Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden invites online Application for number of Funded PhD Opportunities in various Departments. We are providing a list of Fully Funded Doctoral Research Positions available at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden.
Eligible candidate may Apply as soon as possible.
(01) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student – sustainable broiler production
Like most other birds, chickens have a crop in which they can store feed for a period of time. Before slaughter, it is important that the crop is emptied to prevent any remaining feed residues from contaminating the meat during slaughter. In recent years, it has been discovered that chickens arriving at the slaughterhouse often still have contents in their crops. Discarding carcasses due to feed residues in the crop leads to increased food waste and financial losses for chicken farmers and slaughterhouses, which undermines the overall sustainability of chicken farming.
The overall aim of the project is to increase knowledge about why some chickens have contents in their crops at slaughter and to identify ways to prevent the problem. The project includes controlled trials at SLU’s experimental facility as well as studies at chicken farms and slaughterhouses. The controlled trials will investigate, among other things, how feed coarseness, meal feeding and longer periods of darkness affect the function of the crop and gizzard. The doctoral student will be able to participate in influencing the design of the studies, especially in the latter part of the project.
The work involves planning, organising and conducting experiments at SLU’s experimental facility Lövsta, as well as field work at chicken farms and slaughterhouses. A large part of the working time will be spent compiling, statistically processing and publishing results from the studies conducted. As a doctoral student, you will also be required to present the project orally and in writing, both scientifically and in layman’s terms. The doctoral student is also expected to be able to participate in teaching at both basic and advanced levels.
Closing date : 2026-01-15.
(02) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD in Biology
We are seeking a PhD student in biology/ecology to join the Department of Ecology in Uppsala. The doctoral project Deadwood2Soils is a unique research initiative that investigates how the translocation (relocation) of dead wood and wood-inhabiting fungal communities affects soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in boreal forests. The project is based on a large-scale field experiment in which 640 logs were moved as compensation for forest exploitation. Eight years later, these logs now function as living laboratories for studying interactions between dead wood, fungi, microbial biomass, soil nutrient conditions, microclimate, and CO₂ efflux.
As a PhD student in the project, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills in forest ecology, mycology, conservation science, data analysis, and scientific communication. You will contribute to conservation-relevant research on fungi, forest restoration and ecological compensation, conduct fieldwork in boreal forests, and work with modern laboratory methods including eDNA/metabarcoding and microbial analyses. The PhD student will receive supervision from a research team under the leadership of Mari Jönsson.
Closing date : 10 February 2026
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(03) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position to study nitrogen fixation in mycorrhiza and forest soils
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. To 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 (www.slu.se/en/wiforce), was created.
We are looking for a PhD student in biogeochemistry of forest soils with a focus on N2 fixation in ectomycorrhizal tubercles. The objectives of the PhD project are to quantify N2 fixation in ectomycorrhizal tubercles in relation to N2 fixation by free-living microorganisms in Swedish forest soils, to understand the factors that influence the rate of N2 fixation in tubercles, to identify the microorganisms that catalyse this process, as well as to better understand the structure of the mycorrhizal tubercles, and to upscale the N2 fixation rates to larger spatial scales.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(04) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student, mathematical statistics
We are looking for a dedicated and goal-oriented PhD student who wants to contribute to the development of methods for estimating the current status and trends of plant populations. The aim of the project is to develop and apply innovative estimation methods to simple species observation data, such as presence/absence data (i.e., whether a species is recorded on a field plot), nearest-neighbor distances between plants, and distances from field plot centers to nearby plants, among others. This doctoral position offers a unique opportunity to help develop new systems for estimating both the status and the dynamics of plant populations.
Closing date : 2026-02-09.
(05) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in nitrogen use efficiency and wood formation in forest trees
Nitrogen is the main growth limiting nutrient in boreal forests. Fertilization with nitrogen is a powerful way to increase forest productivity but not enticing due to the negative consequences on the surrounding environment. As an alternative, growth can be increased by improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of trees. In addition to targeting growth of trees, it is important to consider the qualitative properties of wood that are likely to be influenced along with the changes in NUE.
In this project, the student will investigate NUE in a natural population of aspen (the SwAsp collection). Together with other researchers, an integrative analysis, including automated phenotyping, genome wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome wide association study (TWAS), is taken in the SwAsp collection to identify genetic variation in NUE and candidate genes that are functionally validated in transgenic trees. To investigate how variation in NUE influences properties of wood, the student will also perform high-resolution analyses of wood chemical, structural and mechanical properties of wood.
The PhD project is expected to result in identification of genetic markers and tree breeding strategies for improved NUE. In the long run, we wish to promote short-rotation cultivation of deciduous trees in agricultural practices.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
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(06) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student in mathematical statistics focused on environmental monitoring
We are looking for a dedicated and goal-oriented PhD student who wants to contribute to the statistical development of future environmental monitoring at the Department of Forest Resource Management. The aim of the project is to develop innovative statistical methods to make environmental monitoring more efficient. This doctoral position offers you a unique opportunity to help develop new systems for tracking both the state of and changes in our environment.
Closing date : 2026-02-09.
(07) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student within sustainable and climate friendly cattle production
Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our time, with agriculture contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Among agricultural sources, cattle production is a major emitter of methane, a potent greenhouse gas produced during rumen fermentation. In Sweden, new feed additives are currently being developed to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle and promote sustainable and climate friendly livestock production.
This PhD project will focus on evaluating the potential of these Swedish feed additives through a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies. A series of in vitro gas production experiments will be conducted to screen and identify the most promising additives. The best-performing feed additives will then be tested in vivo using the GreenFeed system to measure methane emissions and calculate feed efficiency based on collected gas data. The in vivo experiments will be carried out at the Röbäcksdalen dairy research facility in Umeå and includes a long-term study in which high-quality forage will be utilized as feed source.
The PhD student will be responsible for designing and conducting the in vitro experiment, conducting two in vivo experiments with dairy cattle, analyzing collected data, as well as conducting a life-cycle assessment and publishing findings in international scientific journals. The candidate is also expected to present research findings at national and international conferences, write popular science summaries, and participate in teaching and supervision of Master students.
Closing date : 2026-01-15
(08) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in Forest Biodiversity – Methods for Inventory and Measurement
Biodiversity is a fundamental prerequisite for the ecological functioning, resilience, and long-term sustainability of forests. At the same time, new methods are rapidly evolving – ranging from remote sensing and automated sensors to genetic techniques and classical field-based inventories. This PhD project focuses on how biodiversity in forests can be measured, monitored, and analysed.
The position is intentionally broad and open. As a PhD student, you are expected to formulate and further develop your own research plan within the overarching theme of measuring and inventorying forest biodiversity. Possible areas include:
- indicators of functional or taxonomic diversity
- species-specific or habitat-based monitoring
- combinations of field data, remote sensing, and modelling
- new techniques for detecting and quantifying organism groups
- method development linked to forest management planning or conservation
Closing date : 2026-02-10
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(09) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student in linking forest genetics with operational harvest data
Do you want to contribute to the future sustainable use of forests? Apply for this position 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 (www.slu.se/en/wiforce), was created.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(10) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student in Perennial Cropping Systems
Perennialization of cropping systems offers major potential for reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint and improving long-term productivity. Many current annual cropping systems contribute to soil erosion, nutrient losses to waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, declining biodiversity, and vulnerability to climate extremes such as drought. In contrast, perennial crops and forages can reduce input needs, mitigate environmental impacts, and enhance resilience to climate variability. At the same time, managing perennial systems brings unique challenges, particularly around weed management.
In Europe, perennial crops include forages, leys, and emerging perennial grains. Despite their promise, substantial knowledge gaps remain concerning their physiology, productivity, and management. To design robust, sustainable perennial cropping systems, research is needed on the agroecological mechanisms driving yield and resilience, as well as close collaboration with farmers who are already testing these systems.
As a PhD student within this project, your work will include field station and on-farm experiments, as well as data processing and writing. You will also take courses at the doctoral level, participate in international conferences, and have the opportunity to develop your networks across various academic disciplines and with stakeholders.
Closing date : 2026-01-26.
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(11) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position, Drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem functions in forest ecosystems
Forest ecosystems in Sweden shall provide a range of ecosystem services, including rich biodiversity. This project focuses on identifying structures and contexts where biodiversity and ecosystem functions are promoted and/or can be promoted in managed boreal forest landscapes. The research will be done in terrestrial ecosystems. It aims to include experimental and observational studies (e.g. using field, lab, remote sensing data) along environmental gradients to increase understanding of how different types of forest management (e.g. continuous cover forestry, higher inclusion of deciduous trees, management for nature conservation) affect species, including rare species, communities, their habitats and ecosystem functions across spatial and temporal scales. The research will be conducted within plant ecology, but includes connections and interactions between vegetation and other organism groups – both above and below ground – in forests of different management types.
The PhD student will work with Maja Sundqvist at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Therese Löfroth, Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, SLU, Adam Felton, Southern Swedish forest research center, SLU and collaborators in a broad research group with expertise in community ecology, functional ecology, ecosystem ecology, and forest management, which provides good opportunities for scientific exchange and discussion.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
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(12) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student in physiology and heritable climate adaptation modeling
Climate change presents a particular challenge for woody perennial plants. Long generation times limit the opportunities for heritable adaptive responses, but increase the range of environmental conditions an individual will experience across their lifespan, making plastic responses – individual responses to external environmental cues, influenced by life history, morphology, physiology and behavior – potentially more important than in annual plants. Despite this, little is known about the genetics underlying plastic responses, especially in long-generation organisms where it is harder to study.
Genomic prediction is a powerful tool for breeding, and it is known in crop plants that plastic variation is heritable. With genomic prediction, better adapted individuals can be selected at the seedling stage using only genetic data, accelerating the breeding cycle. Incorporating information about plasticity can aid genomic prediction modeling of tree growth and health under future climates. This project seeks to address generalizable principles underlying the genetic basis of plastic response in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), European aspen (Populus tremula) and assess how these insights can be used to improve genomic prediction under changing environments in Norway spruce (Picea abies).
The student will work with a variety of methodological approaches (plant physiology, quantitative genetics and bioinformatics) to understand how heritable plastic responses work at both the individual and population levels. The student will be based in the Swarts lab, and will be closely co-supervised by the Hurry, Street and Zan labs, providing an opportunity for dynamic interactions across UPSC. As part of the KAW WiFORCE initiative, the student will have opportunity to interact with groups across Sweden.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(13) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in the RNA Biology of trees
Our society is facing a big challenge when we need to switch from a fossil fuel dependent economy to a sustainable alternative. An especially difficult challenge is faced by the forest industry that in addition must adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Further, the frequency of extreme weather events will only increase in the future. The Swedish Forest is a large part of the prosperity in Sweden, but despite the importance of trees, we know little of how they use their DNA sequence to cope stressful situation and ongoing climate change.
Our research will use Norway spruce and Scots pine to investigate how these trees adapt their RNA synthesis (transcription) during their life cycle. We will utilize numerous modern sequencing techniques to study transcription initiation and termination during several years in growing spruces and pines that are exposed to stress. The project includes both wet lab work and bioinformatic analysis. With our research, we will increase our understanding of how climate change can regulate the growth and development of trees.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(14) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position, Managing drained peatland forests for improved benefits
In the Nordic region, large areas of natural peatlands have been drained for forestry during the past century, inducing severe negative impacts on several key ecosystem services such as climate regulation and biodiversity. Today, governmental agencies and forest stakeholders in Sweden debate how to best manage drained peatland forests. One option is ditch-blocking to restore them towards a more natural state, with the goal to reduce soil carbon (C) losses, while providing wetland habitat (rewetting). Another is managing these areas with continuous cover forestry (CCF) methods that mitigate soil C losses while facilitating sustainable timber production as well as providing old-growth forest-type habitat. However, thorough empirical evaluations of these strategies, and their trade-offs for climate and biodiversity, are still lacking in boreal Sweden. This PhD project will assemble a novel empirical database on C balance and biodiversity in rewetted or CCF-managed peatland forests across boreal Sweden, enabling evaluation of how these strategies affect C sequestration and biodiversity. Thus, this project will advance our empirical understanding and thereby create an urgently needed decision support for developing optimized strategies for boreal peatland forest management.
The main supervisor for this PhD position is Dr. Järvi Järveoja and co-supervisors are Assoc. Prof. Therese Löfroth och Assoc. Prof. Joachim Strengbom. During the project, the doctoral candidate will collaborate with other graduate students and senior scientists with expertise in boreal peatlands and forestry, biodiversity and ecology, which provides opportunities for cross-project interactions and development of additional areas of interest.
Closing date : 2026-02-10
(15) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position , Uncover How Microbial Respiration Shapes Carbon Storage in Soils
Are you fascinated by soil ecology, microbial physiology, stable isotopes, and global carbon cycling? Join us in a cutting-edge PhD project that aims to rethink one of the most fundamental assumptions in soil biogeochemistry: what truly drives microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) in cold, nutrient-poor ecosystems?
Microbial CUE—the balance between carbon allocated to growth versus respiration—is the strongest planetary-scale predictor of soil carbon storage. Yet, we do not fully understand why soil microbes use soil substrates so inefficiently sometimes and seem to ‘waste’ energy. Our project will probe the mechanisms behind this energy wasting and explore how common it is in soils. In this PhD, you will conduct both controlled laboratory experiments and field experiments in high latitude regions. You will get an opportunity to learn about isotope tracing techniques and explore how soil microbes respond to environmental stress.
You will join a creative, supportive research environment with access to state-of-the-art isotopic and microbial facilities. If you are curious, motivated, and excited about redefining how we understand soil carbon cycling, we invite you to apply and help uncover a novel mechanism with the potential to reshape Earth-system models.
Closing date : 2026-02-10
(16) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position, Ecology and biodiversity in wet forested environments
The PhD student will join the broader WIFORCE initiative aimed at improving how biodiversity in forested peatlands and riparian zones are considered within managed boreal forest landscapes. Currently, research in the lab examines how forest management influences waterways, wetlands, and their surrounding ecosystems, working with hydrology, nutrient transport, biodiversity conservation, and riparian buffer management, combining long-term ecological data with applied field studies and experiments. This has included analyses of historic drainage and restoration efforts as well as assessments of ongoing forestry impacts on water quality and habitats. Together with collaborators, the aim is to generate practical, science-based insights that support more sustainable and ecologically robust forest and water management.
Closing date : 2026-02-10
(17) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in bioacoustics, statistics, and AI for forest biodiversity
Rapid and quantitative biodiversity monitoring is becoming increasingly important as climate and land-use change impact the planet, and biodiversity credit systems start to be implemented. For vocally active species, PAM holds large promise as a standardized and quantitative methodology for monitoring the presence and abundance of vocal species. However, the manual annotation of sound files is labour intensive. Therefore, deep learning models have been developed to automate the process of species classification. However, there are still several methodologies that need to be developed to integrate these models into a functioning workflow for ecologists.
In this 4-year PhD project, the successful candidate will develop an open-source workflow using deep learning and hierarchical statistical models to streamline the data flow from acoustic recorders to ecological insights that inform biodiversity management. The project includes:
· Apply of deep learning models to annotate bird and bat species from sound recordings.
· Develop a Bayesian statistical framework to incorporate annotation probabilities in hierarchical models.
· Use long-term passive-acoustic datasets from at least two projects investigating the role of forest structure and composition on the community composition of birds and bats in Swedish forests.
· Produce an open-source workflow for ecologists and other non-technical users to improve the application of PAM.
The successful candidate is expected to work with (inter)national collaborators to make sure that their work is embedded in the PAM community, to help ensure uptake and maintenance of the developed methodologies.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(18) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD in Airborne eDNA for Tracking Biodiversity Change
The main objective of this PhD project is to use a globally unique and most extensive (1974 onwards) airborne environmental DNA (air eDNA) dataset from Sweden, to test if the air-eDNA method can be used as an innovative biodiversity monitoring tool to detect and analyze spatio-temporal changes in the presence, abundance, and outbreaks of ecologically critical taxa—migratory species, invasive species, and forest pathogens—under the influence of modern forestry practices in Sweden.
Building on this, the project aims to develop a robust monitoring framework and deliver evidence-based recommendations for the future conservation and management of forest ecosystems. The specific questions to be addressed fall under the three categories:
1. Method validation
2. Fundamental ecological processes & forestry impacts
3. Conservation & monitoring framework
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(19) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in remote sensing of boreal forest fires
The Department is looking for a PhD student within the area of remote sensing of forest. Using remote sensing the PhD student will develop methods to quantify fire severity and analyze its dependency on the pre-fire forest structure and management practices in Fennoscandian boreal forests. Work includes e.g. developing methods to assess burn severity and fuel structure, processing of different remote sensing and mapped data, statistical modelling, mapping of fire risk and analyzing the effect of forest management for fire behavior. Considered remote sensing data includes airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data (ALS, TLS), satellite and aerial images. Collecting field data as well as participating in burning experiments may also be part of the work.
The research team includes expertise in boreal forest management, forest remote sensing, fire behavior and fire risk. Faculty gives doctoral degree in technology, forest management or biology depending on the candidate’s background. The student will work in close collaboration with researchers and technical staff, as well as connected stakeholders.
Closing date : 2026-02-10.
(20) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position in forest ecophysiology
After almost doubling the growth rate of Swedish forests since the 1920s through precise forest management, the last decade has shown an abrupt reduction in forest growth in Sweden. Increasing frequency and intensity of droughts limit tree growth and health, while the interaction with other factors that potentially predispose causes of tree decline are poorly understood. For example, elevated soil fertility can increase biomass production in nutrient poor conditions, but may also predispose trees to a less drought-resistant posture and physiology.
The project aims to reconstruct, measure and predict the sensitivity and resilience of Swedish conifer forests to interacting soil fertility and droughts. Specifically, we want to detect whether long-term fertilization practices have modified the drought-sensitivity of trees. We will analyze long-term growth trends and tree physiological indicators to detect acclimation and stress responses. Carbon, water and nutrient dynamics in trees are central in this project.
As successful candidate, you will investigate predisposition of trees to drought stress by long-term fertilization, both experimentally and with modelling. You will analyze long-term growth trends using tree cores from field sites along a climatic gradient, and study physiological and morphological acclimation of trees in controlled climate-chamber settings. You will also collaborate in a unique field manipulation setup with colleagues at the SLU campus in Umeå, combining fertilization history with early snow-melt in mature trees. Your work will be guided by experienced researchers in your advisory group. In addition, this PhD project is embedded in the WIFORCE research school, part of the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research, offering a unique combination of education, training and networking opportunities.
Closing date : 2026-02-10
(21) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD student in silviculture
The aim of the PhD student position is a doctoral degree. In this 4-year project the student will primarily do research in silviculture and modelling of growth and yield in boreal forest. The PhD student will get a research education in silviculture with training in forest growth & yield modelling, ecophysiology and sustainable forest management. Main research questions will cover climate change adaptations and seasonal growth interactions of thinning and fertilization.
The candidate will belong to the silviculture unit at the department and work in a silviculture team with focus on forest management for multiuse purposes, addressing issues on climate change adaptation and high-versus low intensity forestry. We use empirical and process based modelling, with input data from the National Forest Inventory and long-term experiments.
Closing date : 2026-01-15.
(22) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD position – Soil food web functional capacity under climate extremes
Soil food web functional capacity and resilience under climate extremes: consequences for tree regeneration
Climate change is reshaping forest ecosystems, with rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasingly frequent droughts and heatwaves. These changes threaten the survival of tree seedlings, which depend on soil nutrient availability, microbial symbionts, and a stable soil food web for successful establishment. Yet we dio not know how soil communities support or constrain forest regeneration under both gradual climatic change and extreme events. Addressing this gap is essential for developing climate-smart, sustainable forestry strategies.
This project will investigate how climate and soil food web functional capacity jointly shape tree seedling performance across Sweden’s forests. We will combine a field experiment along a climatic gradient with controlled lab studies simulating drought and heatwaves. You will assess how soil microbial and faunal communities (protists, nematodes) respond to climatic variation, how resilient they are to stress, and how their functional capacity influences nutrient cycling and seedling growth.
The project offers training in field ecology, experimental design, and molecular techniques (e.g., metabarcoding, functional gene assays) and provides opportunities to develop individual research directions in (forest) soil ecology.
Closing date : 10 February 2026
(23) Funded PhD Opportunities
Summary/title: PhD Student in Animal Science
We are looking for a motivated and committed PhD student who wants to understand the genetic consequences of modern breeding of farm animals and to develop the genomic breeding methods of the future.
The position involves doctoral studies where you will analyze genomic data, develop new models and simulations, and present new scientific results. You will also take courses at the doctoral level, participate in international conferences, and communicate with collaborators in academia and industry. Opportunities for research visits abroad may be available. The research combines computational modelling and simulations with the analysis of large-scale genomic data of various types. The project primarily focuses on cattle and poultry, but comparative studies with other species may also occur. There is room for you to be creative and contribute to shaping the direction of the research.
Closing date : 2026-01-07.
About The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden : Official website
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, or Swedish Agricultural University (Swedish: Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, SLU) is a public research university in Sweden. Although its main campus and head office is located in Ultuna, Uppsala, the university has several campuses in different parts of Sweden; the other main facilities being Alnarp in Lomma Municipality, Skara, and Umeå.
Unlike other state-owned universities in Sweden, SLU is funded through the budget for the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation (previously the Ministry for Rural Affairs). In 2020, the university had 3,155 full-time staff, 4,216 full-time students, 559 research students and 191 professors.
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