Industry-/collaboration PhD student in Soil sciences with LiDAR and AI
PhD @Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences posted 4 days agoJob Description
Do you want to contribute to the future sustainable use of forests? Apply to join WIFORCE Research School! Biodiversity and the role of forests in climate change are now key social issues that require more knowledge. 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. That’s why the WIFORCE Research School, part of the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (https://www.slu.se/WIFORCE/en), was created.
We are looking for an industry/collaboration-based PhD student in remote sensing to develop methods that enhance the quality and efficiency of forest management planning. The PhD student will combine remote sensing with machine learning to detect cultural remains, predict terrain accessibility, identify forests with high conservation value, and map small streams. The student will be admitted to a doctoral program at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at SLU in Umeå. The position includes permanent employment with Holmen Skog AB in Umeå. The student will be supervised by a team led by Lars Östlund and William Lidberg (Professor and Associate Senior Lecturer, respectively, at SLU), along with staff from Holmen Skog AB.
Read more about WIFORCE and it Research School here: https://www.slu.se/WIFORCE/en
Read more about Holmen AB here: https://www.holmen.com/en/
Qualifications:
Academic requirements include an M.Sc. (or equivalent degree) in soil science, physical geography, forestry, or a closely related field. We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic candidate with excellent communication skills in English. The candidate should be willing to learn new things and be interested in working with applied and interdisciplinary research. A strong interest in and knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), programming in Python, practical forestry, nature conservation, cultural heritage management, as well as a driver’s license, are considered assets.
Place of work:
Umeå
Forms for funding or employment:
- Doctoral studies at SLU with 80% study activity and 20% work at Holmen under 5 years.
- Permanent employment at Holmen Skog AB, preferably in Umeå, or at one of Holmen’s other offices by agreement.
Starting date:
According to agreement.
Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is August 12 2025
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/
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/
