Postdoctoral in Plant Ecology and Organic Synthesis

The University of Gothenburg meets society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive education attracts researchers and students from all over the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future.

At the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) there are educational and research activities that range from the mountain ecosystem, through forests, land and watercourses, all the way to the sea. In these environments we work with different biological organizational levels from genes, via individuals and populations to communities and ecosystems. We work in ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics and combinations of these disciplines to understand the importance of natural and man-made environmental changes.

The department's activities are conducted in two different locations, GU's premises in Sodium at Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg, as well as at Kristineberg's marine research station, which is run by the Marina infrastructure at the University of Gothenburg. The current position is in Sodium.

We offer

Gothenburg University is a state authority, which means special benefits, more holidays and a good pension. You can read more about our employment benefits https://www.gu.se/jobba-hos-oss/formaner-och-forsakringar-vid-goteborgs-universitet.

Subject

Tundra Plant Cology and Organic Synthesis

Substance description 

The work is part of the ERC-funded ArcticEDGE project, which aims to investigate how heat-driven changes in Arctic vegetation composition and functional properties affect key ecosystem processes – especially degradation, primary production and fire – and ultimately the Arctic carbon cycle and feedback to the climate. The postdoc will focus on large-scale synthesis of data on vegetation and functional properties as well as experimental data to investigate how Arctic plant communities have changed in recent decades, how they react to warming and other environmental changes, and what these changes mean for the functioning of ecosystems in the tundra biome.

Tasks 

The postdoctoral position aims to give a researcher at the beginning of his or her career the opportunity to consolidate and further develop his or her competence in ecological synthesis, quantitative analysis and arctic field ecology. The postdoc will work within the ERC-funded project ArcticEDGE, with the main focus on synthesis of large datasets from several study sites on the composition of Arctic vegetation, plant functional properties and ecosystem response to environmental changes.

The work will include the harmonisation and analysis of long-term vegetation monitoring data and experimental datasets from across the Arctic, including the database for International Tundra Experiments (ITEX), and their integration with data on plant functional properties and ecosystem functions. The postdoc will use advanced statistical methods, including hierarchical Bayesian modelling, to investigate how Arctic plant communities and their functional composition have changed over time and in response to heating, changing precipitation conditions and other environmental factors. A central task is to lead scientific analyses and the work on manuscripts based on these synthesises, in close cooperation with the project's principal researcher (PI) and an international network of researchers active in the Arctic.

The employment will also include some field work in the Arctic. Depending on the needs of the project, this may include vegetation inventories at ITEX premises or other related monitoring premises, including measurements of plant species composition and abundance using established point-intercept/point frame methods, as well as the collection of data on plant functional properties. The Postdoc will also contribute to data management and documentation, collaboration with data providers, presentation and publication of results and the overall development of synthesis work within ArcticEDGE.

Read more about the position and apply via: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=6&lang=SE&validator=3038fcf1516ea1184a6da70a891f87da&job_id=41560

Employment 

The position is a fixed-term position for 2 years, scope 100 % with placement until further notice at the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences. Access to employment is from 2026-11-01 or by agreement.

Application 

Read more about the position and apply via: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=6&lang=SE&validator=3038fcf1516ea1184a6da70a891f87da&job_id=41560

You can apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking on the "Apply" button. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the university no later than the deadline.  

The application must be submitted by::2026-10-12

The University works actively for a work environment with equal conditions and values the qualities diversity brings to the business. The university applies individual salary setting. According to the regulations of the National Archives, the University is obliged to keep application documents for two years after the appointment decision. If you, as an applicant for employment, specifically request your documents back, they will be returned after the two years have elapsed, otherwise they will be eliminated. To staffing and recruitment companies and to those who are sellers: The University of Gothenburg hires a procured advertising agency in connection with the recruitment of staff. We kindly object to direct contact with staffing and recruitment companies as well as sales of job ads.