The Research School in Future Silviculture
Sweden is a country where forests have been and still are of great importance. The use and utilization of the forest is an issue where the balance between forest production and the environment is in focus. Growth in Swedish forests has declined over the past 15 years. In order to both sustainably use and safeguard forest biodiversity, a coherent basic science research program is needed that addresses large and complex issues and develops new analytical tools. It is against this background that the Research School in Future Silviculture is established with a focus on the future sustainable use of forests. The Research School Future Silviculture is part of the Wallenberg Initiative in Forest Research (WIFORCE) at SLU. Around 50 doctoral students will be admitted to the Research School. Would you like to make a difference for the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join the Research School in Future Silviculture!
We are looking for an industry/collaboration-based PhD student in forest genomics related to climate adaptation. The doctoral studies will be performed at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, which is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), at SLU in Umeå. The employment will be with SCA, where the PhD student will gain practical work experience. The doctoral student will be supervised by Harry Wu (Professor, SLU), Henrik Hallingbäck (Tree breeder, Skogforsk) and Ola Kårén (Chief Forester, SCA).
Read more about WIFORCE and the Research School www.slu.se/WIFORCE/en
Read more about Umeå Plant Science Centre www.upsc.se
Read more about SCA www.sca.com
Research subject:
Biology
Description:
Sweden is now increasingly experiencing a warmer summer climate and forest fires above the Arctic Circle. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the second most important tree species for commercial wood production and ecological integrity in Sweden. During the 20th century, there were two rounds of collection of outstanding trees from forests all over Sweden. Two critical questions for the national breeding program are i) whether current breeding populations will be still adaptive to their allocated breeding zones under the projected climate changes ii) what are the best strategies to overcome the possible mal-adaptation? With genomic data, it is now possible to apply a landscape approach to delineate seed and breeding zones without the need for long-term field testing.
The Scots pine project will (1) Examine the genomic base of local adaptation in natural and breeding populations to find genomic locations (loci) of adaptation for climate changes (2) Study the distribution of the adaptive loci in breeding populations thereby examining potential adaptation of current breeding populations to future climates and (3) Developing new strategies to adapt Scots pine breeding population to climate changes by genome-enhanced selection or assisted migration approaches.
Qualifications:
The successful applicant should possess creativity, autonomy and a dedicated team spirit
Applicants for doctoral studies at SLU must meet certain English language requirements. For students from Swedish upper secondary schools, this is English B/English 6. Alternatively, applicants must hold an internationally recognised English language qualification (TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge ESOL). More information is available on www.universityadmissions.se
A MSc degree, or equivalent, in a subject relevant for the project position, Forest Science, Genetics or similar.
Knowledge in statistical analysis, programming, quantitative genetic and breeding theory and Nordic (boreal) forestry are desirable
Place of work:
Umeå
Forms for funding or employment:
Doctoral studies at SLU
5 year employment at Skogforsk with 80% study activity as a PhD student (4 years) and 20% time for practical work experience at Skogforsk (1 år)
Starting date:
According to agreement
Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2024-08-19.
To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.
Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: https://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/application-admission-doctoral-studies/english-language-requirements/
Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.
Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/
Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.
SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Contact person
URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=10814&rmlang=UK