Göran Wallin

The University of Gothenburg invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Tropical Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Stakeholder-Driven Tree Species Selection. Hosted at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, this position is part of the Biodiversa+ funded project 'OpTIBES - Optimisation of Tree Species Selection for Improved Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.' The research aims to advance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service assessment to support the selection of native tree species for climate-adapted forest restoration and agroforestry within the Albertine Rift region in Africa. The postdoctoral researcher will integrate ecological, climatic, and social factors to evaluate species’ adaptability, environmental benefits, and ecosystem service provisioning. A central aspect of the role is collaborating with diverse stakeholders to understand restoration and agroforestry needs, ensuring socially grounded species recommendations. The position bridges ecological science and participatory approaches, developing evidence-based frameworks that enhance landscape resilience, human well-being, and long-term forest restoration success. Key duties include synthesizing biodiversity, ecosystem service, and environmental suitability data, conducting systematic literature reviews, mapping and engaging stakeholder groups, and coordinating participatory workshops and Delphi-based expert assessments across Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. The researcher will analyze ecological, trait-based, and environmental datasets to establish species–environment relationships and assess tree species sensitivity to climate stressors, utilizing both global databases and experimental data from the Rwanda TREE project. Close collaboration with OpTIBES partners—including universities in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and African institutions—is expected. The position offers opportunities to contribute to scientific publications, reporting, and dissemination activities, supporting the translation of research into actionable restoration and agroforestry recommendations. The interdisciplinary, international research environment spans ecology, remote sensing, socio-ecological systems, and climate adaptation. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to co-supervise PhD, MSc, and BSc students, and may negotiate up to 20% teaching duties, potentially extending the employment duration. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Plant Ecology, Forest Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Agroforestry, Conservation Biology, or a closely related field. Required qualifications include excellent communication skills in English, analytical skills in biological and socio-ecological data, and experience in field-based ecological or forestry research, preferably in tropical or sub-tropical environments. Willingness to conduct field work in tropical Africa is essential. Desirable qualifications include a strong publication record, background in restoration ecology or agroforestry, experience in biodiversity assessment, stakeholder engagement, proficiency in R, and familiarity with participatory research methods. Speaking French is an asset but not required. The position is a two-year, full-time temporary employment with Swedish state authority benefits, including holidays and pension. The starting date is 2026-03-16 or upon agreement. Applications must be submitted via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by 2026-01-20. For further information, contact Prof. Göran Wallin ([email protected]).

The University of Gothenburg invites applications for a postdoctoral position in Tropical Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, and Trait Based Tree Species Selection, hosted at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv). This interdisciplinary research opportunity focuses on advancing biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service assessment to support the selection of native tree species for climate-adapted forest restoration and agroforestry within the Albertine Rift region in Africa. The position is embedded in a vibrant research environment spanning ecology, remote sensing, socio-ecological systems, and climate adaptation, with strong collaborative links to African partner institutions, restoration practitioners, and local communities. The postdoctor will lead key components of the project ‘Optimization of Tree Species Selection for Improved Ecosystem Services in Tropical Forest Restoration and Agroforestry’, funded by the Swedish research council Formas. Responsibilities include synthesizing biodiversity, ecosystem service, and environmental suitability data to support climate-adapted species recommendations, conducting systematic literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data from diverse forest restoration, tree plantations, and agroforestry systems, and validating remote sensing assessments of plantation success. The role also involves analyzing ecological, trait-based, and environmental datasets to establish species–environment relationships and assess tree species sensitivity to climate stressors using global databases and experimental data, including those from the Rwanda TREE project. Collaboration is central to this position, with close ties to the OpTIBES project and its partners across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DR Congo. The postdoctor will contribute to scientific publications, reporting, and dissemination activities, translating research results into actionable recommendations for restoration and agroforestry. The working environment supports independent initiative, cross-disciplinary integration, and the translation of scientific insights into guidance for sustainable forest landscape restoration. Opportunities exist to co-supervise MSc and BSc students, and a teaching agreement may be negotiated for up to 20% of a full-time position, potentially extending employment duration. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Plant Ecology, Forest Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Agroforestry, Conservation Biology, or a closely related field. Essential qualifications include excellent communication skills in English, analytical skills in handling biological and socio-ecological data, experience in field-based ecological or forestry research (preferably in tropical or sub-tropical environments), and willingness to conduct socio-ecological field work in tropical Africa. Desirable qualifications include a strong publication record in tropical forest ecology, tree ecophysiology, tree mortality, or forest ecosystem services; background in restoration ecology, agroforestry systems, or forest management planning; experience in biodiversity assessment and/or ecosystem service evaluation; field work in the tropics; ability to work with diverse stakeholders; independent and collaborative work in international teams; experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis using R; teaching and mentoring experience; familiarity with participatory research methods; and science outreach. Speaking French is an asset but not required. The position is a temporary employment for two years, 100% full time, with the possibility of extension up to three years. The University of Gothenburg offers state authority benefits, including more holidays and a great pension. Salaries are set individually. The starting date is September 15th, 2026, or upon agreement. Applications must be submitted via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by July 2nd, 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Göran Wallin ([email protected]) or Åsa Arrhenius ([email protected]). Additional details about the department, research projects, and international applicant support can be found at the provided links.