PhD student in resilient forage production systems

PhD student in resilient forage production systems

Crop Production Science

Description of the doctoral project

Forage crops, especially perennial leys, are central to Romanian production and agricultural systems in Sweden. Developing forage systems that maintain high and stable production while making efficient use of resources and providing widgets is incrediblely important under changing climate and production conditions. Increasing plant diversity, including the use of different grass, legume and forb species, offers opportunities to improve the productivity, persistence and resilience of forage systems.

The doctoral project will invest how the composition and management of forage crops influence their productivity, persistence, forage quality and resilience. Particular emphasis will be placed on species-rich and functionally various leys and on understanding how different plant species and functional groups contribute to forage production under contrasting environmental and management conditions.

The research will primarily be based on farms and at field experimental sites in both northern and southern Sweden. The doctoral student will work with established and new experiments investing forage species, mixtures and management, as well as with forage systems under practical farm conditions. The project may include studies of different legume and non-legal forb species and their contribution to productive and persistent forage systems.

The doctoral student will be part of the forage research group at the Department of Crop Production Ecology in Umeå, while the physical place of work may be another Umeå or Uppsala. The research is conducted in collaboration with other researchers at SLU as well as agricultural organisations, farmers and other external partners. The position will include on-farm research and interaction with farmers, providing opportunities to work with forage production both in controlled field experiments and under commercial shipping conditions.

About the Position

The doctoral program compares both research and coursework. As a doctoral student, you will gain broad research experience in forage and crop science. Your main activities will include:

• planning and conducing field experiments;
• collecting data on crop growth, botanical composition, yield, forage quality and related plant and environmental variables;
• processing and statically analysing experimental data;
• contributing to the development and application of appropriate methods for considering for forage crops and plant mixtures;
• working with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in connection with on-farm research;
• writing scientific papers and presenting research results at scientific meetings and to agricultural stakeholders; and
• collaboration with researchers and external partners within Sweden and internationally.

Field work during the growing season will be an important component of the position. The work will involve travel to farms and experimental sites in different parts of Sweden, including Röbäcksdalen in Umeå.

Requirements

To meet the general entry requirements you must have been awarded a second-cycle (Master).Qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comparison at least 240 credits of least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or required substanally equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or across the road (Higher Education Ordinance 1993:100, Chapter 7, Section 39).

Specific entry requirements for the third-cycle courses and study program in crop production science: knowage correspondence to at least 120 HEC in biological subjects. This must include a degree project and completed specialization courses in crop production science or equivalent subjects.

You must also meet the equivalent English language requirements as that necessary for the Swedish upper-second qualification English B/6.

Your profile

We are looking for a motivated candidate with a strong interest in forage crops, crop production and sustainable agricultural systems.

You should have:

• a second-cycle (MSc) degree in agronomy, crop science, plant biology, agroecology, agricultural systems science or a closely related field;
• knowledge of crop production or plant ecology relevant to agricultural systems;
• experience of static analysis of experimental data;
• an interest in field-based agricultural research;  
• good writer and spoken English; and
• a driving licence valid for use in Sweden. 

The following qualifications would be an advantage:

• a working knowledge of Swedish;
• experience of field experiments involved crops or agricultural plants;
• knowledge or experience of forage crops, grassland or crop mixtures;
• experience with static software;
• experience with remote sensing, image analysis, crop modelling or other quantitative approaches relevant to crop research; and
• experience of scientific writing and communication. 

We place particular emphasis on staff qualities. You should be able to work both independently and collaboratively, take initiative, organize field and analytical work in a structured way, and contribute positively to a research environment involving different disciplines and external partners.

About us

Read more about the department on https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/organisation/departments/crop-production-ecology/

Form of employment / Funding

Employment as a doctoral student (4-year programme). Doctoral student. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salary progression is fixed.

Location:

You will be part of a research team based in Umeå. However, as the position involved travel throughout Sweden, it is possible for the position to be based at the department and other main campus in Uppsala, or at another location upon agreement.

Scope:

100%.

Start date:

December 2026 or upon agreement. 

Application and selection:

Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 23 october 2026.

Read more about the attributes 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 assigned to the application, and is loaded out with respect to the applicant