UPSC is a highly dynamic institute with around 200 employees, 30 principal investigators and about 10 associated principal investigators. Approximately half of our staff is non-Swedish and the working language is English. We recruit researchers from all over the world. More than 40 nations are represented at UPSC. Post-doctoral fellows have the most diverse nationalities, but also our PIs, graduate and undergraduate students represent many different nations.
Are you interested in joining us? Please have a look below for currently open job opportunities. You are also always welcome to contact our principal investigators directly if you are interested in working with them.
Postdoc on factors that affect amount and form of N transferred to plants from mycorrhizal symbiosis
Application deadline: 28th February 2021
We are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral researcher with skills in microbiology, mycology or plant physiology and biochemical or molecular analyses. Good knowledge in mycorrhizal symbiosis is desirable in addition to large data analysis and microscopic methods.
The post doc will be involved in investigating the main factors influencing the amount and form of nitrogen given to plants in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations using an innovative microdialysis in vitro system and isotopic labelling. In unfertilized boreal forests where nitrogen is limiting tree growth, the trees’ symbiosis with ECM fungi can be beneficial for their growth. The colonized roots get access to nitrogen from the ECM fungi in exchange for carbon. There is yet no accepted mechanism identified for the control of this nutrient flux between the symbiotic partners, i.e. under what circumstances is there a tree growth gain or loss related to this interaction. Ultimately, this project aims to fill this knowledge gap and enhance our understanding of the crucial role of tree access to nitrogen in increasing forest growth and the boreal forests’ role in carbon sequestration.
Sustainable forestry is a cornerstone in the transition to the post-carbon economy, where forests play a key role as a source of sustainable biomass. The growing demand for biomass is being challenged by the negative impact of climate change on forest productivity, which urges evaluating weather forests are capable of an adaptive response to the multiple biotic and abiotic stresses imposed by the climate change. The ability of forests to respond to climate change depends on the level of genetic diversity for which natural forests are reservoirs. These reservoirs carry genetic variants (alleles) that serve two very important purposes: adaptation and survival of natural forests and introgression of key alleles into managed forests to increase adaptation and productivity.
Your role will be to evaluate if the level of genetic diversity in natural and managed Scots pine forests is comparable, and if the capacity to adapt to climate warming remains intact and at similar levels in both natural and managed forests.
https://www.upsc.se/undergraduate/1430-undergraduate-education.html
UPSC group leaders: https://www.upsc.se/research/research-groups.html
UPSC associated group leaders: https://www.upsc.se/research/associated-research-groups.html