PhD position in Environmental Science with focus on Marine Observation System Resilience

Umeå University; Hörnefors; On-site; SEK 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PhD stipend

Collaborative research environment

Fieldwork opportunities

Job summary

Umeå University invites applications for a PhD student position within the Measuring What Matters consortium, focused on resilient and adaptive marine observation systems. You will work at the interface of environmental science, marine technology, and data-driven research.

The position starts October 2026 (or by agreement) with a four-year full-time employment and a competitive doctoral salary. International collaboration and fieldwork in Sweden are expected.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field and a strong background in environmental or marine science.
• Experience with environmental data analysis and quantitative methods.
• Knowledge of programming languages (Python, R, MATLAB) and data integration concepts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on resilient marine observation systems within an interdisciplinary team.
• Analyze environmental data and sensor data to improve monitoring performance.
• Contribute to development of next-generation marine environmental assessment methods.

Skills

Programming (Python)

R

MATLAB

GIS

Data analysis

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in environmental science

Tools

ArcGIS

Python

R

Job description

Umeå Marine Sciences Centre and the Department of Ecology, Environment and Geoscience (Umeå University, Sweden) is seeking a motivated and curious PhD student to join an interdisciplinary research consortium focused on the future of marine and coastal observation systems. The position start date is October 2026 or by agreement. Application deadline is 16th August 2026.

Description

The PhD project will investigate how marine observation systems can become more resilient, scalable, and adaptive under accelerating environmental and climate change. The research will explore how environmental variables and emerging observation technologies can be combined to improve the long-term reliability, responsiveness, and usability of marine ecosystem monitoring across spatial and temporal scales.

The project will include work with remote sensing, autonomous sensors, environmental monitoring technologies, data integration, and system-level analyses of monitoring performance under changing environmental conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how observation systems respond to environmental stress, uncertainty, and increasing data complexity, as well as how monitoring approaches can be designed to remain effective across different marine contexts and scales. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of next-generation approaches for marine environmental assessment and sustainability, working at the interface of environmental systems science, marine technology, and data-driven research within an international and collaborative research environment.

The PhD candidate will join the ‘Measuring What Matters’ consortium – a new 30M SEK Formas-funded research programme that aims to develop and operationalise a coordinated, adaptive and science-based foundation for marine and coastal observations. Led by Uppsala University – Campus Gotland, additional consortium partners include the University of Gothenburg and the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) Gotland.

Qualifications

To be admitted for PhD studies the applicant is required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.

The candidate should have completed courses (at least 120 ECTS credits) within a first-cycle subject relevant to environmental science, such as marine science, environmental engineering, earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, or a related field. At least one course at second-cycle level in a subject that is central to the doctoral student''s planned specialization shall have been completed, as well an independent piece of work (degree project) with relevant specialization of at least 15 ECTS credits.

Requirements

Relevant background in environmental science, marine science, environmental engineering, Earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, or a related field as well as good knowledge in written and spoken English is a requirement.

Merits are:

• Experience with environmental data analysis and quantitative methods, with programming experience in one or more languages such as Python, R, or MATLAB.
• Experience working with marine / environmental observation systems, sensor data, and / or remote sensing.
• Experience handling large or heterogeneous environmental datasets Familiarity with spatial analysis, GIS, or geospatial data workflows.
• Experience with machine learning, modelling, or systems analysis approaches Interest in resilience, sustainability, and environmental systems thinking.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines and / or with non-academic actors.

The candidate should be creative and able to take own initiative. The candidate is independent, has social competence and collaborative ability. It is expected that the candidate develop independence and build up network contacts during the education.

Application

The application should be submitted via our e-recruitment system, Varbi (https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:943599/), by Sunday 16th August 2026 at 23:59. All documents should be in PDF format. The application should be written in English (preferably) or Swedish. If attached documents are written in a different language, then a translation to English or Swedish must be included.

The application should include:

• Cover letter: summarizing your qualifications, your research interests and your motivation for applying (max 2 pages).
• A curriculum vitae (CV) with academic qualifications.
• Electronic copy of your Masters’ thesis and other publications if there are any. If the master’s thesis has not been completed before the application deadline, a summary of the master’s thesis project and current progress shall be included. The summary can, at most, be five pages, including figures and references.
• Degree certificates, degree transcripts and other documentation which supports the applicant’s qualification for the position.
• Contact information for two – three reference persons.

The evaluation will be based on the applicant’s letter, references, interview, and the quality of the Masters’ thesis and other publications. The requirements (such as completion of second-cycle level degree) must be fulfilled at the time of approval to the PhD position and does not need to be fulfilled at the time of application.

Information

Dr Heidi Burdett, Umeå University, will be the main supervisor, with co-supervision from Drs Léon Serre-Fredj (Umeå University) and Lina Mtwana Nordlund (Uppsala University – Campus Gotland), with additional collaborative support from across the Measuring What Matters consortium.

For more information, contact Heidi Burdett ([e-mail]).

About the employment

The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree. The main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, including participation in research and doctoral courses. The duties can include teaching and other departmental work (up to 20%). The employment is limited to the equivalent of four years of full-time (48 months) or up to five years for teaching part-time. Salary is set in accordance with the established salary levels for PhD positions. The employment starts October 1 2026, or by agreement.

The primary place of work will be Umeå Marine Sciences Centre. It is expected that the PhD candidate will undertake fieldwork and research visits within Sweden and internationally.

About Umeå University: Umeå Marine Sciences Centre is a dynamic environment for marine research, education, and environmental monitoring, specializing in the sustainable development of resilient productive marine ecosystems in Arctic, sub-Arctic and extreme environments. The Department of Ecology, Environment & Geoscience performs research and postgraduate education across the ecological, environmental and geosciences. The PhD candidate will also have strong links with the staff, early career researchers and practitioners within the Measuring What Matters consortium.

We look forward to receiving your application!