PhD studentship: Modelling social-ecological feedbacks and multi-level governance of the Baltic Sea

Project description
The Baltic Sea is a complex and highly variable ecosystem that has been shaped by hu-man activities for centuries. In recent years, reorganization of ecosystems in some of the sub-basins has been observed as a response to climate variability in combination with anthropogenic pressures.

The aim of the PhD project is to improve understanding of Baltic Sea governance and its interactions with marine ecosystems at and across various scales using simulation modelling.

The project forms part of the project SES-LINK that aims to systematically investigate social-ecological linkages in hypothetical and real case studies and assess their implica-tion for the resilience and governance of social-ecological systems (SES).

Particular em-phasis in the Baltic Sea case will be given to:

1) interactions of actors and institutions re-lated to the use and management of the Baltic Sea at and across different temporal and spatial scales

2) the feedbacks between human-induced changes in marine ecosystem dynamics and actor and institutional responses to ecosystem changes.

The PhD will:
1) map relevant social and social-ecological linkages and feedbacks at the local, sub-basin and whole basin scale

2) develop an empirically-based simulation model of a Baltic Sea ecosystem and its main users and governing institutions at three scales to assess the co-development and resilience of the SES using comparative scenario analysis.

The PhD project will build on a large and expanding knowledge and database of the Bal-tic Sea ecosystem and governance available at Stockholm Resilience Centre.

The student will closely interact with other researchers analysing marine food-webs and social networks in the Baltic Sea, in a number of multidisciplinary research projects. The integrative analysis of social-ecological linkages requires a student with interest, knowledge and ability to learn and apply concepts from the natural and social sciences and experience with applying formal approaches (preferably modelling) to study changes of SESs over time.

The PhD will be part of the interdisciplinary teams of the SES-LINK project and Formas funded BEAM and Regime Shifts projects. He/she will be supervised by Drs. Maja Schlüter, Thorsten Blenckner and Henrik Österblom (Stockholm Resilience Centre).

Qualifications
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- theoretical knowledge relevant to the research project (institutional analysis, ecology, system dynamics, adaptive governance, natural resource management, etc.)

- practical experience and knowledge of relevance for the project

- analytical ability as demonstrated by a scientific report, paper or degree project thesis

- the applicants personal references

- gender equality aspects

A background in social sciences with knowledge/experience in the natural sciences or an interdisciplinary background in environmental or system science is strongly meriting as is experience with dynamic modeling (agent-based, system dynamics, ODE).

Nature of position
A PhD position lasts four years and is a full time position. After acceptance of the PhD project plan prepared by the student in cooperation with the supervisor, the student will be employed on a doctoral studentship ("doktorandanställning") of currently 22 600 SEK/month. Up to 20% teaching or other work may be included in the position, which will then be extended accordingly, at most to 5 years. Salary increases follow the relevant salary scale.

More details about the project can be requested from Dr. Maja Schlüter, phone +46 (0)73 460 4910, e-mailmaja.schlueter@stockholmresilience.su.se.

Union representatives are Anqi Lindblom-Ahlm (SACO), Lisbeth Häggberg (Fackför-bundet ST), 08-16 2000 (switch board), and Gunnar Stenberg (SEKO), 070-316 43 41.

Application details
The application should contain:

- a letter of intent (one to two pages that explain why you are interested in working on this project

- why you are interested in studying for a PhD, what you hope to accomplish during your PhD studies

- what skills you can bring to this pro-ject)

- curriculum vitae

- copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all attested)

- a list of two persons who may act as referees (with phone numbers and email addresses)

- one copy of your undergraduate thesis and articles, if any.

The full application should be labelled 'PhD-studentship Dnr 27/2012 and sent as one pdf-file to dnr27-2012@ecology.su.se no later than 20 November, 2012.