Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
We are announcing a postdoctoral position in community and ecosystem ecology to work on the long term globally distributed WaRM experiment (for details see here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.9396). The employment is fulltime for three years. The deadline for applications is March 26, 2026 and the position is expected to start in September/October 2026, or according to agreement. We welcome your application!
Research description This project builds conceptually on our earlier work on community and ecosystem processes across elevational gradients in mountains (https://www.nature.com/articles/nature21027). Following from that work, and to better understand the mechanisms involved, about a decade ago we (together with a dedicated group of international collaborators) have set up a globally distributed experiment on mountains around the world (i.e., the WaRM experiment: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.9396), eight sites of which are still ongoing, in Swtizerland, France, Greenland, China, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Argentina. In brief, at each of these locations the experiment consists of a full factorial design of three factors: elevation (high or low) × experimental warming (i.e., with or without open-top chambers) × manipulation of dominant plant species (removed or not removed). These treatments have been maintained throughout the course of the experiment and are still ongoing.
The postdoctoral researcher will, in collaboration with the project leads and local collaborators, decide on a series of measurements to be performed across the WaRM experimental plots in the eight countries. These measurements should aim to best inform on how community and ecosystem properties, and aboveground-belowground linkages, are impacted by the three factors and their interactions, and whether or not these impacts operate in similar or different ways in mountains around the world. The postdoctoral researcher will coordinate these measurements and necessary samplings across the eight sites, and travel to the majority of them to guide these activities. They will also lead the analysis of the resulting data and the writing of manuscripts targeted at major journals. The research will be generously funded through a 5-year grant from the Wallenberg Scholars award scheme.
The Postdoc will work with Prof. David Wardle (Umeå University), and key collaborators will include Dr. Maja Sundqvist (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and Profs. Aimee Classen and Nate Sanders (both at the University of Michigan).
Qualifications To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.
To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, 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 organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
The successful candidate should have a PhD in terrestrial community or ecosystem ecology. We seek someone that has good written and verbal communication skills; knowledge on the analysis of ecological data; the ability to conceive, execute and complete research projects; the ability to think independently and creatively as well as ability to work in a team and independently; and the capacity to travel to other countries for short periods of fieldwork.
How to apply The application should contain the following:
A personal cover letter briefly motivating your application, as well as a brief (one page maximum) description of the sorts of things you think would be interesting to measure across the WaRM experimental network plots and why,
CV including full list of publications,
A copy of the doctoral thesis,
A copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
Contact information for three reference persons,
Other documents that the applicant wishes to submit.
The closing date is March 26 2026.
Contact Any additional questions about the research or application should be directed to David Wardle, Umeå University (david.wardle@umu.se).
The Department of Ecology and Environmental Science carries out research and postgraduate education in ecology, environmental science and physical geography. The department has about 160 employees, about 30 of whom are postdoctoral researchers. For more information, visit: https://www2.umu.se/en/department-of-ecology-and-environmental-science/
Umeå University wants to offer an equal environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity and development. We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current employment.
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