PhD position in Environmental Science - blue carbon policy in SE Asia

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science (Umeå University, Sweden) invites applicants for a PhD position focused on the development of a blue carbon policy roadmap in southeast Asia. The candidate will also be affiliated to the Umeå Marine Sciences Centre and Department of Political Sciences. The position start date is in August 2024 or by agreement. Application deadline is Tuesday 30th April at 23:59.

Description
Poverty and climate change are inextricably linked, so they must be tackled together. Nature-based solutions could achieve this, and blue carbon – the storage of carbon by coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests – is a favoured candidate because of its wide-ranging benefits such as income diversification, improved ecosystem health and spillover effects for other economies such as fishing. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have the greatest potential for benefit gain because of their significant blue carbon ecosystem extent, capacity for extensive blue carbon restoration and strong ambition for sustainable development. However, blue carbon policy (in LDCs and more widely) remains hindered by an inadequate natural science base, community hesitancy and slow political mobilisation. This PhD will address these knowledge gaps to define the potential of, and pathway to implementation for, blue carbon policy in southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Cambodia and Vietnam. The PhD will integrate quantitative and qualitative data, such as habitat distributions, climate change impact projections, participatory 3-dimensional modelling, willingness-to-pay surveys and policy analyses. It is expected that the PhD candidate will undertake significant periods of fieldwork in Cambodia and Vietnam (and perhaps southeast Asia more widely) during the PhD.

Qualifications
To be admitted for PhD studies the applicant is required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.

The candidate should have completed courses within a first-cycle subject relevant to environmental science, environmental policy or environmental social science comprising at least 120 ECTS credits. At least one course at second-cycle level in a subject that is central to the doctoral student's planned specialization shall have been completed, as well an independent piece of work (degree project) with relevant specialization of at least 15 ECTS credits.

The candidate should be creative and able to take own initiative. The candidate is independent, has social competence and collaborative ability. It is expected that the candidate develop independence and build up network contacts during the education.

Essential criteria are:

• Relevant background in environmental (social) science, environmental policy, or similar education
• Very good command in written and spoken English

Meriting criteria are:

• Good knowledge of nature-based solutions, policy analysis and / or community engagement
• Command of the Cambodian and / or Vietnamese languages (or a desire to learn).
• A desire to develop skills as a mixed-methods interdisciplinary researcher, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to address environmental sustainability challenges.

Application
The application should be submitted via our e-recruitment system by Tuesday 30th April at 23:59. All documents should be in PDF format. The application should be written in English (preferably) or Swedish.

The application should include:

• Cover letter: summarizing your qualifications, your research interests and your motives for applying (max 2 pages)
• A curriculum vitae (CV) with academic qualifications and list of publications
• Electronic copy of the MSc-thesis
• Degree certificates, degree transcripts and other documentation which supports the applicant’s qualification for the position
• Contact information for three reference persons

The evaluation will be based on the applicant’s letter, references, interview and the quality of the master thesis and other publications. The requirements must be fulfilled at the time of approval to the PhD position and may not need to be fulfilled at the time of the application.

Information
Dr Heidi Burdett, Umeå University, will be the main supervisor, with co-supervision from Professors Nick Kamenos and Camilla Sandström (Umeå University) and Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc (Thuy Loi University, Vietnam), with additional collaborative partners at the University of Khanh Hoa and the Vietnam National University (Vietnam), and the Mekong River Commission (Cambodia). For more information contact Heidi Burdett, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (heidi.burdett@umu.se).

Salary: According to agreements for PhD students. A PhD education comprises 4 years full time studies (240 ECTS credits).

The Department of Ecology and Environment Science (EMG) performs research and postgraduate education in ecology, environmental science and physical geography. The department has 160 employees of which 30 are PhD students. The PhD candidate will also have strong links with staff and postgraduate researchers at the Umeå Marine Sciences Centre and Department of Political Science, and may engage with interdisciplinary research units such as the Umeå Centre for Gender Studies, the Integrated Science Lab and the Centre for Transdisciplinary AI.