PhD Student position in Biology, specialisation in Environmental Science

Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua)

Third-cycle subject area

Biology

Assessing and prioritisation of Coastal Marine Restoration measures

There is an urgent need for restoration in coastal and marine areas. The restoration challenge is complex, as many areas are affected by widescale pressures acting in concert with local impacts. To tackle this challenge, we need to understand how to combine ecological understanding with societal interactions at both local and larger spatial scales. The PhD position is in a project which will support effective strategic planning for coastal marine restoration by developing key performance indicators to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of coastal restoration measures in relation to ecological, social and economic sustainability aspects. The project team is transdisciplinary including scientists from the fields of ecology, sociology and economics. The results from the project will inform restoration measures at local and national scales.

About the position

The main task is to conduct the PhD thesis work under supervision, including development of the PhD student's methodological, theoretical, analytical, writing, and presentation skills.

The PhD student will utilise a range of methods including stakeholder dialogues, analyses of spatial data, validation and testing the indicators on case-studies. You will develop maps of nature values to contribute essential knowledge for sustainable marine coastal planning and identify hotspots where restoration measures would have the greatest cost-effectiveness relevant to the ecological, social and economic goals. 

Your work will advance our understanding of how spatially explicit measures and spatial optimisation can influence restoration effectiveness and about processes for including knowledge from multiple sources in management actions.

You will have close contact with managers from Municipalities, County boards and the Swedish Agency for Water and Marine Management.

Requirements

To meet the general entry requirements, you must have been awarded a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance 1993:100, Chapter 7, Section 39). You must also meet the equivalent English language requirements as those necessary for the Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6.

Your profile

We are looking for a curious, collaborative, motivated person with an interest in aquatic ecosystems and in cooperating between disciplines and with a wide range of stakeholders. We place great emphasis on personal qualities such as curiosity, responsibility, and ability to work in a team as well as independently, and on personal suitability for the learning and research tasks.

Necessary qualifications:

• The applicant should by the date of admission to PhD studies have a second-cycle degree (e.g. MSc or equivalent) in environmental science or management, aquatic ecology or another relevant subject area,
• A genuine interest in research and in developing as an independent researcher
• Excellent collaborative and organisational skills
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English
• Skills in data management and statistical analysis

Other skills and qualifications considered meriting:

• Experience in scientific writing
• Written and spoken communication skills in Swedish
• Good knowledge of aquatic ecology
• Experience with geographical information systems and spatial analysis
• Experience with sociological survey design
• Experience with ecological field studies

About us

Do you want to work in an inspiring environment and contribute to the sustainable use of our seas, lakes and watercourses? At the Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua) we are engaged in marine monitoring, management advice, research and education in aquatic ecology.  The department is the largest department at SLU with about 180 employees at four main offices and four research stations. This PhD position will be based in Uppsala at the Institute of Coastal Research.  Welcome to visit us at http://www.slu.se/aquaticresources!

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Uppsala, Sweden.

Form of employment:

Employment as PhD-student for 4 years. Doctoral student’s salaries are set following the local collective agreement. Salary progression is fixed.

Scope:

100%.

Start date:

1 December 2026, or as agreed.

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 26 September 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Read more about the attachments that your application should include at https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/how-can-i-become-a-doctoral-student/application/

Selection among eligible applicants is based on the documents attached to the application, and is carried out with regard to the applicant’s ability to complete the programme within the allotted time.

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 more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/