We are seeking a doctoral student to join the Department of Forest Economics at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Umeå. The doctoral student will work on the project “Role of conservation interventions in preventing degradation of the Atlantic forests of Argentina,” funded by the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS). REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiatives aim to prevent emissions and conserve forest area and integrity. Previous research has evaluated their effectiveness in preventing deforestation but has largely neglected degradation. This is crucial for society as degradation is a major source of forest carbon emissions and can lead to the loss of vital ecosystem services for local communities. In this project, we will assess the extent to which REDD+ initiatives have prevented forest degradation in the context of the Atlantic forest of Argentina. The Atlantic forest is one of the terrestrial ecosystems with the highest endemic biodiversity in the world.

The ideal candidate for this position is someone fully committed to research in forest conservation and has a basic background in research methods. The candidate will be responsible for integrating knowledge of economics and forest resource management into the design of relevant research, developing pertinent research questions, applying econometric tools and other appropriate analytical methods, drafting scientific manuscripts, and producing a doctoral thesis suitable for examination. The doctoral program includes courses. The doctoral program consists of 4 years of full-time studies, and the position is contracted based on annual evaluations.

Requirements: To be eligible, the candidate must have at least a Master’s degree in economics or a related field (e.g., agricultural economics, natural resource economics, forest economics), or a strong quantitative interdisciplinary program. Additional merits will be considered for knowledge in natural resource economics and demonstrated ability to integrate forestry and economic concepts. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required. Practical knowledge of Spanish is preferable but not mandatory. Additional merits include (a) experience in scientific manuscript writing, (b) documented advanced knowledge using GIS software, (c) documented advanced knowledge using R, SAS, Stata, or other analytical software.

Workplace: Umeå, Sweden

Application: Applications are accepted until February 16, 2024.

Applicants must submit:

  • A CV
  • A two-page research statement
  • Copies of academic degrees and transcripts
  • A copy of the master’s thesis
  • Contact information for at least two referees who can attest to the candidate’s qualifications
  • Certified proficiency in the English language
  • If applicable, copies of relevant publications

Candidates are encouraged to review the research of Francisco X. Aguilar, Professor in the Department of Forest Economics. Questions related to the application can be sent to Francisco.aguilar@slu.se. All details about this position are available online at: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=9279&rmlang=UK