Post doctoral position (2 years) on modelling eutrophication in the Gulf of Bothnia - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, EMG, Umeå University, is opening a post doc position to model eutrophication in the Gulf of Bothnia. Start date is February 1st, 2024 or according to agreement. Closing date for applications is Janary 12th, 2024. We welcome your application!

Project description
Assessment of the eutrophication status in the Gulf of Bothnia is challenging due to limited knowledge of how the phytoplankton primary production and the trophic balance are affected by varying nutrient and humic substance concentrations. Historically, phosphorus has been pointed out as the limiting nutrient for primary production in the area. However, recent data indicate that phosphorus concentrations are increasing and the seawater is becoming browner.

In this project we will in the first step model how environmental factors influence the primary production, heterotrophic bacterial production and the trophic balance in the two basins of the Gulf of Bothnia; the Bothnian Bay and the Bothnian Sea. We will use available data from monitoring programs and research projects and apply multivariate statistics. Next step will be to model how environmental factors influences different phytoplankton species. Here, the occurrence of potentially mixotrophic species are of special interest, which can be expected to increase in browner seawater. The coupling between seawater browning and the surrounding forestry activity will be investigated by using forestry databases, like “Skogsstyrelsens statistikdatabas”. The aim is to set up ecological prediction models to assess the risk of disturbances of production and biodiversity in the Gulf of Bothnia.

This project is a collaboration between ecologists, modelers and environmental analysts. It is financed by financed by the Swedish Environmental protection Agency and the Swedish marine strategic research program EcoChange.

Qualifications
To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Postdoctoral fellows who are to teach or supervise must have taken relevant courses in teaching and learning in higher education.

The applicant should have a PhD-degree in Environmental Science or microbiell Ecology.

We seek a highly motivated candidate with experience in microbial ecology and analyses of links between environmental factors and microbial communities. Experience of analysis of large data-sets is a merit, including familiarity with phylogenetic analyses, statistics and programming (e.g. Linux, R, Python).

Good ability to co-operate as well as to work independently and take initiative are required. Good skills in written and spoken English are required.

Application
The full application should include:

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in the project and your suitability (max. 2 pages).
• A CV, including a list of your publications
• Copies of your doctoral thesis and relevant publications (maximum 5)
• Copy of doctoral degree certificate and other relevant degree certificates. Names and contact details (mail and phone) of three reference persons.
• Any other documents you wish to refer to.

Contact
For more information, contact Prof. Agneta Andersson (agneta.andersson@umu.se, Tel: +46 90 7869845), Siv Huseby (siv.huseby@umu.se), Tel +46 +46 90 7867967.

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science (www.emg.umu.se) carries out research and postgraduate education in ecology, environmental science and physical geography. The department has about 150 employees, about 20 of whom are post-docs.