PhD position in forest growth modelling

Modeling and Innovative AI Methodologies for Advancing Growth Models in Sustainable Forest Management

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management
Faculty of SCIENCE

University of Copenhagen

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, the section of Forest and Bioresources invites applicants for a PhD position in modelling forest growth and development. The project is part of the scientific consultancy provided to the Danish Nature Agency as part of the consultancy agreement with the Danish Ministry of Environment.

Start date is expected to be February 1st 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Sustainable forest management is a critical component of environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. Accurate growth models play a pivotal role in guiding decision-making processes related to forestry practices. However, in the face of evolving forest management paradigms such as closer-to-nature forestry, forests managed for biodiversity conservation, and climate-targeted forestry, there is an urgent need to develop updated growth models that incorporate parametric modeling and where relevant novel AI methodologies. This proposed PhD project aims to address this crucial knowledge gap by advancing growth models for changing forest management and environmental sustainability.

Expected Outcomes

This PhD project will contribute significantly to the field of sustainable forest management by providing updated growth models that are adaptable, accurate, and capable of addressing the challenges posed by changing forest management paradigms and climate impacts. The integration of AI techniques will enable a deeper understanding of forest dynamics and enhance the decision-making process for policymakers and forest managers.

The outcomes of the PhD project could include

1. Advanced parametric growth models that incorporate AI methodologies for improved accuracy and adaptability.
2. Insights into the growth and productivity of different tree species under varying management practices and climate scenarios.
3. Pathways to implement resulting growth modelling in existing or novel forest management systems.
4. Comprehensive assessments of carbon stocks, and carbon balances.
5. Economic evaluations of forest policies and management strategies for informed decision-making.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates with a background in the fields of forestry, silviculture, and statistical analysis and modelling. Candidates with documented knowledge on modelling forest growth and development are preferred. Further, applicants with documented experience in completing a scientific manuscript will be prioritized. However, we are also seeking a motivated and creative PhD student with good interpersonal and communication skills.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The group is a part of the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located in Copenhagen.

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment

Principal supervisor is Senior scientist Thomas Nord-Larsen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, [email protected]. Phone: +45 40324394

The PhD programme (Information about part B can be deleted from the announcement if the project cannot accommodate an integrated MSc and PhD)

Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the PhD programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. forestry, silviculture and statistical analysis and modelling. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the PhD programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme

If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Master of Science(MSc) in Forest and Nature Management.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is currently (2023) DKK 6.589 before tax.

When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in forests and climate change mitigation
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if possible)
6. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 1 November 2023, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk