PhD student in Ocean Observations of Blue Foods

Are you interested in working with Blue Foods and the ocean, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD student in Ocean Observations of Blue Foods position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind with approximately 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. For more information: The Department of Earth Sciences.

The Department of Earth Sciences operates in two locations: in Uppsala and in Visby. The PhD student position is at Campus Gotland in Visby within the research program Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (NRHU). For more information: NRHU. Campus Gotland is an international campus in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Visby on the island of Gotland in the middle of the Baltic Sea. On Campus Gotland we also have Blue Centre Gotland a collaboration among Uppsala University, Region Gotland and County Administrative Board.

The project is part of the Blue Food - Centre for Future Seafood, Part II. Behind the formation of the centre is a national collection of research and innovation actors, regions, municipalities, organizations and a large number of companies. Blue Food is a national research centre aiming to transform Sweden's seafood sector by advancing sustainable production, innovation, and consumption of healthy, locally produced seafood. Through cutting-edge science, capacity building, and co-creation with industry, government, and NGOs, Blue Food part II aim to foster innovation and knowledge-sharing across the entire seafood supply chain. The project consists of seven Research Areas. The PhD student’s research will especially contribute to Research Area 5 (RA5): Wild Resources and Enhancement of Ecosystem Provisioning. RA5 focuses on enhancing knowledge of wild aquatic resources and their role in ecosystem services to support sustainable food production. 

Duties
The PhD student will conduct research on advancing ocean observations of blue food resources in the Baltic Sea, across all parts of the ocean observing value chain. The work will involve investigating the links between blue food resources—such as fish, invertebrates, and macroalgae—and their coastal habitats, including temporal variability and habitat importance across life stages. Utilizing methodologies, such as field investigations, eDNA sampling, and data analysis, the student will contribute to understanding resource availability, extraction potential, and sustainable exploitation strategies. This research will also integrate with broader efforts in RA5 to explore underutilized species, ecosystem disturbances, and their sustainable management. Collaborating with stakeholders such as the County Administrative Board Gotland, the PhD student will aim to provide critical insights to enhance primary production and develop sustainable practices that strengthen food security and economic resilience in Sweden. Teaching may also be included in up to 20% of the PhD student duties.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in environmental science, marine biology/ecology, sustainable development, or social-ecological systems, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Very good communication skills in English, both spoken and written, are required.

Additional qualifications
Knowledge of or experience with issues related to blue foods, ocean observations, environmental monitoring, coastal zone management, and fisheries is particularly advantageous. Practical experience in fieldwork in the Baltic Sea, interview methodology, and leading workshops is beneficial. Experience in working with interdisciplinary approaches and the use of conceptual and analytical frameworks is also valuable. Proficiency in statistics and analytical skills, as well as demonstrated creativity and the ability to collaborate both within and outside academia, are considered merits. Knowledge of Swedish is advantageous. A driver’s license and experience in operating boats are desirable.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 1 March 2025 or as agreed. Placement: Visby

For further information about the position, please contact: Dr. Lina Mtwana Nordlund, Lina.Mtwana.Nordlund@geo.uu.se or Prof. Gunilla Rosenqvist, Gunilla.Rosenqvist@uu.se

Please submit your application by 13 January 2025, UFV-PA 2024/4365.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.

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.