Postdoctoral Fellow in Geography

At the Department of Physical Geography Closing date: 10 January 2025.

The Department of Physical Geography is one of the major departments within the Faculty of Science. The department has approximately 110 employees and educates approximately 1 000 students annually. Education is oriented towards Geography, Geosciences, Biology-Earth sciences, Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology and Environmental Protection and Management.  We offer a stimulating and friendly environment in a very diverse and international department. 

Project description
The candidate will work on the project Disclosing the Overlooked Wetlandscape Ecosystem Services (DOWES), funded by the Water4All 2023 Joint Transnational Call on Aquatic Ecosystem Services. The main objective of DOWES is to resolve the interlinkages between water availability in wetlandscapes, their responses and stressors, and the provision of ecosystem services within and beyond their area of influence through synthesis across multiple wetlandscapes. While wetlands are ecosystems with permanent or temporary, static or flowing waters, wetlandscapes are systems of wetlands that are hydraulically, hydrologically, and ecologically connected. A wetlandscape can comprise large regions with different wetland bodies connected by groundwater or surface flows and, in turn, include more ecosystems, land covers, and communities existing in the landscape.

Ecosystem service assessments of wetlands usually focus on the area of influence of the wetland unit. However, the complexity and extent of wetlandscapes invite exploring potential services beyond their direct area of influence. These services may benefit ecosystems and communities downstream, downwind, and down the chain of products originating in the wetland. For instance, a wetland unit can provide food and fish for the surrounding communities. Instead, its corresponding wetlandscape can give considerable food and water for the region and beyond, directly or through virtual water flows embedded in raw materials and products (16). Another example is the evaporation from the water surfaces of a wetlandscape, which can provide moisture for precipitation downwind. Studying ecosystem services at the wetlandscape scale can provide a more complete assessment of ecosystem services that would have been overlooked if analyzed at simpler and smaller spatial scales.

The Consortium DOWES comprises six well-known institutions across five countries: 1) the Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University in Sweden (SU), 2) the French Institute for Research and Development (IRD/LEGOS), 3) the Environmental Change Research Centre of the Department of Geography, University College London in the United Kingdom (UCL), 4) the Department of Science and Agriculture, Food, Environmental and Forestry Technology at the University of Florence (UNIFI) and 5) the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Politecnico di Milano in Italy (POLIMI), and 6) the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development in Brazil (MISD).

DOWES will, in five work packages, address the main objective across six iconic wetlandscape ecosystems. The first determines high-resolution changes in the hydrological regime using the latest radar and altimetric missions. The second relates water availability to wetlandscape ecosystem responses and stressors. The third develops a participatory approach to identify perceptions of potential cultural ecosystem services. The fourth adds a layer of complexity by quantifying the provision of ecosystem services of wetlandscapes beyond the area of influence. Finally, the fifth work package combines these four to develop metrics and guidelines to track and quantify the provision of wetlandscape ecosystem services.

Main responsibilities
The postdoc employed by this call will focus on the work packages 1 and 4 of DOWES, that is, WP1) quantifying changes in water availability with space-base technologies such as altimetry, InSAR, Gravimetry and SWOT, and WP4) quantifying the provision of hydrological and hydroclimatic ecosystem services of wetlandscapes beyond the area of influence with hydrological and hydroclimatic modeling. These ecosystem services include water regulation, water supply by moisture to downwind regions, embedded water in products and services, and local and regional climate regulation.

The postdoc will also help with the coordination of DOWES.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country. 

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills. 

The following criteria will be used for assessing candidates: 

• Research expertise: A track record demonstrating excellence and experience with either of the following: hydrology, moisture tracking modeling, hydroclimatic modeling, hydrogeodesy (including the use of gravimetry, InSAR, altimetry, and the latest space missions such as SWOT).
• Excellent written and spoken English. Demonstrated skills in presenting research both written and orally.
• Research proposal. It is of the utmost importance that you submit a research proposal that demonstrates your research and analytical ability. 
• In the second round, Interview

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2025-03-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from docent Fernando Jaramillo, fernando.jaramillo@natgeo.su.se

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (must not exeed 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question 
  (Note: You can address either WP1 or WP4 in your research proposal or both WPs combined. The two options are fine.)
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

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