution.

  2. Quantify and understand spatially explicit drought related changes in agricultural ecosystems.

    a. Identify drivers and map areas with high risk of disturbances.

    b. Quantify effects on production and the carbon cycle.

  3. Quantify and understand spatially explicit drought related changes in forest ecosystems.

    a. Identify drivers and map areas with high risk of disturbances (insects).

    b. Quantify effects on forest growth and the carbon cycle.

    c. Investigate lag effects on the following vegetation seasons.

  4. Develop management recommendations to mitigate direct and adverse secondary effects (insect outbreaks) of drought on crucial Swedish ecosystem services within forestry and agriculture.

See full project plan at http://web.nateko.lu.se/personal/jonas.ardo/PHD/BECC_PHD_Application_NOV09.pdf

Desirable skills and qualifications

  • MSc in geoscience, physical geography, plant ecology or a similar topic.
  • Strong skills in remote sensing.
  • Skills in meteorology and climatology.
  • Skills in programming.
  • Skills in plant science
  • Fluently in English (read/write).
  • Knowledge of Swedish agriculture and forestry.
  • Good communication skills and ability to work independently and in a group.
  • Some Swedish language skills is good but not mandatory. 


Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

Type of employment Temporary position
First day of employment As soon as possible or according to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2018/4529
Contact
  • Jonas Ardö, Professor, jonas.ardo@nateko.lu.se , +46 462224031
  • Vendela Breeze, HR administrator, +46 462223085
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, +46 462229362
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, +46 462229364
  • SEKO: Seko Civil, +46 462229366
Published 21.Dec.2018
Last application date 31.Jan.2019 11:59 PM CET

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