🎓Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Crop Diversification & Soil Health – Sweden
🏥 About the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Applications are open for a Fully Funded PhD Crop Diversification Sweden position at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Department of Biosystems and Technology. The PhD student will investigate the effects of crop diversification on soil health under the supervision of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers. At the Department of Biosystems and Technology, we explore interactions between soil, plants, animals, the environment, climate, and humans in systems for sustainable food production and renewable raw materials. The PhD student will be based in the subject area Horticultural and Agroecological Systems (HAS) within the Department.
Location: Alnarp, Sweden
Subject Area: Agricultural Science
Employment: Doctoral student (4-year programme)
Start Date: Beginning of June 2026 or as soon as possible
🎯 Scholarship Overview
đź”— Project Overview
Crop diversification is a set of agroecological practices, e.g. diverse crop rotations (varying the crops in time), intercropping (species mixtures) and cover crops (non-harvested vegetation grown during times between main crops). Crop diversification can enhance soil health by promoting biological activity and reducing the buildup of pests and diseases.
This Fully Funded PhD Crop Diversification Sweden project will investigate the effects of crop diversification on soil health under the supervision of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers. The student will be involved in the recently funded Horizon project SOILPATH and will also study other ongoing crop diversification field experiments at SITES Lönnstorp, Alnarp, Sweden.
đź“‹ Research Activities
- Conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Assess soil health parameters from field experiments
- Engage with societal stakeholders such as farmers, advisors, and other agricultural actors in workshops
- Contribute to identifying and developing combinations of farming practices that protect or improve soil health while maintaining strong potential for adoption by farmers
âś… Eligibility Criteria
General Entry Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Second-cycle qualification | Master’s degree awarded |
| Credit requirement | Courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits in the second-cycle |
| Equivalent knowledge | Acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad |
| English language | Equivalent to Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6 |
Required Qualifications
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Agroecology, Agronomy, Environmental Science, or related field |
| Understanding | Very good understanding of crop diversification practices and soil health |
| Experience | Experience working with field experiments in agricultural systems |
| Communication | Excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken) |
| Independence | Ability to work independently |
Desirable Qualifications
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Research Skills | Experience with systematic reviews and meta-analysis |
| Soil Knowledge | Knowledge of soil health indicators and soil assessment methods |
| Data Analysis | Experience in data analysis and statistical methods |
| Language | Good communication skills in Swedish or another Scandinavian language |
| Stakeholder Engagement | Experience collaborating with stakeholders in the agricultural or food system (e.g., farmers, advisors, agricultural organizations) |
| Driving Licence | Valid car driver’s licence recognized in Sweden |
🔬 Research Environment
The Department of Biosystems and Technology is actively involved in teaching linked to its research areas and is responsible for managing field experiments at the Lönnstorp field research station – an infrastructure for long-term and experimental research on cropping systems and agroecological practices.
đź’Ľ What They Offer
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Employment | Doctoral student (4-year programme) |
| Start Date | Beginning of June 2026 or as soon as possible |
| Location | Alnarp, Sweden |
| Scope | 100% |
| Salary | Doctoral student salaries set following local collective agreement, fixed progression |
| Research | Multi-disciplinary team supervision |
| Project | Horizon project SOILPATH |
đź“ž Contact Information
Directors of Study at LTV Faculty:
Hanna Fors, Alnarp – +46 40 415 165
Helene Larsson Jönsson, Alnarp – +46 40 415 370
đź“ť How to Apply
Your application must include the following (in PDF format):
- Cover letter (describing reasons for applying, research interests, and relevant skills)
- CV
- Copies of degree certificate(s) and transcript of records
- Copy of second cycle (Master’s) degree project (minimum 15 credits or equivalent independent project)
- Documents confirming English language requirements (Engelska B/6 or equivalent)
- Contact details of two references (teachers, supervisors, or former manager)
- Copy of passport (if you have another citizenship than Swedish)
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