Postdoctoral position in forest products with specialisation in data-driven sustainability.

Welcome to Linnaeus University! Here you’ll meet 2 200 staff members and 40 000 students, all united in following the vision to set knowledge in motion for a sustainable societal development. With us, research and education are conducted with an eye towards the future. Our proximity to the business world, both locally and globally, gives us a wide reach and the ability to create change that makes an impact. All that’s needed is a place where ideas have the space to meet and grow. That’s what we’ve created – and you are invited.

Change starts here!

The Faculty of Technology offers a broad spectrum of activities across nine different departments and is central to the technical education and research conducted at Linnaeus University. The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology offers a wide-ranging of thematic activities from forest to finished wood products. Benefits for the climate arising from forests lie at the core of all department activities.

The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology conducts thematic activities from seedlings to finished products from the forest. The focus of the activities is the forest as a resource with its climate benefits throughout the life cycle. Research is ongoing in many disciplines such as forest management, forest economics, forest ecology, digitalization of forestry, forest damage, forest soil science, and wood science. The department offers courses and educational programs in forestry and wood technology at both undergraduate and advanced levels.

Subject area for the position: Postdoc fellowship in forest products
Location until further notice: Växjö, Sweden.
Hours and term: Two (2) year position. Extent is 100%
Starting date: The position is available as soon as possible 

Job description
Your work as a postdoctoral researcher will primarily consist of research in forest products, with a focus on exploring how data can support the needs for wood material use in construction and furniture businesses. The research supports the forest and wood industry towards increasing sustainability and  traceability through a circular and a digital transformation. Data connected to recycling and reuse may be addressed. You will utilize both existing data in (connected to e.g. geolocation, wood quality, BIM models, EPDs, moisture and weather exposure), identify needs and collect complementary data and investigate techniques for connecting and transferring data between different stakeholders. By assessing the Value of Information (VOI) alongside stakeholders’ potential to leverage data for smarter decisions and stronger business outcomes, the value chain will be examined.

You will be expected to participate actively in the department’s knowledge environment and networks, both internally and externally.

The work is carried out in projects, and you will collaborate with research institutions, businesses, and other societal stakeholders. The work will be linked to several collaborative projects such as The Bridge and the research profile Competitive timber structures.

The position also includes responsibility for research communication, which involves participating in national and international meetings and communicating the results of the work. Publishing both popular science articles and scientific articles are central parts of the work. Additionally, the work includes developing new project ideas and seek project funding.

Teaching and supervision, comprising no more than 20% of the total workload, may be included among your duties.

Qualifications
Anyone who has a doctorate in forest product, building technology, industrial engineering, informatics,  equivalent knowledge or who has a degree from another country that is equivalent to a doctorate in forest products, industrial engineering or informatics, qualifies for the position.

In accordance with the postdoc agreement, applicants who were awarded their degree no more than three years prior to the last application date for the present position should be considered first.

An applicant must not previously have been employed as a postdoc for more than a year within the same or a related subject area at Linnaeus University.

In order to qualify for the present position, the applicant must also show scientific skill in data integration, digitalisation, and sustainability aspects on material use. The position further requires demonstrated good ability to communicate orally and in writing in English.

Assessment criteria
Experience in teaching at undergraduate and/or advanced levels in the field is desirable.

Documented expertise and working experience within at least three of the following research and educational areas is a great advantage:

• Forest and wood production processes
• Wood construction
• Furniture manufacturing
• Wood material science
• Machine learning
• Process simulation and optimisation

The postdoctoral fellow is part of a research group consisting of several actors with different skills. Hence, good collaboration skills are of great importance and teamwork experiences should be documented in the application.

Other qualifications include

• Being able to speak Swedish is meritorious.
• Experience in applying for external project funding is a merit.

The department and the subject area aim for gender balance among the staff and, therefore, especially welcome female applicants for the position.

When the university employs new teachers, the choice should fall on those applicants who, based on a qualitative holistic assessment of competence and skills, are considered most likely to successfully perform and develop relevant tasks and contribute to successful development of the organisation.

Contact
Head of department Erika Olofsson, 0470-70 89 99, erika.olofsson@lnu.se
Professor Jimmy Johansson, 0470-70 80 33, jimmy.johansson@lnu.se
HR-partner Jesper Pettersson, jesper.pettersson@lnu.se

Would you like to know more about the faculty of technology Learn more at Lnu.se.

Welcome with you application according to instructions, last day to apply is 31 August 2025.

Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the “Apply” button at the bottom of the ad. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached digitally in your application. The application and other documents to be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 23.59 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.

Please note that a valid identification must be presented at the time of the interview.