Department of Ecology

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on prediction of local animal-plant networks.

About the position

A postdoctoral researcher position is available in Mariana Braga's group at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in Uppsala, Sweden. Research in the Evolving Networks lab (evonetslab.github.io) centers around understanding how species interactions change over time and space, with a focus on butterfly caterpillar-plant interactions and development of phylogenetic methods.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying and testing various methods for prediction of ecological interactions at various taxonomic and spatial levels. The initial focus will be on butterfly caterpillar-plant interactions, but the goal is to expand to other types of antagonistic and mutualistic interactions.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, nationality, gender, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. The team’s common language is English so fluency in English is essential. To successfully carry out the various tasks, the candidate should take initiative, work independently and demonstrate that they are solution-oriented and can adapt and come up with creative solutions to technical problems. We put strong emphasis on personal qualifications such as collaborative skills. Since the applicant will be working closely with other group members, excellent communication, good will and reliability are required.

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated and independent yet collaborative candidate with documented experience with network analysis of biotic interactions.

Postdoctoral appointments are career-developing positions for junior researchers, so we are primarily looking for candidates with a doctoral degree that is three years old at the most (excluding deductible time such as sick or parental leave). The applicant must have a PhD degree when taking up the position.

 Requirements:

• PhD in Ecology, Evolution or related areas

• Excellent skills in bipartite network analysis

• Previous research experience in interaction inference

• Good skills in R programming

• Experience in preparing and handling large datasets integrating data from diverse sources following FAIR practices

• Excellent writing and communication skills in English

• Documented ability to independently drive research and publish scientific results

• Good ability to work in teams

• Personal suitability

 Merits:

• Research experience on Bayesian statistics

• Experience collaborating using tools to increase reproducibility

• Ability to collaborate in interdisciplinary projects

• Experience inferring interactions using multiple field and lab methods

About us

The Department of Ecology at SLU is a major centre of ecological research in Scandinavia. We combine research in basic ecology with applied research in nature conservation, wildlife management, forestry and crop protection. 

The Evolving Networks Lab is part of the Insect Ecology unit, where we study the environmental determinants of insect diversity and abundances, the biotic interactions between insects and other organisms (including humans), and the repercussions in terms of ecosystem functioning. To understand current biodiversity, we also need to understand its evolutionary history – to predict its evolutionary future. We aim for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding environmental change and human-nature relationships, which is possible thanks to our collaborations within and outside of academia.

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Uppsala, Sweden.

Form of employment:

Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

January 1st 2026 or as agreed. 

Application:

 The application should consist of the following:

• A personal motivation letter detailing your merits in relation to the qualifications

CV including list of publications

• Contact details for two personal references

The selection between the applications that meet the basic qualifications listed will be based on the merits listed above assessed trough the CV, publications and personal motivation letter. A selection of candidates will be called for an interview, after which personal references may be contacted. A second interview and/or a written test may be relevant as a final selection method. Those who are not selected will only be notified by the system when the position is filled.

Please submit your application before deadline 16 July 2025. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.