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Welcome to Linnaeus University! Here you’ll meet 2 200 staff members and 40 000 students, all united in following the vision to set knowledge in motion for a sustainable societal development. With us, research and education are conducted with an eye towards the future. Our proximity to the business world, both locally and globally, gives us a wide reach and the ability to create change that makes an impact. All that’s needed is a place where ideas have the space to meet and grow. That’s what we’ve created – and you are invited.
Change starts here!
This position is based at the Department of Biology and Environmental Science within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research profile at this department is multidisciplinary and includes e.g. microbiology, aquatic ecology, cell- and organism biology, evolutionary biology, zoonotic ecology and epidemiology, environmental science, climate research, environmental chemistry, and environmental risk assessment.
Field of subject for the appointment: Ecology
Placement city: Kalmar, Sweden. Since Linnaeus University is located in both Växjö and Kalmar, travel between the two locations may be required.
Employment: Employment as a doctoral student is limited according to HF chapter 5 § 7. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent postgraduate studies full-time for four years. The appointment is full time.
Start date: As agreed, but as soon as possible.
Job description
The position is within a Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) PhD research school on Mining and Mineral Research that is a collaboration between Linnaeus University, Luleå University of Technology (LTU), and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The BioGeoMetals research school will focus on biogeochemical approaches to sustainable metal recovery from mining waste rock, tailings, and run-off water in Sweden along with bioremediation of these acidic and metal laden sites.
Specifically, the PhD will investigate the molecular ecology of mining and metals laden sites, cultures derived from laboratory-based methods for metal recovery, and field sites for e.g., bioremediation of metal contaminated waters. The methods will be ‘omics’ focused and the PhD will interact with other students in the research school carrying out different aspects of the larger school research.
According to the Higher Education Ordinance, a person appointed to a doctoral studentship should primarily devote himself/herself to his/her own studies. An appointee may, however, work to a limited extent with education, research, artistic development, and administration. However, before a doctoral degree has been awarded, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20% of a full-time post.
Requirements
A person fulfils the general entry requirements if he/she:
- has been awarded a degree on second-cycle level
- completed the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which 60 credits on second-cycle level, or
- in another way, in Sweden or abroad, has acquired principally equivalent knowledge.
Specific requirements for this position are:
- Has completed at least 90 credits in courses within microbiology, geomicrobiology, molecular ecology, or other relevant fields of which at least 30 credits are at the advanced level, or has equivalent knowledge acquired in other ways, in Sweden or abroad.
Assessment grounds
The assessment will focus on the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the doctoral program. Particular emphasis is placed on the candidate’s motivation, ability to conduct doctoral studies, as well as the breadth and composition of previous education. It is of benefit to show:
- Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English, strong communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a research team.
- Experience with handling samples from extreme environments such as acidic and metal laden samples.
- Documented knowledge and experience in field- and laboratory work such as DNA/RNA extractions and preparation of samples for next generation sequencing and the interpretation of data therefrom.
- Experience in working in R.
- Experience in scientific writing and data management.
- Demonstrated interest in interdisciplinary research.
- A driving license.
- Personal suitability will also be considered in the assessment.
Please note that photo identification must be presented at the time of the interview.
Contact persons:
Deputy head of department: Andreas Svensson, andreas.svensson@lnu.se
Research leader: Mark Dopson, mark.dopson@lnu.se, +46-(0) 480-447334
HR partner: Marianne Palmér, marianne.palmer@lnu.se
Want to know more about the research environment Eemis in biology? Check out Lnu.se
Welcome with your application no later than April 1st, 2026.
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