Postdoctoral Scholarship (2 years): Water Cycling in Swedish Tundra Landscapes

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science at Umeå University is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to study hydrologic changes in Swedish tundra landscapes. This is a full-time, two-year scholarship, starting in September 2025 (or as agreed). Last application date is May 21st, 2025.

The Department of Ecology, environment and geoscience carries out research and postgraduate education in ecology, environmental science and physical geography. The department has about 160 employees, about 30 of whom are postdoctoral researchers. The department hosts for the Climate Impacts Research Center (CIRC) in Abisko and research at the department has a strong focus on northern ecosystems. CIRC provides research facilities in Abisko for department staff with the aim to develop, facilitate and coordinate research at Umeå University on the effects of a changing climate in Arctic ecosystems. For more information about the department, visit: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-ecology-and-environmental-science/

Project description
In Arctic Sweden, ongoing warming trends lead to longer growing seasons and shorter winters. Snow is an important component of the annual water budget and snowmelt is the most important source for groundwater recharge. With a longer and warmer growing season, the potential for drought conditions rise due to increased water losses through evapotranspiration. In this project, we investigate climate sensitivity of the water cycle in Swedish tundra landscapes and the contrasts in drought risk for uplands and lowlands, following warming.

This scholarship recipient will primarily have the opportunity to focus on estimates of evapotranspiration based on available data from the Abisko region in northern Sweden. The project may include a combination of numerical modeling, remote sensing, and isotope hydrology methods. The scholarship recipient is part of a team with colleagues studying groundwater, vegetation and permafrost dynamics in the Abisko region.

During this scholarship period, you will collaborate with Associate Prof. Ylva Sjöberg (Umeå University) and Associate Prof. Matthias Siewert (Umeå University), and Associate Prof. Mats Björkman (University of Gothenburg). In addition, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with a broader constellation of Swedish researchers and stakeholders currently engaged in research on changing Arctic ecosystems.

Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, 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 decision about scholarship recipient.

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 or clinical service, appointments of trust in trade union organizations or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

The successful candidate should have a PhD in physical geography, geoscience, hydrology, environmental science, or a related field. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, think independently and creatively, but also be a part of a collaborative (team) environment are expected. Expertise and experience in hydrology, Arctic ecosystems, and quantitative methods (e.g. modeling) are considered a strong merits.

How to apply
The application should contain the following:

• A personal cover letter motivating your application and how you can contribute to the research (max one page)
• CV including full list of publications with up to three relevant articles,
• Copy of doctoral thesis,
• A copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to submit.

The application must be written in English or Swedish. The application is made through our electronic recruitment system. Documents sent electronically must be in Word or PDF format. Log in to the system and apply via the button at the end of this page.

The closing date is May 21st, 2025.

Further Information
The scholarship holder will be based at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University. The scholarship is funded by the Kempe Foundation and is on 350,000 SEK/year (tax free).

Contact
Any additional questions about the research or application should be directed to Ylva Sjöberg, Umeå University (ylva.sjoberg@umu.se).

Welcome with your application!