Postdoctoral researcher in Limnology

The Department of Ecology and Genetics is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. Our research spans from evolutionary ecology and genetics to ecosystem studies. Learn more at www.ieg.uu.se.

The Limnology program at the Department of Ecology and Genetics (https://www.uu.se/en/department/ecology-and-genetics/research/limnology) is, together with the field station at Lake Erken (https://www.uu.se/en/department/ecology-and-genetics/research/erken-laboratory), an internationally leading research environment for research, teaching and collaboration on the ecology of inland waters. We are now looking for a postdoctoral researcher in hydrodynamics at the littoral-pelagic interface of lakes to the Limnology program.

Project description
The littoral zone is an extensive habitat at the land-water interface of lakes, four times longer than the global ocean shoreline, and characterised by abundant growth of aquatic plants. The very high growth rates of these plants drive high carbon turnover. Therefore, littoral zones of lakes can exhibit high carbon sequestration, but also high emission of greenhouse gases. Current understanding is however very limited, as littoral zones are spatially complex and difficult to study. Within the RELITORATE project, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, a team of experts in flux measurement, remote sensing and numerical modelling will use new and emerging methodologies in order to gain a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of littoral carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, beyond the scale of individual lakes.

The postdoctoral researcher will work in an exciting sub-project that through field measurements will investigate the lateral transport of water and carbon between the littoral and pelagic zones. The work takes place in close collaboration with other project team members including modelers, and under joint supervision together with meteorologists at the Department of Earth Sciences https://www.uu.se/en/department/earth-sciences/research/air-water-and-landscape-science/meteorology.

Duties
Research on the processes that control the lateral transport of water and carbon between the littoral and pelagic zones of lakes. The research will be based on field measurements of hydrodynamics as well as carbon concentrations, mainly at the lake Erken, 60 km east of Uppsala. The measurements will be based on longer ADCP deployments and various automatic sensors for water temperature, carbon dioxide and other water properties, as well as shorter intense field campaigns. The research work is carried out in close collaboration with other project members.

Qualifications required
Ph.D. degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a doctoral degree in limnology, oceanography, aquatic physics, aquatic science, or another relevant area e.g. environmental engineering or biogeochemistry. 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 labor unions, etc.

Since the work involves frequent measurements in the field, a driving license is required. Experience of data analysis using Matlab, Python or R is required.

We attach great importance to personal qualities such as such as ability to cooperate within a group, independence and organizational skills. Candidates must be able to express themselves very well in spoken as well as written English.

Qualifications desired
Knowledge of lake physics and biogeochemistry in aquatic ecosystems. Experience of working with ADCP and automated sensors. Technical competence. Experience of fieldwork. Experience of analysis of large datasets.

About the employment
Temporary position for 24 months, with a possibility to an extension up to a maximum of 36 months, according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment: full-time. Starting date 2026-02-01 or as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact
Professor Sebastian Sobek, sebastian.sobek@ebc.uu.se, +46 18 471 27 18. Assoc. Prof. Erik Sahlée, erik.sahlee@met.uu.se, +46 18 471 25 69

Application instructions
The application should include 1) a letter describing yourself, your research interests, and why you want the position, 2) your CV, 3) a brief description of your education, 4) a copy of your Ph.D. degree and your transcripts, along with a copy of your doctoral thesis, 5) names and contact details of at least two reference persons (email addresses and phone numbers), 6) relevant publications. The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 1 September 2025. UFV-PA 2025/1992.

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