Job Description

Job Information Organisation/Company
Swansea University Department
Central Research Field
Engineering Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions
PhD Positions Country
United Kingdom Application Deadline
25 Aug 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract
Temporary Job Status
Full-time Hours Per Week
35 Offer Starting Date
1 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Boreal forest recovery after clear-cut: We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student to collect data on and model hydro(geo)logy and greenhouse gas exchanges of boreal forests after the disturbance.
Boreal forests constitute the second largest forest biome after the tropical rainforest, with an estimated contribution of 20% of the global terrestrial CO2 sink. To date, very little is known about the impact of clear-cuts in boreal forest ecosystems on their total greenhouse gas (GHG) balance, particularly the role of hydrogeological drivers during the early recovery years.
This exciting PhD project will focus on the climate effects of rotation forestry at the European Research Infrastructure ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) in Norunda, Sweden. This is the first time globally that GHG fluxes will be interpreted in conjunction with subsurface hydrogeophysical data. Overall, the project's results will improve quantification and reduce uncertainties of the GHG budgets for the boreal forests.
PhD Project
The PhD project is linked to a large Swedish research project that aims to assess the biotic and abiotic climate effects ("costs") of rotation forestry. The PhD student will gain research experience in state-of-the-art hydrogeophysical methods, hydrological modelling, soil flux analysis, and be able to work in an international team with world-leading scientists.
The PhD student will identify the spatiotemporal impacts of clear-cutting on soil physical characteristics, hydrogeology and GHG emissions. Existing benchmark data like below-ground geophysical, hydrogeological, and soil properties, and above-ground soil and ecosystem GHG fluxes were collected prior to the recent forest clear-cut. These data will be complemented by equivalent new 'after clear-cut' measurements by the PhD student, allowing the assessment of both the 'before' and 'after' clear-cut hydrological states and GHG fluxes.
The many diverse training opportunities will include field-based geophysical measurements using a range of geoelectrical techniques, GHG soil flux measurements and associated soil-based analyses, as well as analysis of ecosystem GHG fluxes and remotely sensed data. We will support the PhD student in publishing the results in high-quality journals and in presenting these at international conferences. The post is based at Swansea University, United Kingdom, and will include several weeks of fieldwork campaigns at the Norunda research station in Sweden (100 km north of Stockholm), with the opportunity for extended visits at Lund University, Sweden.
Where to apply Website
Requirements
Research Field Geosciences Education Level Undergraduate
Skills/Qualifications
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.0) or Swansea University recognised equivalent.
Additional Information
Benefits
Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently 20,780 for 2025/26).
Additional research expenses of up to 1,000 per year will also be available.
Eligibility criteria
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in a natural science subject (e.g., geophysics, hydrogeology, physics, applied mathematics), other strongly quantitative geoscientific discipline (e.g., meteorology, oceanography), or appropriate engineering subject (e.g., environmental, fluid dynamics, civil, mechanical, etc.). Alternatively, applicants holding a master's degree with a minimum overall grade at 'Merit' (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) will also be considered.
Essential:

• Evident skills in field data collection and practical problem-solving
• Very good numeric skills, statistics, programming, and computational data analysis
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to tackle research problems and to work in a team but also independently, and to complete activities on time

Desirable:

• Demonstrable knowledge in hydro(geo)logy or greenhouse gas budgeting
• Strong interest in programming (Python, Matlab) and computational data analysis
• Experience with hydro(geo)logical or relevant environmental modelling
• Demonstrable good writing skills

Selection process
Please see our website for further information
Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Swansea university Country United Kingdom City Swansea Postal Code SA2 8PP Geofield
Contact State/Province
West Glamorgan City
Swansea Website
Street
Singleton Park Postal Code
SA28PP E-Mail
r.vanloon@swansea.ac.uk Phone
01792602768
STATUS: EXPIRED
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