Postdoc: Psychology, forest management and biodiversity

Department of Forest Bioeconomy and Technology

We are seeking a dedicated and motivated postdoc to join an interdisciplinary research collaboration between Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU), Umeå universitet, and University of Massachusetts. As Sweden and the EU work towards ambitious goals for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, understanding the human dimensions of forest management is becoming increasingly important. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research at the intersection of psychology, economics, and forestry, with the aim of supporting decision-making for more resilient and sustainable forest landscapes.

The full advertisement can be found at: https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/lediga-jobb/

About the job

The EU Nature Restoration Law and Sweden's environmental quality goals place increased demands on landscapes with richer biodiversity. In Sweden, approximately 300,000 individuals and families own about 50 percent of the productive forest land, which covers about two-thirds of the country's area. These family forest owners will need to implement a large portion of the measures required to strengthen biodiversity in Sweden's forests.

Within the framework of an interdisciplinary research project funded by Marianne and Marcus Wallenbergs Stiftelse, we are investigating three central research questions:

• Which prominent elements in family forest owners' cognitive models describe their perceptions of and assessment strategies regarding biodiversity in their own forest holdings?
• Do family forest owners have the capacity, opportunities, and motivation to change their behavior towards forestry methods that strengthen biodiversity?
• Can interventions offering economic compensation promote family forest owners' transition to forestry methods that strengthen biodiversity?

To answer these questions, we are seeking a postdoc who wants to work together with researchers in applied economics, psychology, and forest science. The selected candidate will contribute to integrating behavioral science perspectives and knowledge of natural resource management into relevant research designs, developing research questions, applying appropriate analytical methods, and writing scientific publications. The position is a full-time employment for two years. An important task is to develop interview protocols for studies with family forest owners, support data collection, and lead analyses of collected data. The place of employment is the SLU campus in Umeå.

Your background

The applicant must have obtained a doctoral degree within the last three years in a relevant subject area, such as applied economics, cognitive science, psychology, or a strong interdisciplinary program. If there are special reasons, such a degree may have been obtained earlier. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust within trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

Applicants are expected to have very good ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, as well as a clear motivation to pursue an academic career. The ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary and international research environments is of great importance. Meritorious is a documented ability to integrate behavioral science perspectives into research on decision-making, experience in writing scientific manuscripts, and advanced and documented knowledge in R, Stata, or equivalent analysis programs for statistical modeling. Good knowledge of Swedish and experience using surveys and/or interviews as data collection methods are also meritorious.

About us

The Department of Forest Bioeconomy and Technology at SLU brings together broad expertise in technology, natural sciences, and social sciences. By combining interdisciplinary perspectives, we conduct research that covers the entire forest value chain, investigating how raw materials, materials, processes, and systems can be developed to contribute to the sustainable development of forest resources and a circular bioeconomy. The department is located on campuses in both Umeå and Uppsala.

More information about the department/division: https://www.slu.se/om-slu/organisation/institutioner/skoglig-bioekonomi-och-teknologi/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21086656031&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwMj3yOmalQMVdluRBR3n7yxAEAAYASAAEgKD_fD_BwE

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/

Location:

Umeå

Employment form:

Fixed-term employment 24 months.

Extent:

100%

Start date:

As soon as possible, by agreement.

Application:

We welcome applications until September 30, 2026, via the button below. Candidates are encouraged to review the research of Francisco X. Aguilar, professor (available at https://www.slu.se/en/profilepages/c/francisco-aguilar/ and on https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GD4lKi8AAAAJ&hl=en), as well as co-researcher Linus Andersson, associate professor (available at https://www.umu.se/personal/linus-andersson/ and on https://scholar.google.se/citations?user=TzmSEKsAAAAJ&hl=sv&oi=sra). Please read an overview of the project found at https://mmw.wallenberg.org/en/project/how-private-forest-owners-choices-shape-swedens-forest-biodiversity before applying.

Applicants must submit:

• a CV
• a two-page research plan describing how the candidate can contribute as an integrated part of the team in the work of answering the three specific research questions
• copies of degree certificates as well as transcripts of all academic results
• contact information for at least two references who have good insight into the applicant's qualifications
• proven knowledge of English and current knowledge of Swedish
• where applicable, copies of scientific publications

Final selection will be made after an interview. Before the interview, applicants who have proceeded to the final selection must be able to present certified copies of certificates, degree certificates, and transcripts from previous studies at an internationally recognized institution (university or college). If the applicant is a foreign citizen, SLU requires a certified copy of the passport page with personal details and a photograph.

Union contact persons:

https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/