Industry and collaboration PhD student in drought resistance breeding

Publiceringsdatum: 2024-06-19

Letar du efter en chans att arbeta som doktorand på Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet? Nu är det möjligt. Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet söker efter en ny anställd på heltid under 6 månader eller längre som är redo att ta sin karriär till nästa nivå. Umeå är platsen där denna position är ledig.

Om du är intresserad av en karriär inom doktorand, ta en titt på den lediga tjänsten som Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet erbjuder för att se om det är en matchning. Bli en del av teamet hos Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet som doktorand genom att ansöka senast måndag den nittonde augusti 2024.

Jobbannons

The Research School in Future Silviculture:

Sweden is a country where forests have been and still are of great importance. The use and utilization of the forest is an issue where the balance between forest production and the environment is in focus. Growth in Swedish forests has declined over the past 15 years. In order to both sustainably use and safeguard forest biodiversity, a coherent basic science research program is needed that addresses large and complex issues and develops new analytical tools. It is against this background that the Research School in Future Silviculture is established with a focus on the future sustainable use of forests. The Research School Future Silviculture is part of the Wallenberg Initiative in Forest Research (WIFORCE) at SLU. Around 50 doctoral students will be admitted to the Research School. Would you like to make a difference for the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join the Research School in Future Silviculture!

We are looking for an industry/collaboration-based PhD student in drought resistance breeding. The doctoral studies will be performed at the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, which is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), at SLU in Umeå. The employment will be with the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden (Skogforsk), where the PhD student will gain practical work experience. The doctoral student will be supervised by Harry Wu (Professor, SLU), Mats Berlin (Tree breeding Researcher, Skogforsk) and Johan Lindeberg (Senior Lecturer, Linnaeus University).

Read more about WIFORCE and the Research School www.slu.se/WIFORCE/en 

Read more about Umeå Plant Science Centre www.upsc.se

Read more about Skogforsk www.skogforsk.se

Research subject:

Biology

Description

Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the most important timber species in Sweden and Europe, but its future role in forests is jeopardized by its high sensitivity to drought. There is, however, considerable genetic variation in Norway spruce tolerance to and recovery from drought episodes. This project will quantify the genetic variability and genomic base for drought resistance for Norway spruce trees of the breeding populations and populations collected throughout the European species range. We will genotype and phenotype 300 clones from one long transfer experiment and 218 trees from a southern breeding population, and 600 trees from 200 provenance populations covering range-wide distribution of Norway spruce.

The project aims to identify genetic variation in drought resistance based on the phenotypic data at range-wide population level and individual tree level in breeding populations. The genomic basis of drought resistance will be dissected using a 50K SNP array as a genotyping tool.The project will develop new competences in genomic breeding and address challenges to incorporate genomics in traditional breeding program for the Skogforsk. The combination of phenotyping, genotype-environment association and genotype-phenotype association in this project are novel approaches.

Qualifications

• A MSc degree, or equivalent, in a subject relevant for the project position, Forest Science, Genetics or similar
• Applicants for doctoral studies at SLU must meet certain English language requirements. For students from Swedish upper secondary schools, this is English B/English 6. Alternatively, applicants must hold an internationally recognised English language qualification (TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge ESOL). More information is available on universityadmissions.se.
• Knowledge in statistical analysis, programming, quantitative genetic and breeding theory and Nordic (boreal) forestry are desirable

Place of work:      

Umeå

Forms for funding or employment:

• Doctoral studies at SLU
• 5 year employment at Skogforsk with 80% study activity as a PhD student (4 years) and 20% time for practical work experience at Skogforsk (1 år)

Starting date:

According to agreement

Application

Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2024-08-19.

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.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: https://www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/application-admission-doctoral-studies/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. 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 www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

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 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 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.