Doctoral student focussed on methane fluxes from forests and their impact on the global atmosphere

At the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, extensive research is carried out centred on various aspects of the Earth system, with work ranging from measuring fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems, understanding aquatic biogeochemical pathways to tracking changes in the atmosphere. The Department leads Sweden’s involvement in the international project ICOS – Integrated Carbon Observing System, which aims to improve understanding of the carbon budgets across all spatial scales. Through this, the department’s researchers have first-hand access to multiple field capabilities to study atmospheric composition and biosphere-atmosphere interactions.

This project will aim to improve understanding of the methane (CH4) carbon budget through a combination of new measurement and modelling work. CH4 is emitted from a variety of sources and processes, balanced by chemical destruction in the troposphere, stratosphere, and through processes controlled by soil and plant microbes (lifetime of ~10 years). Although anthropogenic emissions have been a clear driver of the rising atmospheric concentration, changes in the rate of atmospheric growth are not understood, which ultimately hampers predictions on future scenarios of this potent greenhouse gas and its impact on climate over the next decades and century.

The global sinks responsible for methane’s destruction are particularly hard to quantify, whether due to poor understanding of the tropospheric reactive radical distribution and variation, or the undersampling of terrestrial microbial sinks leading to large uncertainties when scaled up globally. This PhD project aims to improve our understanding of CH4’s sinks through creation of new observations including measurements of isotope ratios, analysis of existing datasets, and interpretation through atmospheric modelling. Global scale models of atmospheric methane will be set up to simulate methane and its isotope ratios for comparison against observatons available from the last years and decades. Field studies focusing on biosheric sinks and their ability to fractionate isotopes of methane will be undertaken with an aim to improve understanding of their influence on the global methane budget. Field measurement campaigns will be developed alongside the modelling work, in partularly to understand the role of forests in removing atmospheric methane. The student will be directly involved in the implementation and maintenance of greenhouse gas measurements and carry out their own studies at experimental sites.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties, but no more than 20%.

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.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in this subject area if he or she has Master’s degree in one of the natural sciences, or chemical engineering. Within the degree a demonstrated focus or proven interest in atmospheric or enviromental science. Those with a Master’s degree in Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science therefore meet the criteria.

Additional requirements:

• Knowledge in the principles that control the movement and transformation of chemicals within the atmosphere and bioshere.
• Knowledge in the methods, either computational, observational, or both, that are used to study atmospheric composition and/or local fluxes to the atmosphere.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English. 

Assessment criteria

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.

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience in field measurement techniques especially those links to understanding atmopsheric composition and fluxes of gases.
• Experience in computing and use of statistical analysis techniques or running computer models. This includes programming skills and an interest in developig these skills.
• An understanding of isotope biogeochemistry either through measurements, data interpretation, or modelling as part of a project.
• Driving license authorization B.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

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

This employment is today placed by INES. From January 1st 2026 your employment will be placed at the newly formed department of Earth and Environmental Sciences due to a planned co-organization. This will give you a unique opportunity to be a part of a dynamic development process and give you an opportunity to contribute to a new interdisciplinary department. 

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!