Lund University, Faculty of Science, Centre for Environmental and Climate Research

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.

These are four-year PhD projects in Environmental Science located within an attractive interdisciplinary research environment at the Centre for Environmental and Climate Research (CEC), at Lund University. Today, CEC has around twenty graduate students with opportunities for collaboration with research groups across Europe. CEC also hosts two PhD schools that are available to PhD students in environmental science.

Job assignments
We are looking for two highly motivated PhD students to join the ecological-economic modelling group at CEC. As part of this group you will be working with pressing societal issues related to agriculture, biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate change. Specifically you will work in a multi-disciplinary environment to develop and apply ecological-economic models. Ultimately, we aim to develop research and models that can inform policy making for achieving Swedish and global sustainability goals.

The PhD projects will focus on two topics a) the economic and environmental impacts of increasing biomass production from agricultural land to meet increasing demand for food and bioenergy, and b) analyzing the potential for ecological intensification of agriculture to balance future food production with environmental goals. The PhD positions will be linked to the FORMAS-funded project Land4biomass, an interdisciplinary research project focusing on the production potential of agricultural biomass and policy instruments to promote a fossil-free society while meeting food production and environmental objectives. Also connected to the project is “Balancing agriculture, conservation and environmental quality: tools for evaluating policy responses” financed by the strategic research environment Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate (BECC).

Both projects have a common methodology, as ecological-economic modelling based on mathematical programming. Consequently, the positions use quantitative analysis, solving mathematical problems, programming and linking economic and ecological knowledge. Both projects will involve modelling of environmental impacts in collaboration with natural scientists: the first with a focus on GHG emissions, and the second on biodiversity and water pollution. Considerable opportunities for collaboration and mutual modelling support will exist between the two projects.

Eligibility/Entry Requirements
Candidates must hold a university degree at master degree level (MSc.) or equivalent, in Economics or Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or relevant natural science fields, e.g., Physical Geography, Mathematics, Biology or Agricultural Sciences. You should have an ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.

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, and a master thesis project of at least 30 credits, or
- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad. 

Merits are:     

  • Experience in research or analysis in relation to land use, particularly the green sectors’ economy or governance/policy. Experience in applied policy analysis, preferably agricultural and environmental policy.
  • Experience and good skills of quantitative methods and computer programming (e.g., in R, GAMS, MATLAB, ArcGIS, etc.).
  • Experience of ecologic modelling.
  • Good skills in optimization methods, particularly economic models based on mathematical programming.
  • Fluent in written and spoken English, and good knowledge in Swedish is a merit.
  • Undergraduate studies in microeconomics, environmental economics and/or agricultural economics.
  • Knowledge of the agricultural sector and farming in Sweden and Europe. The PhD candidate will need to have or develop knowledge on agriculture in Sweden, which will involve interaction with experts at, e.g., Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Basis of Assessment
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.

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, and a master thesis project of at least 30 credits, or
- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

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

Type of employment Temporary position
First day of employment 1 september 2019
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 2
Full-time equivalent 100
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2019/1351
Contact
  • Mark Brady, docent i nationalekonomi, 072 237 04 29; mark.brady@agrifood.lu.se
  • Katarina Hedlund, professor i biologi, 046 222 37 98; katarina.hedlund@biol.lu.se
Union representative
  • OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-222 93 62
  • SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, 046-222 93 64
  • SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-222 93 66
Published 10.Apr.2019
Last application date 15.May.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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