Arbetsbeskrivning

The Department of Forest Bioeconomy and Technology The Department of Forest Bioeconomy and Technology is a newly established department at SLU, bringing together broad expertise in forest bioeconomy. We conduct research and education covering the entire value chain – from forest economics, policy, and business administration to biomaterials, wood science, and technology. By integrating social science and technological perspectives, we carry out research on raw materials, materials, processes, and systems to contribute to the sustainable development of forest resources and a circular bioeconomy. The department is located on campuses in both Umeå and Uppsala. Read more about the department: Department of Forest Bioeconomy and Technology | slu.se Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/ Forest owners’ cognition and behaviors underpinning Swedish forest biodiversity Research subject: Applied Economics Description: The EU Nature Restoration Law and Sweden’s environmental quality goals stipulate societal demands for more biodiverse landscapes. In Sweden, some 300,000 individuals and families own about 50% of the forestland that spans across two-thirds of the country. These forest owners will need to undertake the preponderance of actions for creating more biodiverse forests in Sweden. In an interdisciplinary project that includes researchers from economics, psychology, and forestry, we pose three specific research questions: • What salient elements in cognitive models represent family forest owners’ perceptions and judgement strategies about forest biodiversity on their ownerships? • Do NIPFOs have the capability, opportunity and motivation to change towards biodiversity-enhancing forest management behaviors? • Can interventions providing financial compensation encourage family forest owners’ change toward adopting biodiversity-enhancing forest management behaviors? To help answer these questions, we seek to recruit a doctoral student fully committed to applied forest economics research with foundational training in research methods. The candidate will be responsible for: integrating behavioral economics and natural resource management knowledge into relevant research designs; developing research questions; applying appropriate econometric and qualitative methods; writing scientific manuscripts and compiling a thesis suitable for examination. The Ph.D. program consists of 4-year full-time studies with the position contracted based on annual evaluations. The workplace is the SLU campus in Umeå. Qualifications: An eligible candidate should hold at least a Master’s degree in applied economics or a related field (e.g. agricultural economics, agribusiness, natural resource economics, forest economics, behavioral economics), or a strong quantitative interdisciplinary program. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required. Demonstrated capacity to integrate behavioral and economics concepts, experience writing scientific manuscripts, and advanced documented knowledge in the use of R, Stata or other analytical software are considered extra merit. Working knowledge of Swedish, experience conducting surveys and/or interviews as tools for data collection are extra merit. Place of work:       Umeå, Sweden Forms for funding or employment: Employment up to 4 years as Ph.D.  Starting date: As soon as possible, negotiable, upon agreement.   Application: Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2026-04-10. Candidates are encouraged to review research by Francisco X. Aguilar, Professor (available here and on Google Scholar), and read an overview of the project available here before applying. To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level. Upper secondary school grades equivalent to English B/English 6 are a basic requirement. More information about the English language requirements can be found here. Applicants must submit: • a CV • a two-page research statement describing how the candidate can be an integral part of the team answering the three specific research questions • copies of degrees and transcripts of all academic records • one copy of the MS thesis • contact information for at least two referees familiar with the applicant's qualifications • certified knowledge of the English language, current knowledge of the Swedish language • if relevant, copies of scholarly publications. Please note that applicants invited to interview must provide certified true copies of certificates, diplomas and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized higher education institution (university or university college) and transcripts. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details. Read about the PhD education at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/ Academic union representatives: https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/ The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden. SLU has around 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.