PhD Position in Plant Physiology and Heritable Climate Adaptation Modeling at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is offering a fully funded PhD position in physiology and heritable climate adaptation modeling, based at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology in Umeå. This opportunity is part of the WIFORCE Research School, a Wallenberg Initiative in Forest Research, and is designed for candidates passionate about plant physiology, genomics, and breeding, with a focus on climate adaptation and sustainability.

The research addresses the genetic basis of heritable plastic responses in plants under changing climate conditions, with a particular emphasis on woody perennials such as Arabidopsis thaliana, European aspen, and Norway spruce. The project aims to develop predictive models for crop adaptation, leveraging advanced physiological, genetic, and bioinformatics approaches. The successful candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and be co-supervised by the Swarts, Hurry, Street, and Zan labs at the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), a leading center for experimental plant research and forest biotechnology.

Applicants should have a strong background in plant physiology, genomics, or breeding, ideally with experience in statistics and programming. The position requires a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification or equivalent, strong communication skills, and proficiency in English. The research will contribute to global agricultural sustainability and climate-resilient crop improvement, offering excellent training in computational and modeling approaches, and opportunities to publish in reputable journals.

The PhD position is a 4-year employment with salary and benefits according to SLU standards. The application deadline is October 2, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the official SLU job portal. Non-Swedish citizens must provide a copy of their passport. For further details, contact Assistant Professor Kelly Swarts at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology.

Keywords: plant physiology, climate adaptation, genomics, breeding, heritable traits, plastic response, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, forest genetics, sustainability, crop improvement.