Postdoctoral Fellow in Biology

The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology is now advertising a full-time postdoctoral position in biology at the Department of Environment and Life Sciences. The subject area is fish ecology and hydrology with a focus on migratory fish species and hydropower. As a postdoc, you will contribute important knowledge regarding the connection between hydropower production and biodiversity in rivers, which in turn promotes changes for sustainable hydropower.

You are expected to conduct research within the research group Naturresurs rinnande vatten, NRRV at the Department of Environment and Life Sciences at Karlstads universitet, which conducts both fundamental and applied research in and along watercourses, lakes, and surrounding landscapes. The research group is interested in the sustainable use of natural resources in catchment areas and works to find solutions to environmental problems that benefit both society and nature. Research areas addressed by NRRV include the effects of hydropower on connectivity, interactions between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, winter ecology under climate change, threatened species such as the European eel and freshwater mussels, conservation, and socio-ecological research linked to the regulation of watercourses and sport fishing. Many research projects are carried out in collaboration with various actors from industry, authorities, interest organizations, and landowners. Read more at https://www.kau.se/biologi and http://www.nrrv.se.

Tasks

Hydropower plays a central role as an energy source, but the presence of dams and the regulation of water flow disturb natural flow patterns, affecting the organisms that live in or near rivers and the ecosystem services these organisms provide. Migratory fish species depend on free migration routes to complete their life cycles, as well as access to high-quality habitats for reproduction and growth, meaning they are particularly vulnerable to fragmentation and flow regulation of watercourses.

As a postdoc, your research will be conducted within the project Synergies for ecological sustainability: blue-green infrastructure to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. The purpose of the project is to investigate how restoration measures should be designed to maintain electricity production and regulation capacity as much as possible while minimizing negative environmental effects. The focus is on the design and function of environmental improvement measures for migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla), to generate knowledge for the benefit of evidence-based and adaptive management.

The main tasks consist of (1) Developing and improving new and existing tools to study the effects of environmental improvement measures on connectivity and migratory fish populations in human-influenced aquatic ecosystems, (2) Using these tools to predict the effect of different action programs on fish populations, (3) Contributing to the development of restoration strategies with the aim of maintaining electricity production and regulation capacity as much as possible while minimizing negative environmental effects. The work includes literature syntheses and writing scientific articles, as well as telemetry-based field studies and ecological modeling.

Eligibility requirements

Those eligible to be employed as a postdoc are those who have obtained a doctoral degree (or will have obtained the degree before a decision on employment is made) in ecology or an adjacent field. The degree may have been obtained at most three years prior to the end of the application period. If there are special reasons, the doctoral degree may have been obtained earlier. Very good knowledge of English, both oral and written, is a requirement.

With special reasons, leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within trade unions, or other similar circumstances is intended.

Assessment criteria

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with experience in aquatic ecology.

In the selection process, particular weight will be placed on the applicant's scientific skill within the relevant research area. The assessment is based on the quality of the applicant's doctoral thesis, scientific publications, as well as other scientific merits and practical experience.

Particular weight will be placed on

scientific skill. The assessment is based on the quality of the applicant's doctoral thesis, scientific publications, as well as other scientific merits the applicant's experience in planning and conducting captures (Wolf-trap, screw trap, wading fishing, and boat fishing), as well as tagging and telemetry studies on fish documented experience in animal experimentation and various methods for surgical fish tagging

Great importance will be placed on

expertise in fish ecology ability to collaborate and create good relationships with colleagues ability to work independently and take own initiatives

Weight will be placed on

ability to conduct field and laboratory work expertise in hydraulic modeling experience of collaboration with stakeholders as well as communicating research results

Merit:

valid B-driver's license experience of practical work with fish and hydropower good knowledge of Swedish and English

Terms

The employment is a fixed-term full-time position for 3 years, starting 1 January 2027, or as agreed between the applicant and the employer.

Other

Karlstads universitet values the qualities that equal gender distribution and diversity bring to the organization. We therefore welcome applicants of all genders and with different backgrounds, functionalities, and life experiences.

Application

Applications are made through the university's web-based recruitment tool Varbi.