Sapere Aude – dare to know – is our motto. Our students and employees develop important knowledge that enrich both the individual and the community. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and openness, with a close connection between people, professional roles, disciplines and research. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. Located in Värmland, a scenic region with a rich cultural life, we are committed to promoting sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider community. Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 17,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us
Description
The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology invites applications for a doctoral studentship in biology at the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The position is part of an interdisciplinary research project aimed at developing data-driven methods to map biological values, identify biodiversity indicators and predict the effects of various management and restoration measures in streams and rivers. The work is based on advanced methods in statistical modelling, machine learning (including artificial neural networks) and geographic information analysis.
You will be part of two dynamic research environments at Karlstad University: the research group River Ecology and Management (RivEM) and the growing group of researchers in evolutionary biology. You will work closely with your principal supervisor, Viktor Nilsson (biology), and assistant supervisor Jan Haas from the subject of geomatics.
The research project draws on millions of observations of benthic macroinvertebrates from Swedish environmental monitoring – an underutilised source of data with significant potential for future conservation efforts. These bottom-dwelling small aquatic animals play a crucial role in freshwater ecosystems and represent a substantial component of biological diversity in these ecosystems. By combining biodiversity data with geographic information on natural and human impact factors, models can be developed to identify ecologically valuable environments and predict the effects of different management scenarios in Swedish watercourses. The results will serve as concrete support for decision-makers, power companies and environmental authorities in the prioritisation, implementation and follow-up of environmental measures – and contribute to balancing the preservation of biodiversity with society’s need for renewable energy.
The project directly contributes to national and European goals for biodiversity, restoration and sustainable water management. You will be part of a dynamic research environment with strong ties to academia, government agencies and industry, as well as having the opportunity to work at the intersection of ecology, environmental analysis and data-driven public value.
Duties
Duties include compiling and quality-assuring biological and geographical data as well as managing these data in a database, developing data analysis pipelines and machine learning models (e.g., artificial neural networks), and interpreting and communicating results from an ecological perspective. Duties also include collaboration with other researchers, environmental analysts and representatives from government agencies.
As a doctoral student, you will primarily dedicate time to your own studies. The doctoral programme comprises 240 credits for a Degree of Doctor and 120 credits for a Degree of Licentiate. The doctoral appointment is a paid position that offers a combination of studies and work, and a great opportunity for a potential career in academia. Doctoral students are expected to work independently and be prepared to contribute to the activities and development of the discipline and the department. Teaching and administrative duties may also be included upon agreement, but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time. Work as a doctoral student allows for great freedom and flexibility in terms of how you structure your day. It takes commitment, discipline and a structured approach in order to successfully complete a doctoral thesis. Experienced supervisors offer guidance and support along the way. To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for doctoral studies the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35).
To meet the general entry requirements, applicants must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 39).
To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies in biology, applicants must have completed at least 120 credits in biology, including a degree project of at least 15 credits awarded in the second cycle. An applicant can also be eligible after having acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, in the country or abroad.
Another requirement is excellent proficiency in English, both spoken and written.
Admission and assessment criteria
To be eligible for doctoral studies, the applicant must be considered to have the ability required to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 7, Sect. 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.
Special weight will be given to:
Documented experience in analysing ecological or biological data using Python or R. Basic knowledge of database management (e.g., SQL), data retrieval via APIs and working with reproducible data analysis pipelines. An interest in machine learning and its application to biological data (e.g., artificial neural networks). Ability to work autonomously and in a structured and goal-oriented manner. Strong collaboration skills and a willingness to communicate in interdisciplinary settings.
Considerable weight will be given to:
An interest in freshwater ecology, community ecology and/or issues related to biodiversity.
Valuable qualifications:
Experience with GIS and spatial modelling. Previous experience working with benthic macroinvertebrates or other relevant organism groups. Proficiency in Swedish, both in speech and writing.
Terms
Upon admission to doctoral studies, the person will be offered the appointment of doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, Chap. 5, Sect. 3). The position comprises four years of full-time studies, or five years at a study rate of 80% with 20% teaching or other departmental duties. The position is fixed-term – one year initially, followed by possible extensions by a maximum of two years at a time. Start date by agreement.
The salary for the doctoral studentship corresponds to the standard level of salary for doctoral students and progresses in accordance with a local collective agreement.
Application
Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi.
Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.
The application should include:
- a cover letter where the applicant details the reasons behind their interest in the position
- a list of qualifications (CV)
- degree certificate with a complete transcript of the courses included, or a certified list of completed courses with grades and dates
- copy of Master’s thesis or equivalent
- where applicable, copies of publications or certificates for other qualifications
-
any letters of recommendation
two references, such as a teacher, supervisor, or previous or current superior.
Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.
Documents that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to the following address:
Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 KARLSTAD
Application deadline: 26th of August 2025
State the reference number: REK 2025/130
Applicants with qualifications from abroad
If you have qualifications from a university outside Sweden or if they have not been recognised by a Swedish authority before, it is important that you attach degree certificates and official transcripts to facilitate the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Provide a contact for the degree-awarding institution (phone number or email) who can verify your qualifications.
We look forward to your application!
Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.
HR Excellence in ResearchKarlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r
Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 % | Ort: Karlstad | Län: Värmlands län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: REK2025/130 | Kontakt: Viktor Nilsson 0708679723, Viktor Nilsson 0708679723, | Facklig företrädare: Thomas Bragefors, SACO 054-7001714, Thomas Bragefors, SACO 054-7001714, OFR/S Fackförbundet ST 054-7001434, OFR/S Fackförbundet ST 054-7001434, OFR/S Sveriges lärare 054-7002113, OFR/S Sveriges lärare 054-7002113, | Publicerat: 2025-08-05 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2025-08-26
