Post-doctoral research in "Modelling effects of climate change on population viability and species distributions”

We seek a post-doctoral research associate for participation in a collaborative project, “A multiscale, cross-disciplinary approach to the study of climate change effects on ecosystem services and biodiversity” (EkoKlim), between four departments at Stockholm University. The project is financed by The Swedish government program for Strategic Research Areas. The post-doc project will be carried out at the Department of Botany, Plant ecology section, Stockholm University.

About the project
The overarching goal of the project is “To develop an internationally strong research environment at the intersection between climate, spatial ecology and social-ecological studies. To perform cross-cutting and cross-disciplinary research to increase the understanding of the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem services at a landscape scale in a changing climate. The objective is to generate new insights for the improved management and governance of ecosystem services in dynamic landscapes.”

The aim of the post-doc project is to within this context:
(1) develop a modelling framework that links population dynamics to key environmental variables and is able to forecast effects of environmental change and management actions on population viability, and
(2) develop predictions for the interactive effect of climate change and habitat fragmentation on range dynamics. The project is planned to be conducted on both plants and animals and include several ecosystems. The primary method of investigation will be demographic and spatially explicit modeling, but field and experimental studies can also be included. The work is also supposed to link to research on management and ecosystem services.

Qualifications and terms of employment
Candidates should have a Ph.D. with research experience in ecology and population modelling. The postdoc is intended to start during the summer 2010. The post doc position is available for one year with a possibility for prolongation one additional year. The salary is based on individual qualifications.

Applications
The applicant should submit a personal letter describing hers or his research interests and a CV.

For more information, contact
Johan Ehrlén, telephone +46-(0)8-16 1202, ehrlen@botan.su.se, or
Peter Hambäck, telephone +46-(0)8-16 1288, peter.hamback@botan.su.se.

Union representatives are Bo Ekengren (SACO), Lisbeth Häggberg (Fackförbundet ST), telephone +46-(0)8-16 2000 (switchboard), and Gunnar Stenberg (SEKO), telephone +46-(0)70-316 43 41.

Applications, marked with the reference number SU 26/2010, should be sent no later than May 1, 2010, by regular post to:
Stockholm University
Department of Botany
Registrar Anna Kjellin
SE-106 91 STOCKHOLM
SWEDEN.