Open/opening positions at UMF

Two postdoctoral scholarships (2 years) in AI-driven marine biology

Umeå University, Sweden, is now inviting applications for two, two-year Postdoctoral Scholarships focused on advancing our insight of marine biology. The postdoctoral scholars will be affiliated to Umeå Marine Sciences Centre and the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience, supported by multidisciplinary teams with complementing expertise in marine biology and AI-driven modelling and analysis.

The scholarships are full-time for two years, with a start date of August 2026 or by agreement. Applications will be considered from 16th March 2026, until the positions are filled.

The scholars will be based at Umeå Marine Sciences Centre (UMF), a research and education hub within Umeå University located in the coastal village of Norrbyn just 40 km south of Umeå. UMF’s strategic remit focuses on marine research, education and environmental monitoring. These positions are part of a wider investment at UMF in the application of AI-based approaches to advance marine research and monitoring – providing a dynamic research environment for these positions.

 

Project 1: Growth dynamics of the world’s longest-lived algae

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join an international project investigating the century-scale life histories of coralline algae. A type of calcified red seaweed, these are morphologically complex and extremely long-lived, creating reef structures in coastal seas all around the world. Unfortunately, coralline algae are facing significant loss over the coming decades because of climate change and human pressures. Understanding their life histories will allow us to better predict their future survival, improving their local-global conservation policies.

In this project, we will address this by combining high-resolution micro-Computed Tomography and AI-driven image analysis to reconstruct their growth and reproduction over centennial scales. Support and training will be provided as required, depending on the candidate’s incoming expertise. In this project, the candidate will be additionally affiliated with Sookmyung Women’s University, South Korea.

Joint mentoring of this project will be provided by Drs Heidi Burdett (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience / Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University) and Eunju Cha (Department of Electrical Engineering, Sookmyung Women’s University), and Prof. Nicholas Kamenos (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience / Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University).

 

Project 2: Multi-model projections of coral reef survival

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to join an exciting project investigating the survival of coral reefs in a warming world. Coral reefs are under threat from global warming but accurate projections of coral reef survival at long times scales (decades to centuries) are currently of low accuracy. Our project will use AI-driven analysis to dynamically compile the most accurate models of coral reef survival over the coming century. Support and training will be provided as required, depending on the candidate’s incoming expertise.

Joint mentoring of this project will be provided by Prof. Nick Kamenos (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience / Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University) with support from Drs Eric Libby (IceLab, Umeå University), Fredrik Ohlsson (Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Umeå University) and Heidi Burdett (Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience / Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University).

 

Qualifications

To qualify as postdoctoral scholarship holders, the postdoctoral scholars are required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. These qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment / assignment relevant to the subject area.

 

Project 1: Growth dynamics of the world’s longest-lived algae

Essential criteria are:

• Doctoral degree in computed tomography, image analysis, or similar
• Demonstrated experience in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB)
• Theoretical knowledge and practical experience in artificial intelligence-driven techniques for image processing
• Excellent proficiency of oral and written English in a scientific context

Meriting criteria are:

• Experience with µCT or other tomography imaging techniques
• Background in biomineralization or structural biology, or desire to work within research that has a marine environmental sustainability perspective
• Previous work with deep learning frameworks (e.g., pyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Proven publication record in relevant fields
• Familiarity with high-performance computing environments
• Familiarity with using and adapting open-source AI models and code repositories (e.g., GitHub, Hugging Face)
• Interest in international collaboration and willingness to travel for collaborative research visit(s)

 

Project 2: Multi-model projections of coral reef survival

Essential criteria are:

• Doctoral degree in ecosystem modelling
• Demonstrated experience in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB)
• Theoretical knowledge and practical experience in AI-driven techniques for ecological model development and selection
• Excellent proficiency of oral and written English in a scientific context

Meriting criteria are:

• Experience with predictive models applied to marine ecosystems
• Previous work with deep learning frameworks (e.g., pyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Proven publication record in relevant fields
• Familiarity with high-performance computing environments
• Familiarity with using and adapting open-source AI models and code repositories (e.g., GitHub, Hugging Face)
• Interest in international collaboration and willingness to travel for collaborative research visit(s)

 

Applications

A full application should include:

• Cover letter summarizing:
  - Which project you are applying for (if applying for both, you only need to submit one application – please explicitly indicate you would like to be considered for both projects)
  - Your qualifications, your scientific interests, your motives for applying, and how you feel you meet the essential and meriting criteria (max. 2
  pages)
• Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate, or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained
• Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades
• Copy of doctoral thesis
• Contact information for two persons willing to act as references

The evaluation will be based on the information provided in the application as detailed above. The requirements must be fulfilled at the time of approval to the position and may not need to be fulfilled at the time of the application.

• The application should be written in English (preferably) or Swedish.
• Your complete application should be sent electronically (in PDF format) to umf@umu.se, stating “AI-postdoc application” on the subject line.

Applications will be considered from 16th March 2026, until the positions are filled.

 

Contacts

Further details can be provided by contacting the project leads:
Project 1: Dr Heidi Burdett (heidi.burdett@umu.se)
Project 2: Prof. Nick Kamenos (nick.kamenos@umu.se)

 

Diversity statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin.

Stipend: A postdoctoral scholarship is provided directly to the candidate from the Carl Tryggers Foundation (project 1), and the Kempe Foundation (project 2). The current scholarship level is 30,000 SEK per month. The scholarship is not subject to tax. Running costs for both projects are covered by PIs.