PhD in Restoration of Mixed Broadleaved Forests — Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Key details

• Host institution: Institutionen för sydsvensk skogsvetenskap
• Location: Institutionen för sydsvensk skogsvetenskap, Sweden
• Application deadline: August 14, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Application portal / instructions: Official application link.
• Context on Euraxess: Original listing.

About the position

Institutionen för sydsvensk skogsvetenskap

Doctoral Project: Restoration of Mixed Broadleaved Forests for Future Ecosystem Services

Swedish society is debating the long-term capacity of even-aged conifer-dominated forestry to reliably produce biomass over the coming century while sustaining the breadth of ecosystem services demanded from forestlands. Alternative approaches, such as restoration of broadleaved forests, are of growing interest. These alternatives may enhance the overall resilience of Swedish forests to projected climate change, better balance the provision of forest ecosystem services, provide vital habitat for forest biodiversity, and help ensure forest ecosystem services delivery over the coming century.

The EU Nature Restoration Regulation and Sweden’s national environmental goals recognize the urgent need to restore and improve the ecological condition of forest ecosystems across Europe. This project aims to identify cost-effective paths forward for the regeneration and restoration of new mixed broadleaved-dominated forests.

About the Position

We intend to contrast passive versus active pathways for restoring such diverse forests. To address these issues, we will use existing experiments, chronosequences, and survey data to evaluate the effects of restoration on ecosystem services, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of international researchers. We are looking for a PhD candidate who will address these challenges, but we welcome those who bring specific research interests that can shape the ultimate direction of the PhD.

Requirements

• Awarded a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification, or 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).
• Meet the equivalent English language requirements as those necessary for the Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6.

Your Profile

• By the date of admission to PhD studies, you must have a Master’s degree in forest science, biology, ecology, or equivalent.
• Strong interest in forest ecosystems and an interest in working with large data sets.
• A driver’s license is necessary for work duties.
• Beneficial qualifications: research experience in forestry, ecology, and similar subjects; experience in field-based forest research, transdisciplinary studies, and ecosystem service assessments.
• Focus is given to your analytical and problem-solving abilities and your ability to work independently.
• Beneficial qualifications include the demonstrated capacity to express yourself in English, both orally and in writing.

About Us

SLU is one of the world’s highest ranked universities in several subject areas and is ranked #1 in forestry (CWUR). At our centre, we carry out research, teaching, and dissemination of scientific findings with direct application to the sustainable management of forests. We have a multidisciplinary profile, with global relevance and specialized expertise on forests and forestry as complex socio-ecological systems. We closely collaborate with multiple stakeholders and conduct applied research in silviculture, forest ecology, pathology, policy, and planning. We teach bachelor, Master’s, and PhD level courses addressing all of these subject areas.

Form of Employment / Funding

• Employment as a doctoral student (4-year programme).
• Doctoral student’s salaries are set following the local collective agreement. Salary progression is fixed.
• Location: Alnarp
• Scope: 100%
• Start date: December 1, 2026, or according to agreement.

Application and Selection

Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 2026-09-14. Read more about the attachments that your application should include at the SLU website (see link in source). 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.