Postdoctoral Position on the Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Under Global Change at SLU, Sweden

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is inviting applications for a two-year postdoctoral position in terrestrial carbon cycle research at the Department of Soil and Environment in Uppsala, Sweden. The position is based in the Soil and Environmental Physics group and is designed for an early-career researcher interested in the interactions between ecological, biogeochemical, and physical processes that regulate carbon cycling under global change.

The successful candidate will investigate how carbon fluxes and carbon storage in soils, vegetation, and ecosystems respond to environmental change and how these interactions can be incorporated into soil and ecosystem models. Depending on the candidate’s background and interests, the research may emphasize statistical analysis of literature and database data, process-based mathematical modelling, or a combination of both approaches.

This is an excellent opportunity for a researcher with a Ph.D. who wants to develop an independent research profile at the intersection of soil science, ecology, biogeochemistry, environmental modelling, and climate change research.

About the Postdoctoral Research Project

The project focuses on understanding the processes that shape terrestrial carbon cycling under global change. Researchers will have the opportunity to examine relationships between ecological and biogeochemical processes across different spatial and temporal scales.

The research may involve collecting and harmonizing data from scientific literature and online databases, followed by statistical analysis of carbon fluxes and carbon storage. Another potential direction is the development and application of process-based mathematical models describing carbon cycling in soils and ecosystems.

The selected postdoctoral researcher will be encouraged to formulate novel research questions and hypotheses and develop approaches that connect processes operating at different levels of ecological organization. Examples include scaling microbial processes up to the ecosystem level or using plant traits to better understand ecosystem carbon budgets.

Key Research Areas

The successful candidate will be expected to work across several complementary areas of terrestrial ecosystem research, including:

• Terrestrial carbon cycling
• Soil carbon fluxes and storage
• Vegetation carbon dynamics
• Ecosystem carbon budgets
• Global change ecology
• Soil biogeochemistry
• Statistical analysis and data synthesis
• Process-based ecosystem modelling
• Ecological scaling and upscaling

The project offers flexibility in methodological approach, making it suitable for candidates with strong expertise in quantitative ecology, ecological modelling, soil science, biogeochemistry, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be expected to conduct independent research while collaborating closely with members of the project team and external researchers. Your responsibilities will include collecting data from scientific literature and online databases, harmonizing datasets, and performing statistical analyses of soil, vegetation, and ecosystem carbon fluxes and storage.

You will also develop and apply process-based mathematical models of carbon cycling in soils and ecosystems. Depending on your expertise and the direction of the project, you may combine modelling with large-scale data synthesis and statistical approaches. Additional responsibilities include preparing scientific manuscripts in collaboration with project researchers and external collaborators, presenting research findings at seminars and scientific conferences, and contributing to a productive international research environment.

Candidate Profile

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree to qualify for the postdoctoral position. SLU is seeking a highly motivated researcher with strong skills and experience in developing research questions related to processes controlling carbon fluxes and carbon storage in soils, vegetation, and ecosystems.

Candidates should ideally have experience with the collection, harmonization, and statistical analysis of data obtained from scientific literature and databases. Experience in developing and applying process-based mathematical models of carbon cycling in soils and ecosystems is also highly relevant.

A particularly strong fit would be a researcher who can conceptually and quantitatively connect processes operating across different spatial or temporal scales or across levels of ecological organization. For example, this could involve connecting microbial processes with ecosystem-scale carbon dynamics or using plant functional traits to explain ecosystem carbon budgets.

Because the project involves collaboration across disciplines, applicants should be comfortable interacting with soil scientists, ecologists, and biogeochemists. Experience publishing research in highly ranked international scientific journals in English is also considered important. The position is intended for a junior researcher, with preference given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years ago.

Research Environment at SLU

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) provides an international research environment focused on sustainable land use, environmental change, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems, and natural resources. The Department of Soil and Environment is a leading soil research institution in Sweden and internationally. Its research addresses fundamental soil properties and processes as well as the effects of changing environmental conditions, including climate change, on soil functions.

The department has approximately 100 employees and conducts research across seven subject groups covering Soil Biology, Soil Nutrient Cycling, Soil Chemistry, Agricultural Water Management, Soil and Environmental Physics, Soil Mechanics and Soil Management, and Biogeochemistry of Forest Soils.

Researchers have access to substantial research infrastructure, including soil chemistry and soil physics laboratories, an X-ray scanner, long-term field experiments, a lysimeter facility, and field research stations at Lanna and Lövsta. The department is also part of the Soil, Water and Environment Center (MVM-center), providing connections to research involving water systems, recycling, and bioenergy.

Location: Uppsala, Sweden

The position is based at Campus Ultuna in Uppsala, one of SLU’s major research locations. Uppsala provides an international academic environment with strong connections to research institutions and scientific networks in Sweden and abroad. The postdoctoral researcher will have opportunities to collaborate with soil scientists and ecologists within SLU as well as researchers nationally and internationally.

This position is particularly relevant for researchers seeking to build an independent career in terrestrial ecosystem science, carbon cycle research, soil biogeochemistry, ecological modelling, or global change research. The combination of quantitative data analysis, process-based modelling, and interdisciplinary collaboration offers the opportunity to develop research that connects processes across scales.

The position also provides access to established soil research infrastructure and collaboration opportunities within SLU and with researchers internationally. For an early-career scientist who has recently completed a Ph.D. and wants to strengthen their publication record, modelling expertise, research independence, and international collaborations, this postdoctoral opportunity offers a strong research environment.

Position Details

Detail	Information
Position	Postdoctoral Researcher – Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Under Global Change
University	Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Department	Department of Soil and Environment
Research Group	Soil and Environmental Physics
Location	Uppsala, Sweden
Position Type	Postdoctoral
Duration	24 months
Possible Extension	Yes
Employment Scope	100% full time
Start Date	As agreed
Required Degree	Doctoral degree
Preferred Career Stage	Doctorate completed within the past 3 years
Research Focus	Terrestrial carbon cycle and global change
Methods	Statistical analysis, data synthesis, process-based modelling
Reference Number	SLU.ua.2026.2.5.1-2209
Application Deadline	September 10, 2026
Main Contact	Professor Stefano Manzoni
Email	stefano.manzoni@slu.se

Application Requirements

Applicants should prepare a complete application package containing a cover letter, CV, references, and a research proposal. The cover letter should be no more than one page. The CV should include degrees and completed courses, professional experience, and a publication list. Applicants must also provide contact information for two to three references.

The research proposal should address three main areas. First, applicants should provide a brief overview of the current state of knowledge relating to the research topic described in the advertisement, limited to half a page. Second, they should identify important knowledge gaps that need to be addressed, also within half a page.

Finally, applicants should describe their proposed approach for addressing these knowledge gaps and explain how the proposed work connects to their own knowledge, expertise, and previous research experience. This section can be up to one page.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through Apply for this position system. Applicants should ensure that all required documents are included before submitting their application.

Application deadline: September 10, 2026. The position carries the reference number SLU.ua.2026.2.5.1-2209. For questions about the position, applicants can contact Professor Stefano Manzoni at stefano.manzoni@slu.se.

Apply for this position

About the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) plays an important role in research and education related to sustainable development, natural resources, ecosystems, agriculture, forestry, and environmental change. SLU has approximately 4,000 employees and 6,000 students and doctoral students. Its main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå, and Uppsala, while the university also operates research stations, experimental forests, and teaching sites throughout Sweden. The university emphasizes interdisciplinary research and an inclusive working environment in which diverse perspectives contribute to scientific development and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of the postdoctoral position?

The position is a 24-month temporary appointment, with the possibility of extension.

Where is the postdoc based?

The position is located at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden, within the Department of Soil and Environment.

What research will the postdoctoral researcher conduct?

The project investigates how ecological, biogeochemical, and physical processes influence the terrestrial carbon cycle under global change and how these processes can be incorporated into soil and ecosystem models.

What methods can the researcher use?

Depending on their background and the project direction, the researcher may use literature and database data synthesis, statistical analysis, process-based mathematical modelling, or a combination of these approaches.

What degree is required?

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree.

Is there an ideal time since completing the Ph.D.?

Yes. The position is aimed at junior researchers, and candidates who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years ago are primarily sought.

What documents are required?

Applicants should submit a maximum one-page cover letter, CV, contact details for two to three references, and a research proposal following the specified format.

When is the application deadline?

The deadline is September 10, 2026.

Who is the contact person?

The activity contact person is Professor Stefano Manzoni, who can be reached at stefano.manzoni@slu.se.