PhD student in Sustainable Development (Fisheries and coastal development) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University conducts education at the undergraduate, advanced and doctoral levels, as well as research and has operations in two locations, in Uppsala and in Visby. The PhD position is located at Campus Gotland in Visby within the research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (NRHU). At Campus Gotland, NRHU research focuses on, among other things, recreational fisheries, nature-based tourism, ecosystem services and coastal zone management. NRHU is responsible for courses in the Bachelor program in Environmental Science and the master program in Sustainable Destination Development at Campus Gotland. For more information: For more information: http://www.geo.uu.se/research/natural-resources-sustainable-development/.

Uppsala University is establishing a new graduate school in sustainable development. The main mission of the graduate school is to conduct research based on key social challenges, where local relevance meets international excellence. The research will include changed energy systems, sustainable consumption and destination development, and will address significant issues such as conservation and change, as well as the definition and management of resources. The graduate school is rooted in ongoing interdisciplinary collaborations in research and education, conducted in an international environment. Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, where the graduate school is located, is a hub for the University's research and education in sustainability. We work with international partners, visiting researchers and local stakeholders with a special focus on knowledge development to meet the changes needed for sustainable development. As a PhD student, you will be part of this interdisciplinary research environment. You will also benefit from the courses, seminars and first-class doctoral supervision offered at the graduate school.

Duties/Project description: The research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at the Department of Earth Sciences and the Departments of Archeology and Ancient History will together run two doctoral projects in the new research school in sustainable development at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland. The project - Fisheries and coastal development in small island context - the past, present and future - addresses marine resources and the coastal zone in a long-term perspective specifically with regard to resource use, biodiversity loss and climate change. The common question for the two proposed doctoral projects is how the coastal zone and marine resource use, especially fishing, have developed in an archaeological time perspective and how it looks like today to be able to develop strategies for sustainable coastal development. The project has an island perspective and the focus is on Gotland, an island in the middle of the Baltic Sea, but comparative studies with islands in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific are also planned. The project requires close collaboration with the PhD student from the Department of Archeology and Ancient History and that you interact with the other PhD students in the research school.

The PhD student at the research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at the Department of Earth Sciences will work on issues related to the coastal zone and especially fisheries and marine biodiversity loss in the present and in the future. The coastal zone has been a key area throughout history as it is a biodiversity hotspot and an important area for people. The situation in the coastal zone is complex as it is a popular area with multiple uses and because it is affected by both ocean and land based threats. One part of the project is to understand the current situation in the coastal zone in an island context. Another part of the project is to develop management strategies based on present and historical data in collaboration with the doctoral student from the Department of Archeology and Ancient History. The project will also be conducted in close collaboration with local actors, including the County Administrative Board of Gotland. The project's research questions will be answered using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including ecological field surveys, interviews and collecting and analysing existing data.

Requirements: The applicant should have an MSc degree in Environmental Science/Ecology/Earth Science/Geography and an interest in transdisciplinary and applied research, especially in collaboration with experts and researchers from other disciplines. Very good spoken and written English skills are required. Personal qualities such as dedication, motivation, initiative and independence are valuable. 

Additional qualifications: Knowledge or experience of work on issues related to fishing, connectivity and management of the coastal zone are particular merits. Practical experience of field work in the Baltic Sea, questionnaires and/or interview methodology are merits. An interest in statistics and time series analysis is desirable. Proven creativity and ability to take own initiative as well as analytical ability demonstrated by a scientific report or thesis are also merits. The possibility of, or the desire to learn, to read reports in Swedish related to the project is desirable.

The application should include a letter of intent that explains research interests, interests in the announced PhD project and what skills the applicant can contribute with to the project. The application should also include a CV, copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records, copy of master thesis, contacts to references, and tentative additional documents of relevance.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines http://regler.uu.se/?languageId=1.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.

Starting date: 11-01-2021 or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Dr Lina Mtwana Nordlund, +46 (0)18 471 8440, Lina.Mtwana.Nordlund@geo.uu.se

Please submit your application by 2020-09-15, UFV-PA 2020/1750.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

Moving to Gotland? You can find more information about what it is like to live in Gotland here: http://gotland.com/en/move/.