16 PhD Positions in Forest Research: Biodiversity, Genetics, Ecology, AI, and Remote Sensing (WIFORCE, SLU) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is recruiting 16 PhD students as part of the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (WIFORCE), a national program shaping the future of forest research in Sweden. These positions span a wide range of topics including forest biodiversity, genetics, ecology, bioacoustics, remote sensing, soil science, mycorrhiza, AI, statistics, conservation, climate adaptation, and ecosystem functioning. The research is designed to address major challenges in sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation.

PhD projects include: deadwood translocation for forest soil biodiversity, nitrogen fixation in mycorrhiza and forest soils, linking forest genetics with operational harvest data, methods for inventory and measurement of forest biodiversity, bioacoustics and AI for forest biodiversity monitoring, remote sensing of boreal forest fires, forest ecophysiology, airborne eDNA for tracking biodiversity change, soil food web functional capacity under climate extremes, ecology and biodiversity in wet forested environments, microbial respiration and carbon storage in soils, management of drained peatland forests, RNA biology of trees, nitrogen use efficiency and wood formation, drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and heritable plastic response for climate adaptation.

Supervision is provided by leading researchers at SLU, including Mari Jönsson, Marie Spohn, Ola Lindroos, Kelly Swarts, Jörgen Sjögren, Tim Hofmeester, Magali Frauendorf, and Sheila Holmes. The research environment is highly interdisciplinary, collaborative, and international, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. SLU is a major hub for ecological and forestry research in the Nordic region, supporting UN Sustainability Goals and Sweden’s national environmental objectives.

Applicants must hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as biology, ecology, forestry, soil science, computer science, or statistics. Experience in fieldwork, laboratory methods, data analysis, statistical modeling, remote sensing, bioinformatics, or molecular techniques is advantageous. Good command of English is required, and a valid driving license is often a merit. Applications must include a motivation letter, CV, master’s thesis, degree certificates, transcripts, and references. International applicants must provide a copy of their passport.

All positions are fully funded for 4 years as full-time employment, with salary and benefits provided by SLU. The application deadline is 10 February 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the SLU WIFORCE open positions page and contact the listed supervisors for specific queries.