Postdoctoral Fellow – Forest-based Climate Change Mitigation

at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. Closing date: 17 March 2024.

Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) is a research centre on resilience and sustainability science at Stockholm University. The Centre advances the scientific understanding of the complex, dynamic interactions of people and nature in the Biosphere; train the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders; and engage in collaborations with change agents. It is a joint initiative between Stockholm University and the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The SRC currently employs around 135 members of staff.

Project description
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join us in the project “ReForMit – Understanding and securing the resilience of forest-based climate change mitigation” (https://reformit.org) funded by the Swedish Research Council (FORMAS). The overall aim of the project is to generate knowledge on safeguarding the biophysical and social-ecological resilience of forest-based climate change mitigation measures (such as reforestation and prevention of deforestation) under changing hydroclimatic conditions including ecological droughts.

The project’s objectives are to (1) design forest-based climate change mitigation scenarios in close collaboration with stakeholders, (2) quantify the resilience and sustainability of the biosphere integrity of forest-based climate mitigation measures, (3) analyze the local and remote effects of hydroclimatic adaptation, and (4) holistically assess the social-ecological resilience of forest-based climate change mitigation measures. The project is a collaboration between SRC, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany, the Water Centre at the Royal Institute of Technology KTH, and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

Main responsibilities
The Postdoctoral fellow will lead scientific inquiries that involve investigating remote effects of hydroclimatic adaptations, primarily related to project objective 3 above. Drought adaptation in forest systems may for example include larger root-zone storage capacity, which in turn may impact moisture supply to atmospheric moisture transport and downwind precipitation.

The candidate will undertake analyses and/or modelling using globally gridded Earth system datasets to understand where and how water-climate-biosphere interactions are relevant to forest-based climate change mitigation. Collaboration across the project is expected, in order to achieve a holistic understanding of the effects from the global to local scales and the social-ecological feedback.

In addition, the work also involves external collaboration with other organizations, participation in workshops, literature review, and collaborative writing of scientific publications. Results should be actively disseminated through original research articles as well as review papers in high-ranking journals and presentation at scientific conferences.

The candidate is expected to be physically present at the office on a regular basis for optimal collaboration and coordination within the project. The work may include travels and short time stays at other collaborating institutions.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process attention will be given to research skills needed for the position:

• Ability to formulate own original research ideas and conduct research independently;
• Relevant subject knowledge in ecohydrology, hydroclimate, forest-based climate, change mitigation, biosphere-water-climate interactions, land-atmosphere interactions, hydroclimatic adaptation in land systems, and ecosystem drought resilience or other applicable related areas;
• Experience with large-scale gridded data analyses and/or global hydroclimatic modeling approaches;
• Ability to collaborate efficiently and work as part of an interdisciplinary team;
• Ability to communicate research ideas and results;
• Excellent written and spoken English skills; and
• Documented scientific references (prior publications, presentation at conferences etc.) documenting the academic pursue.

In the recruitment, personal suitability will also be considered. We are looking for a responsible, responsive, curious and self-motivated team player. You have a researcher’s integrity and a passion for the research topic. You also have a structured way of working, as well as an ability to prioritize and deliver on concrete tasks.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Dr Lan Wang-Erlandsson, lan.wang@su.se, and Dr Ingo Fetzer, ingo.fetzer@su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

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