Stress response modelling in IceLab: PhD position in ecosystem modelling focused on responses of river network carbon processing to climate stress

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science is looking for a PhD student in ecosystem modelling focused on responses of river network carbon processing to climate stress. The position is for four years of full-time doctoral studies. The employment starts in August 2025 or according to an agreement. The application deadline is February 16.

The research school for stress response modelling in IceLab
Starting in the spring of 2025, Umeå University’s interdisciplinary research hub, IceLab, will offer doctoral positions through the new Stress Response Modelling Research School.  Funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Swedish Research Council’s centres of excellence, this research school focuses on modelling adaptive mechanisms in living systems under stress. It offers an extensive complexity science course package for doctoral students.

This doctoral position presents a unique opportunity to join a cohort of other doctoral researchers in the research school and learn alongside each other in carefully designed courses that align with the excellence centre’s multidisciplinary theme.

The program prepares next-generation computational biologists with strong complexity thinking and tools applicable to living systems across organizational scales, addressing major environmental and life sciences challenges.

Courses will cover topics such as complexity science, mathematical modelling in evolution, ecology and plant biology, along with transferable skills, including interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. You will also be offered opportunities for research exchanges and form an integral part of the supportive and stimulating IceLab research environment.

Join IceLab to work at the forefront of multidisciplinary science, integrating mathematical modelling and data science with diverse disciplines, including ecology, plant physiology, and molecular biology. Your research will deepen our understanding of how living systems respond to stress and environmental change, and we will help you grow and thrive in your scientific career.

The department of Ecology and Environmental Science in collaboration with the Department of Physics is looking for a PhD student in ecological modeling with a focus on responses of river network processing of organic matter to climate stress.

Project description
River networks receive large amounts of carbon from terrestrial ecosystems, which is processed and respired into carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), the most important greenhouse gases. Rivers emit large amounts of CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere, but future projections of river CO2 and CH4 emissions are lacking because we lack predictive models. Ongoing climate change is particularly severe at high latitudes and has the potential to massively increase the delivery of carbon to river networks and emissions to the atmosphere.

This PhD project will develop reaction-transport models of carbon in river networks, both at fine-spatial resolution within small watersheds as well as at a pan-Arctic scale. The models will be used to predict future river emissions of CO2 and CH4, under distinct climate scenarios.

The project will use models currently being developed in the research group, linking aquatic metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions in river networks. The project is part of an ERC Starting grant focused on Arctic CH4 emissions, with important synergies with other researchers in the group performing empirical research on the same topic.

This work will provide insights into how climate stress impacts the processing of carbon in river networks, and how rivers function within the global carbon cycle.

Terms of employment
The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree. The main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, including participation in research and doctoral courses. The duties can include teaching and other departmental work (up to a maximum of 20%). The employment is limited to the equivalent of four years of full-time (48 months) or up to five years for teaching part-time. Salary is set in accordance with the established salary levels for PhD positions at Umeå University.

Competence requirements
To be admitted for studies at third-cycle level 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.

To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level within the subject of physical geography, the applicant is required to have completed courses within a first-cycle subject relevant to physical geography or a related subject comprising at least 120 credits. At least one course at second-cycle level in a subject that is relevant to physical geography shall have been completed, as well an independent piece of work (degree project) with relevant specialization of at least 15 credits. The eligibility requirements must have been met when the position is taken up.

The successful candidate should hold a master’s degree in physical geography, ecology, biogeochemistry or equivalent. The applicant should have an interest in biogeochemistry, climate, modelling and spatial analysis. Experience in computational or mathematical modelling is an advantage. The candidate should have strong interest in interdisciplinary research and must be highly motivated and capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a research group. The candidate must be fluent in both oral and written English.

Application
The application should include the following:
1. A personal letter with a brief description of qualifications, research interests, and why you are interested in the position (max. 1 page)
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Certified copies of relevant degree diploma(s).
4. A list of university courses with grades. Note that for international applicants the grading system should be explained in brief.
5. Copies of relevant work such as master’s thesis or articles you have authored or co-authored. If the master’s thesis has not been completed before the application deadline, a summary of the master’s thesis project and current progress shall be included. The summary can, at most, be five pages, including figures and references.
6. Contact information of three reference persons.

Applications must be submitted via e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 2025-02-16. All documents should be uploaded in pdf format.  

Information
For more information, contact Gerard Rocher-Ros, gerard.rocher.ros@umu.se, Ryan Sponseller, ryan.sponseller@umu.se, or Martin Rosvall, martin.rosvall@umu.se.

We look forward to receiving your application!