Postdoctoral position in natural hazards and disaster science

Two postdoctoral positions in natural hazards and disaster science

Are you interested in working with natural hazards and disaster science, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden’s largest and most versatile department of its kind with approximately 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge. For more information: The Department of Earth Sciences.

The Centre of Natural Hazard and Disaster Science (CNDS) is a research centre that brings together social, engineering and Earth scientists from different departments at Uppsala University, the Swedish Defence University, and Karlstad University. The research conducted at CNDS is interdisciplinary and explores the link between natural hazards and social vulnerability. For more information see www.cnds.se.

CNDS research at the Department of Earth Sciences deals with drivers, processes and consequences of extreme events of natural origins, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, floods, droughts, and landslides. CNDS’s scope extends from natural hazards, to their impact on physical infrastructure and society (risk) and disaster mitigation actions, including contacts with public authorities and industry. Current areas of focus include assessment of natural hazards individually and in combination (multi-hazards), triggered hazard events (e.g. earthquake stimulated landslides or dam failures leading to flooding) and cascading consequences for society (risk).

Duties

The postdoctoral researchers are expected to carry out research aiming to better understand complex natural hazards (for example cascading events), and interplay between hazards in combination with physical infrastructure and society’s disaster response and mitigation actions. The research topic should be aligned with existing CNDS research at the Department of Earth sciences at Uppsala University.

Requirements

PhD degree in Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Hydrology, Meteorology, Geophysics or similar discipline with experience of natural hazard studies, or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in these subjects is required. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The two-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

The applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English and have documented experience in publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The applicants should be able to formulate research questions, carry out research, and publish the results independently and within the period of the postdoctoral assignment. Beyond their own research, the applicants are expected to participate in the activities of CNDS and contribute to the centre’s activities and development, e.g. by attending CNDS seminars, sharing their own and discussing others’ research, and engaging in interdisciplinary research beyond their own project.

Additional qualifications

Experience of working with cross- or interdisciplinary research (or similar environments), considering the focus on interactions between natural hazards and social vulnerability. Competence in understanding and quantifying the risk to society from natural hazards, and ability to interact effectively in a multi-disciplinary research environment.

Application

The application should include a CV (max. 2 pages), copies of the examination certificates, PhD thesis and other documents the applicant wishes to include. In addition, a description of applicants’ previous research experience and how it is related to the present position, should be included (max. 2 pages). While understanding that the successful applicant will need to know more about ongoing CNDS activities before a research program can be fully defined, we also request the applicant to submit a short research outline (max. 2 pages), indicating research interests/questions and envisaged directions and how these are linked to CNDS research at the Department of Earth sciences at Uppsala University.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position of 2 years with a potential prolongation to 3 years in total according to central collective agreement. Starting date 1st January 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala, Sweden.

For further information about the position, please contact: 

Johanna Mård, 0046 18-471 30 95, johanna.maard@geo.uu.se 

Björn Lund, 0046 18-471 23 90, bjorn.lund@geo.uu.se

Welcome to submit your application by 31 October 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2947.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.

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Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.