PhD student in Forest industrial production systems (Forestry digitalization)

Welcome to Linnaeus University! We meet the societal challenges of today and tomorrow in a spirit of openness, curiosity and creativity. By creating arenas for exchange of knowledge from different subjects, fields and cultures, we open up for new ideas and create new opportunities for long-term sustainable societal development. Linnaeus University – where people grow.

The Faculty of Technology offers a broad spectrum of activities across nine different departments and is central to the technical education and research conducted at Linnaeus University. The Department of Forestry and Wood Technology offers a wide-ranging of thematic activities from forest to finished wood products. Benefits for the climate arising from forests lie at the core of all department activities. To its growing team of forest scientists, the department is now looking for a highly motivated individual with a genuine interest in forest remote sensing.

The employment of the doctoral student will be linked to The Bridge 2.0, a joint collaboration arena for interdisciplinary knowledge development with a focus on forestry, innovation, and sustainable competitiveness, and the knowledge environment Green Sustainable Development at the university. The position will also be linked to the Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications (DISA), focusing its efforts on scientific questions in collection, analysis, and utilization of large data sets. With its core in computer science, it takes a multidisciplinary approach and collaborates with researchers from all faculties at the university.

Subject area for the position: Forest industrial production systems
Location until further notice: Växjö
Term and hours: The doctoral studentship is limited in time in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 5, Section 7). The studentship is full-time. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent full-time postgraduate studies of four years. The Higher Education Ordinance states that anyone who is employed as a doctoral student shall primarily devote themselves to their own studies, although they may, to a limited extent, also work with education, research, and administration. Before a doctorate has been awarded, such work may not exceed 20% of full-time work.
Starting date: Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed upon

Job description
The PhD student will work with current and relevant challenges for society linked to the digitalisation of forestry within the forestry value chain. The PhD student project will contribute to developing new and improved estimates of forest variables (state and changes) as well as to mapping and forecasting forest damage for next-generation digital and dynamic forest maps and forest management plans using remote sensing data in combination with field data. The project will include the analysis of remote sensing data collected from instruments mounted on towers, drones, aircrafts, and satellites for the possibility of up-scaling to cover larger geographical areas. Field data will be collected to be used as reference data and include traditional forest measurements as well as tree physiology measurements, and data from harvesters. Mainly radar data will be used, but data from laser and optical instruments will also be included as important data sources depending on the research application. An important part is to investigate how radar data can be used to measure forest water dynamics, which can be used to improve the estimation of forest variables and early detection of forest damage. The doctoral student is expected to be responsible for the practical fieldwork. Central parts of the work are writing and publishing both scientific articles and popular science articles as well as disseminating the research results.

Furthermore, the PhD student will participate in both national and international projects and meetings. The PhD student will also collaborate with national and foreign experts in remote sensing. Since the project will generate large amounts of data, the doctoral student will also seek collaboration with the cutting-edge research environment DISA (Data Intensive Sciences and Applications) at the university.

Qualifications
A person fulfils the general entry requirements if she/he has:

• • Graduated at advanced level in the relevant field.

• Completed undergraduate program of at least 240 ECTS, including 60 ECTS at the advanced level, or the equivalent knowledge obtained in or outside of Sweden.

A person fulfils the specific entry requirements if she/he has:

• • At least 90 ETCS in subjects relating to the proposed research subject or equivalent knowledge acquired in any other manner within or outside of Sweden.

• • Good language skills in Swedish and/or English.

• Finally, it is required that applicants are judged to have the ability needed to complete the education.

Other requirements
The successful applicant shows high motivation and interest in the research topic. The applicant must have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a subject relevant to the position, such as forest science, biology, technology, remote sensing and/or statistics. Proven communication skills in written and spoken English are important, as well as a good ability to work independently and in a group. A driver’s license is a requirement for the position.

Desirable qualifications
Theoretical knowledge and practical experience in forest remote sensing, forest inventory, forest damage, programming, statistical analysis, and knowledge of the Swedish language, are considered as merits.

Basis of assessment
Selection for postgraduate education is based on the assessed ability to cope with the demands of postgraduate education. The assessment of the ability is primarily based on the study results at the first level and advanced levels. The following aspects will be considered:

1. 1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the topic of the project and the educational subject. These can be shown through the attached documents.

1. 1. Assessed ability to work independently and ability to formulate and approach scientific problems. The assessment can, for example, contemplate the degree project and a discussion about it during a possible interview.

1. 1. Ability for written and oral communication in English

1. Other experiences relevant to the education at the postgraduate level, e.g., professional experience.

Consideration will also be given to good cooperation skills, independence and personal suitability, as well as how the applicant, through her/his experience and competence, is judged to have the ability needed to complete the postgraduate education.

Application procedure
The application must contain:

–     A personal letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the research project matches your interests and educational background

–     CV.

–     Degree certificate or equivalent, a copy of the thesis or the equivalent, alternatively a summary if the work has not been completed.

–     Other things you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information about references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

–     Completed application form.

Further information
Head of Department Erika Olofsson, 0470-70 89 99, erika.olofsson@lnu.se
Main supervisor Professor Johan Fransson, 0470-76 70 42, johan.fransson@lnu.se
HR-partner Jesper Pettersson, jesper.pettersson@lnu.se

Welcome with your application according to instruction, last day to apply is 17 October 2023.

Linnaeus University has the ambition to utilize the qualities that an even gender distribution and diversity brings to the organization.

Please apply by clicking on the Apply button at the bottom of the ad. Applicants are requested to the application resolving CV, cover letter , a copy of a relevant essay , grades and certificates and other relevant documents. The applicant also requested to submit with their application a proposed research plan within the current area of research. All documents must be attached to digital in the application. The application and other documents shall be marked with the reference number. All documents cited must be received by the University no later than 24.00 (Local time in Sweden) on the closing day.