Doctoral student on carbon cycling of primary forests

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 46 000 students and 8 500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Research and education at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (MGeo) addresses fundamental and applied questions on the Earth’s past, present and future climate and environment, including people’s interactions with the natural world and consequences for human wellbeing. MGeo advances and deploys cutting-edge methods, models and technologies in environmental science, quaternary sciences, bedrock geology, paleontology, physical geography, biodiversity and ecosystem science, remote sensing, Geographic Information Science (GIS), and computational science for health and environment, to study processes spanning from the microscopic to the planetary, across all time scales.

Subject description

Our research group has mapped primary forests (forests with little to no direct human impact, also sometimes called old-growth forests) across Sweden and assessed carbon storage in the most natural forest ecosystems. We have found that primary forests store much more Carbon compared to managed forests (see: Higher carbon storage in primary than secondary boreal forests in Sweden | Science). The largest carbon store, and the largest difference was found in the soil, where primary forests stored considerably more carbon than managed forests do. This was somewhat surprising since soil carbon is often considered to be relatively stable and change slowly.

It could be that most of the difference in soil carbon stems from losses in managed forests. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including ditching for drainage, site preparation, removal of carbon from the ecosystems through harvest, or other mechanisms related to the diversity and continuity of the forests.

Alternatively, it is also plausible that most of the soil carbon difference stems from a larger uptake of carbon in recent decades, most likely from the 1950s and forward when CO2 fertilization and climate change has accelerated. We have known for a long time from satellites that Earth’s vegetation has greened considerably during recent decades, and northern land often stands out as a greening and model-predicted carbon uptake hotspot. Wild-fires is another potentially important aspect, in Sweden wild-fires have been reduced dramatically since the late 1800s, and it could be that primary forests have been able to accumulate much more soil carbon during the last century due to the lack of fires.

The difference in carbon storage between the forest types is larger than cumulative fossil CO2 emissions in Sweden. Therefore, it is important to understand what has caused these differences. Improving our understanding of how different factors — such as climate change, CO₂ fertilization, forest fires, and various forest management practices — have influenced vegetation and soils is key to assessing how broadly applicable our unique data and results may be to the global boreal zone. This knowledge is also highly relevant for understanding and projecting future changes in carbon storage, and for evaluating what continued transformation of natural to managed forests may imply for future carbon uptake and emissions.

This doctoral project aims to shed light on these questions. The work is somewhat flexible and can be adjusted to the interests and skills of the candidate, but there are some clear opportunities. One involves field data collection analysis of soil samples, especially the collection of soil samples in primary forests with varying fire history. Another path involves modelling and analysis of existing carbon storage data and information on forest management.

Work duties

The work involves data collection and analysis of samples from existing primary forests as well as forests that have been harvested at different points in time. It also includes studies on the effects of various management practices, such as site preparation and drainage, and environmental factors such as historical fire regimes. Overall, this part of the project can be described as geographical studies, as it is largely based on the analysis of maps and other geographic and historical information sources that are integrated into spatial analyses and statistical models.

The work may also include laboratory analyses of soil carbon to provide a clearer understanding of which carbon fractions have been lost. This involves analyzing the components of soil carbon, particularly mineral-associated and particulate organic carbon. These analyses can help elucidate the processes that have led to observed differences in soil carbon stocks, as well as assess how stable and how sensitive soil carbon may be to future climate change and disturbances.

These studies can contribute to improving our understanding of how forestry practices affect carbon storage and thereby enhance our ability to identify ways to avoid accelerating global climate change by reducing soil carbon losses or increasing soil carbon stocks in the future.

The position is suited for a candidate with a strong interest in environmental and climate-related issues, a solid foundation in quantitative methods such as mathematics, statistics, and programming, broad knowledge of natural and anthropogenic processes affecting carbon storage, and a willingness to conduct fieldwork in remote and physically demanding environments.

The project offers considerable flexibility, and the doctoral student will be part of a growing research group focused on understanding human impacts on boreal forests. Our work spans several traditional scientific fields, which offers insight into a multitude of aspects in the study of how man and environment change our ecosystems. The work may also involve participation in related studies and data collection efforts, such as the collection and analysis of biodiversity data.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIw3PekWDRM for an insight into what we have done previously and what the fieldwork can involve.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Other background info: https://theconversation.com/swedens-old-growth-natural-forests-store-83-more-carbon-than-managed-woodlands-new-study-277150

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Skills in computer-based calculations, GIS and programming
• A degree in Science or technical subject

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Field work expereince
• Drivers license
• Experience of field inventory of carbon storage
• Experience of analysis of forest inventory data
• Good knowledge in GIS
• Good knowledge in quantitative methods
• Good knowledge in programming, calculation tools, and statistics
• Expereince in formulating and answering research questions
• Experience in lab analysis of soil samples
• Knowledge of land use history

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme. The research questions that this position is focusing on involves

multiple traditional scientific fields, reflected in the criteria above. We do not expect that candidates have wide experience or knowledge in all aspects, but a general interest in all of them and an attitude to pursue the question although the methods may be new is important.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees.

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Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 | Ort: Lund | Län: Skåne län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: PA2026/560 | Kontakt: Anders Ahlström 0732028487, Anders Ahlström 0732028487, | Facklig företrädare: OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli 046-2229362, OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli 046-2229362, SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet kansli@saco-s.lu.se, SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet kansli@saco-s.lu.se, SEKO: Seko Civil 046-2229366, SEKO: Seko Civil 046-2229366, | Publicerat: 2026-09-02 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-09-30