Postdoc Fellow Finbio

at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Closing date: 24 May 2024.

Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) is a research centre on resilience and sustainability science at Stockholm University. The Centre advances the scientific understanding of the complex, dynamic interactions of people and nature in the Biosphere; train the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders; and engage in collaborations with change agents. It is a joint initiative between Stockholm University and the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The SRC currently employs around 160 members of staff.

Project description
The post-doctoral researcher position is part of the Mistra-funded research programme Finance to Revive Biodiversity (https://finbio.org/). FinBios overarching aim is to deliver research that can facilitate and speed up the consideration of biodiversity and nature-related risks as a key aspect of decision-making across the financial sector, from regulation to investment decisions.

This post-doctoral position focuses on identifying the channels through which biodiversity (nature-related) shocks are likely transmitted to the financial system.  The research will do this by analyzing the forestry and agricultural sectors of Sweden, using detailed company level data to map biodiversity dependencies, company size and international trade linkages. This analysis will produce an assessment of how firms are connected to hazards, each other, and trade.  While this work will be focused on Sweden, it aims to develop approaches and methods that are generally useful.

Main responsibilities
The post-doctoral researcher will focus on a bounded set of hazards that can be used as an experiment to explore how compound hazards can translate to financial risk. For example, Sweden’s 2018 drought, extreme heat, and forest fire had a direct impact on the forestry and agriculture sectors in Sweden, which also affected international trade flows. The project aims to link this mapping of how compound hazards impact firms to the mapping of the interconnections, to reconceptualize the pathways through which biodiversity risk translates into financial risk.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, organized researcher who has familiarity with agriculture and forestry, as well as a demonstrated understanding of corporate reporting, company-level data and the analysis of such data. This project will require the use of multiple methodologies, including ways of tracing complex causalities. Familiarity and demonstrated experience with systems analysis methods such as causal loop diagramming is valued.  Experience analyzing risks is a desired skill, and familiarity with the concept of compound risk is a merit. 

This project is led by Prof Beatrice Crona, senior scientific advisor of FinBio. The postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with other FinBio associated researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, as well as Swedish and international scholars that are part of the FinBio project, specifically Associate Prof Mark Sanctuary at IVL and KTH. The selected candidate will be employed at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and will be physically based in Stockholm. The postdoctoral researcher will be linked to at least one of the research themes at the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process attention will be given to research skills needed for the position:

• Relevant knowledge for the research tasks, especially knowledge of social-ecological systems, resilience, biodiversity, naturel-related risks to business and finance, as well as an understanding of compound risk
• Familiarity with the case sectors (Swedish forestry and agriculture)
• Demonstrated understanding of the corporate reporting and company-level data and analysis of such data
• Familiarity and demonstrated experience with systems analysis methods, such as causal loop diagramming
• Demonstrated ability to work in teams in an inter- or transdisciplinary setting
• Willingness and ability to work as part of a transdisciplinary team, particularly in collaboration with domain experts in Earth system science, biodiversity science, finance, and economics
• Fluent in English, and skilled in written and oral communication
• Demonstrated experience in developing non-academic communications material
• The applicant’s personal references.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information and questions regarding the project, please contact the Main Supervisor Beatrice Crona, beatrice.crona@su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• A document outlining (no more than 2 pages):
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Do not submit letters of recommendation until asked to in the interview process
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.