PhD student in Environmental Science

We are looking for a PhD student in Environmental Science for research on Greenhouse Gases and Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes using Drone and Satellite measurements.

Your work assignments

Do you want to contribute to developing groundbreaking methods for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity at the farm level? We seek a PhD student who wants to work with drone- and satellite‑based techniques to help accelerate a sustainable climate transition in the agricultural sector.

As a PhD student you will be part of a competent, open, and welcoming research group at Linköping University. We value diversity in experiences and perspectives, and the division represents diverse background– engineers, natural and social scientists. In the research groups we work together to develop and apply innovative methods for environmental research, often in collaboration with other universities or non-academic organizations.

The VERIFARM project, funded by Formas, is an interdisciplinary research project addressing financing and investments for promoting climate transition and biodiversity in the agricultural sector. This is achieved through combining research expertise from natural and social sciences within the broad field of environmental science with professional expertise from the banking sector and from agriculture. Today, reliable, detailed data are lacking regarding the greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity impacts related to bank lending, particularly in agriculture. Therefore, banks therefore often must rely on coarse standard values or low‑precision models, making it difficult to determine which investments actually lead to desired improvements. There is also a lack of means for farmers to demonstrate success of local efforts and they are trapped in general assessment standards that does not reflect local reality and thereby create unfair comparisons.

Your work will include measurements of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) using drones and various sensors, as well as remote sensing of habitat diversity in agricultural environments as a proxy for potential biodiversity. You will plan and conduct field measurements and perform data analysis in a large interdisciplinary project group, together with farmers and representatives from the banking sector. The work involves both collaboration and independent research work.

You will write scientific articles, present results at conferences, and participate in research education.

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your qualifications

You have graduated at Master’s level in or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way. We are looking for candidates with a background in natural or agricultural sciences, or engineering. Hence, relevant educational backgrounds include agricultural science, environmental science, geography, environmental engineering, physics, biology, engineering, or other related fields.

We value motivation, curiosity, and the ability to take responsibility for your own work, while enjoying collaboration. Good command of English, both spoken and written, is a requirement. Since the position includes extensive fieldwork in varying conditions, a driving license (corresponding to the Swedish class B) is necessary.

Qualifications adding merit value if documented or verified in other ways include:
- experience and interest in technology and problem solving
- knowledge of sensor technology and electronics, including resolving simple technical problems
- experience in flying drones
- experience in geographical information systems (GIS)
- experience of some type of remote sensing
- knowledge of agriculture
- knowledge of biodiversity, biological communities, and different habitats
- experience in calculations, statistical methods, and modelling
- experience in programming (e.g. Matlab and/or Python)
- experience in fieldwork
- proficiency in scientific writing
- skills in communicating with people who have different backgrounds

Your workplace

Environmental Change carries out research and education on the interaction between environmental and society in an analytically innovative way. The Division offer PhD, Master and Bachelor studies specialising in environmental science, as well as stand-alone courses and teacher-training courses in environment science, thematic natural science and geography.

The employment

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of normally four years’ full-time equivalent. Extension of employment up to five years is based on the degree of teaching and institutional assignment. Further extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances. You will initially be employed for one year, after which your employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, depending on your progress through the study plan. 

Starting date is autumn 2026 (date based on agreement).

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression. The salary progression is renegotiated one every year.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than May 5th, 2026.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.