PhD student in hydrology with a focus on wildfires effect on Arctic water cycle
Are you interested in working on cutting-edge research in hydrology, 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 PhD position at Uppsala University.
The Department of Earth Sciences is Sweden´s most comprehensive academic environment for research and education in geoscience. It offers a broad range of expertise that can contribute to solving important societal issues.
Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet. To understand how this planet works, our researchers seek answers in the field, through laboratory experiments and advanced models. Our research and education cover a wide range of disciplines, including rocks and minerals, weather and climate, the evolution of life, natural disasters, wind power and energy, environmental and water engineering, and sustainable development.
Our research combines natural sciences and technology with social sciences and is often interdisciplinary. More than 300 people from over 30 countries work at the department, both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland.
Our six research divisions:
• Geophysics • Air, Water and Landscape Science • Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics • Natural Resources and Sustainable Development • Palaeobiology • Wind Energy For more information see: www.uu.se/earthsciences
The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Air, Water and Landscape Science programme (LUVAL). The position includes close collaboration with researchers at Uppsala University, SMHI and SLU, offering opportunities for interdisciplinary research, international networking, and engagement with societally relevant climate and environmental challenges.
Project description
The Arctic is rapidly warming, leading to changes in freshwater systems through melting glaciers, thawing permafrost, and shifting hydrological regimes. Understanding how these changes affect runoff generation, evapotranspiration, river discharge, and freshwater availability is a key challenge for Arctic hydrology. At the same time, wildfires activity is increasing across large parts of the Arctic, creating an additional disturbance that can alter vegetation, soils, permafrost conditions, and water flow paths.
This PhD project will investigate how climate change and increasing wildfire activity are reshaping the Arctic water cycle. By combining Earth Observation (EO) satellite data with large-scale hydrological modelling, the doctoral student will study the impact of various wildfire-related landscape changes on hydrological processes in Arctic drainage basins. The project will generate new knowledge regarding the drivers and controls of hydrological changes in the Arctic and contribute to an improved understanding and better predictive models for future freshwater resources in northern regions.
Duties
The doctoral work consists of investigating how climate change and increasing wildfire activity affect hydrological processes across the Arctic. Duties include analysis of Earth Observation and hydrological data, hydrological modelling, and statistical analyses, as well as writing scientific articles. The PhD student will work with hydrologists from Uppsala University, SMHI and SLU, and is expected to contribute to the overall progress of the project.
The doctoral education comprises four years of full-time studies, including courses and independent research. The applicant will also have the opportunity to participate in teaching, supervision, and other departmental duties, which may extend the employment by up to a maximum of 20%.
Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must
- hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Hydrology, Physical Geography, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Environmental engineering or another relevant subject,
- have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
- have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.
Applicants must fulfill the above requirements before the admission can be started. You must also have good oral and written proficiency in English, strong quantitative and analytical skills, and experience in processing and analysing environmental or geospatial data. The position requires basic programming skills for scientific data analysis, the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, and a strong interest in hydrology and environmental change. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as analytical ability, initiative, creativity, flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Additional qualifications
Experience with hydrological modelling, remote sensing, GIS, and programming (e.g., Python or R) is considered an advantage. Knowledge of Arctic environments, cold-region hydrology, or wildfire impacts on ecosystems and water resources is meritorious.
Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University´s rules and guidelines.
The application:
- In this recruitment we have replaced the cover letter with questions that you are asked to answer when making your application. The answers will be used as a part of the selection process.
- A Curriculum Vitae.
- A verified list of course grades, and a short description of your education.
- A copy of your master degree certificate.
- Your degree project/thesis report (finished or in draft form).
- The names and full contact information of two references (including e-mail address and phone no.)
- the application should be written in English
About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %.Starting date 2027-01-15oras agreed. Placement: Uppsala
For further information about the position, please contact: Johanna Mård (johanna.maard@geo.uu.se).
Please submit your application by 30 of October, UFV-PA 2026/2820
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 7,500 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.
Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.
Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system. Employee organizations: Saco-S – saco-s@uu.se, Seko – seko@uadm.uu.se, ST (OFR/S) – ofr@uu.se Placement:Department of Earth SciencesScope:Full timeWorking hours:100%Type of employment:Temporary positionPay:fast lönNumber of positions:1Town:UppsalaUnion representative:
Number of reference:UFV-PA 2026/2820Last application date:30 October 2026
