Postdoctoral position in freshwater ecology and climate change

Department of Forest Ecology and Management  

Project Description:

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, heatwaves, and storms. Small streams and their surrounding riparian forests are particularly vulnerable to these changes especially in managed forests where streams are already exposed to forestry pressures. Riparian buffers are the primary management tool for mitigating forestry impacts on streams, yet many buffers are poorly designed to maintain key ecological functions, particularly under a changing climate. The project addresses three interlinked questions: 1) how climate-driven extremes affect streams and riparian zones in managed forests; 2) which riparian buffer characteristics are most likely to enhance resistance and resilience to such extremes; and 3) how scientific knowledge on riparian buffers is translated into management guidelines and policy frameworks for climate adaptation.

This is a time-bound knowledge synthesis project that integrates scientific and applied evidence on climate-adapted riparian buffer management, focusing on boreal and hemi-boreal forest ecosystems. The project compiles and evaluates peer-reviewed literature, management guidelines, policy documents and/or available data to produce expected scientific deliverables.

About the position  

The postdoctoral fellow will be part of a collaborative project CLIMRIP (Climate-adapted riparian buffer management: a synthesis of boreal ecosystems and implications for practice) funded by Formas and supervised by principal investigator Associate Prof. Lenka Kuglerová. The project interdisciplinary team includes expertise in hydrology, ecology, freshwater science, microclimate, and social sciences. Support from the SLU library is secured. The postdoctoral fellow will also be part of a larger scientific network of the Krycklan Catchment Study.

The main responsibility of the postdoctoral fellow is to synthesise knowledge related to the three main project questions. Core tasks include:

• Designing and conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews, meta-analyses, and/or evidence mapping of peer-reviewed literature on climate impacts on boreal streams and riparian zones, and on riparian buffer design for climate resilience.
• Compiling and evaluating management guidelines and policy documents to assess how scientific knowledge on riparian buffers is translated into forestry practice and policy.
• Leading the writing and submission of peer-reviewed publications based on this synthesis work as well as contributing to other scientific output (e.g., reports).
• Collaborating with the project team to integrate findings across disciplines and contribute to practical recommendations for climate-adapted forestry management.
• Presenting results at project meetings, conferences.

Your profile

We seek a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher who has a strong background in natural sciences including freshwater sciences. The candidate should have a PhD in natural sciences (e.g., ecology, physical geography, forestry), ideally with specialization in freshwater ecology, limnology or similar fields.  We seek a candidate with experience in leading scientific publication process, and the ideal candidate must demonstrate ability to produce high-quality publications in English. Experience with reviews, meta-analyses or other knowledge synthesis methods are considered an advantage.

Other merits may include:

• Experience in boreal systems,
• Assessment of climate change impacts,
• Understanding of riparian buffer management,
• Ability to read Swedish,
• Participation in collaborative project teams

We are looking for a candidate with good personal skills, who is well-organized and structured, can work both independently and proactively, and has good communication skills.

As postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at most.

About us  

The Postdoc. will be employed at The Department of Forest Ecology and Management. The department includes about 115 people of which 9 are professors. Our mission is to advance the understanding of forest ecosystems and how these should be managed today and in the future. For more information: http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/

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

Location:

Umeå

Form of employment:

Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

1 January 2027 or according to agreement

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline September 28 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Please submit your application, including a short CV that includes relevant publications (max 3 pages), cover letter (max 1 page) and a research statement describing your qualifications and how do they fit this specific project (max 3 pages) . You also need to attach your Doctoral degree certificate. 

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 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 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.