Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainability Science

at Stockholm Resilience Centre. Closing date: 2024-10-13.

Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) explores how people and nature can live and develop on a planet under pressure. The Centre is a collaboration between Stockholm University and the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy Sciences. 
We bring people together from around the world to research, study and collaborate, for a thriving and resilient biosphere that enables well-being for all.
 
For more information about us, please visit: Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC).

Project description
This postdoctoral position offers an opportunity to engage in place-based research with global impact. You will be part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary team working in collaboration with Stanford University’s Natural Capital Project (NatCap) on a pioneering research initiative funded by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation. Your work will contribute to the development and adaptation of the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) framework, originally implemented in China, to the distinct social-ecological contexts of Sweden. 

Main responsibilities
Your primary responsibility will be to estimate the value of ecosystem services at both national and regional levels within Sweden, in a way that informs and supports decision-makers. You will work as part of an international team to develop and adapt the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) framework to Sweden's unique social-ecological context. This will involve exploring available ecosystem service data across multiple scales, using assessment models, and applying valuation methods.

The GEP framework was first developed and implemented in China, where it measures the aggregate monetary value of ecosystem goods and services. Policies based on GEP have been used in China for initiatives such as payment for ecosystem services and land-use planning. More recently, GEP has gained interest from researchers and policymakers in countries across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. This project aims to adapt these global experiences for Sweden. For more on GEP see: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01948-8. 

As part of your role, you will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team from Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) and Stanford’s Natural Capital Project to integrate ecosystem services into the GEP framework, with a specific focus on Sweden. You will use established research tools, such as the InVEST modelling framework and GEP methodologies, along with ecosystem service data collected from Sweden. The research will assess GEP both on a national scale and within specific case study regions, including the greater Stockholm area.

This position will be based at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, with research visits to Stanford’s Natural Capital Project expected. You will work under the supervision of Prof. Garry D. Peterson (SRC), Dr. Megan Meacham (SRC), and Dr. Tong Wu (Stanford), who have extensive experience with ecosystem services in Sweden and GEP in China.

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 special attention will be given to research skills needed for the position. We seek a candidate with the following qualifications:

• Experience working on empirical analyses  of social-ecological systems, experience with ecosystem service assessment and valuation is a merit
• Skills in geocomputation and programming competence in a scientific programming language such as R, Julia, or Python. Demonstrated experience in data curation and management
• Previous experience using InVEST models is a merit
• Familiarity with Swedish and European environmental data and environmental accounting is a merit
• Willingness to work as part of a transdisciplinary team, and evidence of previous work with researchers from different disciplines
• Ability to communicate research ideas and results and an interest to engage with stakeholders outside the academic community
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.  Swedish is not a requirement, but is a merit.

We are seeking a researcher who has the ability to work in an international, fast-paced environment.

We are seeking a researcher who is responsible, responsive, and effective team member.

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
Further information about the position can be obtained from Prof. Garry D. Peterson, garry.petersson@su.se, telephone: +46 8-674 7742.

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, which should address:
  • Why you are interested in working at the SRC on this project
  • What scientific, technical, and personal skills you bring to the project
  • Suggest some approaches or methods you believe would be useful to evaluate GEP in Sweden
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Copy of PhD diploma
• 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!

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