Postdoctoral position in Swedish Multi-use Forestry - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind with approximately 250 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science (LUVAL); geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; (NRHU); petrology, mineralogy and tectonics (MPT); paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge. For more information: The Department of Earth Sciences.

The interdisciplinary research of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Programme within the department focuses on the different dimensions of sustainable development. At Campus Gotland, the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development program’s (NRHU) research focuses on, among other things, recreational fisheries, nature-based tourism, forests and society, 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. The division is located at Campus Gotland, an international campus in the middle of world heritage town Visby. It is possible for this position to be placed at NRHU campus Uppsala pending negotiations with the successful applicant.

This position is part of the Formas funded project, MultiForSe. The MultiForSe project aims to understand the social learning networks that facilitate processes of small-scale changes already underway in contemporary Swedish multi-use forestry practices. The main goal of the project is to generate insights on how existing multi-use forestry practices and networks can be leveraged to accelerate the adoption of alternative forest management methods and other beneficial practices.

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Duties
As part of the MultiForSe project, this position will play a leading role in applying participatory mapping and/or social network analysis methods as a way of understanding the relationships between actors and networks involved in contemporary Swedish multi-use forestry practices. The candidate will also contribute to in-depth interviews of organizations supporting multi-use forestry and assist in preliminary testing of survey questions during qualitative field studies. Qualitative field studies will occur in a) Västerbotten, b) Gotland, Småland, and Öland, as well as c) a third study site to be located in southern Sweden. Qualitative insights generated in this work will be used to inform quantitative survey analysis and agent-based models. The candidate will therefore collaborate with other project members on the quantitative aspects of the research  project.

Additionally, work responsibilities include leading the production of two scientific articles for peer review in international scientific journals as well as contributing to a policy brief of results for the MultiForSe project. The candidate is also expected to contribute to the communication of project results via popular science in both verbal and written forms.

Requirements
PhD degree in a social science field with an emphasis on natural resources or a natural science degree with demonstrated social science research experience. Examples of such required degrees include, but are not limited, to: sociology, political science, natural resource management with a social science component, environmental or resource economics, land use science, sustainability studies, related fields, or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in a related field mentioned above. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

The following qualifications are also required:
1 Good knowledge of Swedish and English, since qualitative work will be conducted in Swedish. Your skills in conducting research in Swedish need to be documented.

2 Demonstrated ability to organize qualitative field research and data collection.

3 Experience conducting research involving a variety of stakeholders using methods such as, but not limited to: participatory processes, focus groups, social network analysis, in-depth interviews, participant observation, survey design and analysis, etc.

Additional qualifications
The following skills and knowledge are considered to be an extra merit for the position.

1 Knowledge of social learning theory and analysis.

2 Skills in social network analysis or other mapping techniques that can be applied to social processes and relationships, both qualitative and quantitative.

3 Knowledge of Swedish forestry and/or Swedish family forest owners.

4 Previous experience working with quantitative survey data or agent-based simulations.

5 A background in any of the following topics or topics related to: forest management, land use policy and decision-making, land use conflicts, outdoor recreation, hunting, recreational angling, nature tourism, agritourism, the land-based hospitality sector, farm or forest-based entrepreneurship, small-scale forest products, or similar topics.

Application
Your application should include a CV, the names and contact information of 3 references, and a letter describing your research interests.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 15 April 2023, or as agreed. Placement: Visby, or possibly Uppsala depending on negotiated agreement.

For further information about the position, please contact: Brian Danley, Assistant Professor, phone: +46 (0)701679525, email: brian.danley@geo.uu.se, Jayne Glass, e-post: jayne.glass@geo.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 17 March 2023, UFV-PA 2023/607

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About Campus Gotland: Uppsala University Campus Gotland offers the best of two worlds: the full-scale university’s broad offering and weight and a unique, small-scale campus in an interdisciplinary research environment. Campus Gotland is a hub for the University’s research and education in sustainability. Find out what it’s like to live on Gotland.