PhD Position in Marine Observation System Resilience at Umeå University Umeå University in Sweden

Umeå University is advertising a 4-year PhD position in Marine Observation System Resilience within the Measuring What Matters project. The project focuses on making ocean and marine observation systems more resilient, scalable, and adaptive under accelerating environmental and climate change.

The research sits at the intersection of marine science, environmental science, Earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, environmental engineering, and data-driven environmental monitoring. The PhD project will examine how environmental variables and emerging observation technologies can be combined to improve the long-term reliability, responsiveness, and usability of marine ecosystem monitoring across spatial and temporal scales. Methods may include remote sensing, autonomous sensors, environmental monitoring technologies, data integration, and system-level analyses of monitoring performance.

The successful candidate will join an international and collaborative research environment and contribute to next-generation approaches for marine environmental assessment and sustainability. Supervision is provided by Heidi Burdett (main supervisor), with co-supervision from Léon Serre-Fredj and Lina Mtwana Nordlund.

Eligibility: applicants must hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, marine science, environmental engineering, Earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, or a related discipline. Excellent written and spoken English is required. Preferred experience includes environmental data analysis, quantitative methods, programming (Python, R, MATLAB), marine/environmental observation systems, sensor data, remote sensing, large datasets, GIS/spatial analysis, machine learning, modelling, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Funding: the position is funded through the Blue Transformation initiative from Formas, within the 30M SEK Measuring What Matters programme. The appointment is salaried according to PhD salary levels and runs for four years full-time, or up to five years with teaching duties.

Deadline: 16 August 2026. Applications must be submitted via the formal Umeå University e-recruitment system. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, Master’s thesis or summary, degree certificates, and referee contacts. Applications should be in English or Swedish; other-language attachments require translation.

Work location: Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, with expected fieldwork and research visits in Sweden and internationally.