PhD position in Biology with focus on Vegetation Ecology

Description

The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology invites applications for a doctoral studentship in biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences.

This project addresses key questions in ecology and conservation biology, focusing on biodiversity loss and the potential of ecological restoration to reverse current extinction trends. It centers on non-forest ecosystems, which support a disproportionately high number of red-listed plant species, with particular focus on Swedish peatland, ecosystems that function both as major carbon sinks and habitats for highly specialized biodiversity.

The main aim is to identify the ecological and environmental conditions that influence the recovery of rare species in restored landscapes. The project will take a multi-scale approach, combining broad assessment of species diversity and distribution with targeted case studies to uncover mechanisms driving species persistence and re-establishment. It will also examine how species traits, local habitat characteristics and landscape context shape restoration outcomes, with the goal of improving practices for species at greater risk of extinction.

The research integrates complementary field-based and analytical approaches and will be conducted in close collaboration with restoration practitioners, ensuring strong links between research and its application.

As a doctoral student, you will join an active research environment at Karlstad University, collaborating with researchers in vegetation ecology and applied environmental science, including the River Ecology and Management Group (NRRV), as well as external partners. You will receive interdisciplinary supervision in biology and geomatics and engage with stakeholders to support the development of evidence-based, adaptive restoration strategies.

Overall, the project bridges ecological theory and applied conservation, with opportunities for the doctoral student to shape the research direction based on their interests, for example in plant ecology, restoration ecology, biodiversity conservation, or quantitative and spatial analysis.

Duties

As a doctoral student, you will primarily dedicate time to your own studies. The doctoral programme comprises 240 credits for a Degree of Doctor and 120 credits for a Degree of Licentiate. The doctoral appointment is a paid position that offers a combination of studies and work, and a great opportunity for a potential career in academia. Doctoral students are expected to work independently and be prepared to contribute to the activities and development of the discipline and the department. You are given the opportunity to deepen your interests in collaboration with others. Teaching and administrative duties may also be included upon agreement but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time. Work as a doctoral student allows for great freedom and flexibility in terms of how you organise your tasks. This requires commitment, drive and the ability to structure your work to successfully complete the doctoral thesis.

To contribute to a positive work environment and further both the department’s activities and personal development as a researcher, it is expected from the applicant to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Entry requirements and admission

To be eligible for a doctoral studentship, applicants must meet the general and specific entry requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35).

To meet the general entry requirements, applicants must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 39).

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies in biology, the applicant must have completed at least 120 higher education credits (ECTS) in biology, including a degree project (thesis) at the Master’s level comprising at least 15 credits, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.

To be eligible for doctoral studies, the applicant must be considered to have the ability required to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

Assessment criteria

The assessment of eligible applicants is based on the criteria listed below.

Special weight will be given to

• Documented research experience in botany, ecology or a related field.
• Peer-reviewed publications, preprints or the quality and scope of the master’s thesis.

Considerable weight will be given to

• Formal training in plant identification, with demonstrated ability or a strong interest in further developing this skill.
• Strong documented quantitative skills, including training and experience in statistical analysis, coding (e.g., R, Python or similar), and Geographic IT (e.g., GIS, spatial analysis and modeling).
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, with a willingness to share resources, demonstrate creativity, and take initiative.
• Fieldwork experience in botany or vegetation ecology.
• Experience in managing, curating and analyzing herbarium and ecological data, including data from digitized repositories.

Valuable qualifications

• Academic performance and results from previous studies.
• High-quality independent written work that reflects the ability to think critically and communicate ideas clearly.
• Proficiency in English.
• Interest in being actively present and involved in a research environment.
• Personal qualities such as curiosity, independence, resourcefulness, and strong communication and collaboration skills.

Terms

Upon admission to doctoral studies, the person will be offered the appointment of doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5, Sect. 3). The position comprises four years of full-time studies consisting of research only. If teaching or other departmental duties become relevant, the appointment will be extended by a corresponding period, up to a maximum of five years full-time. The position is fixed-term, one year initially, followed by possible extensions of a maximum of two years at a time (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5 Sect. 7). Start date as agreed by both parties.

The salary for the doctoral studentship corresponds to the standard level of salary for doctoral students and progresses in accordance with a local collective agreement.

Application

Submit the application via the university’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications. The application should include:

– a cover letter where the applicant briefly describes themselves and their research interests.

– a short (1 page) essay outlining why you want to do a PhD, and why doing so at Karlstad University is a good fit.

– a list of qualifications (CV).

– degree certificate with a complete transcript of the courses included, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates.

– copy of Master’s thesis or equivalent.

– where applicable, copies of publications or certificates for other qualifications.

– any letters of recommendation.
– contact information for two references, such as a teacher, supervisor, or previous or current superior.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-avdelningen
HR-administratör

651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 2026-06-02

State the reference number: REK2026/30

Applicants with qualifications from abroad

If you have qualifications from a university outside Sweden or if they have not been recognised by a Swedish authority before, it is important that you attach degree certificates and official transcripts to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Provide a contact for the degree-awarding institution (phone number or email) who can verify your qualifications.

We look forward to your application!