PhD student

PhD Position in Ruminant Nutrition and Sustainable Dairy Production Subject area: Animal Science Project description Forage-based feeds are central to Swedish dairy production, and their protein content and degradability can influence nitrogen utilization, feed intake, and milk yield. The aim of this PhD project is to investigate nutritional strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency in dairy cows. The project will include feeding trials with dairy cows as well as analyses of feed, milk, and other biological samples to quantify nitrogen flows and evaluate how diet composition affects nitrogen utilization. Duties The PhD student will participate in all stages of the research process. Duties include planning and conducting feeding trials with dairy cows, sampling and analysis of biological materials, processing and statistical analysis of experimental data, and publishing and presenting research results in scientific journals and at conferences. The successful candidate will also participate in doctoral courses and contribute to departmental activities. Work outside regular office hours may occur. Eligibility Applicants must hold a Master's degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Biology, or a related field. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school English B/English 6. Qualifications We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in sustainable livestock production and research in ruminant nutrition, environmental impacts, and production systems. The candidate should have good interpersonal skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Requirements Excellent written and spoken English communication skills. Valid Category B driving licence. Meritorious qualifications Interest in, and preferably experience working with cattle. Documented experience in data collection, processing, and management of data from animal feeding trials. Experience with wet chemistry methods for feed analysis. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as initiative, attention to detail, and commitment to research. Applicants are requested to attach their Master’s thesis to the application. References from previous academic supervisors, for example from BSc or MSc thesis projects, are highly desirable. About us The mission of our department is to promote good animal husbandry, animal welfare, and sustainable food production with high product quality through research and education on animals, with a focus on feed and nutrition, management and environment, ethology and animal ethics, animal welfare, and animal protection. We have approximately 125 employees working in Uppsala, Skara, Umeå, and Gothenburg. As a doctoral student, you will be part of a creative and stimulating environment with opportunities for networking with both industry partners and international collaborators. More information about the department: Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/ Read more about doctoral education at SLU:https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/ Employment and salary The position is a full-time doctoral studentship comprising four years of postgraduate education. Salary is determined according to the local collective agreement for doctoral students, with fixed salary progression levels. Scope 100% full-time. Location Uppsala, Sweden. Starting date By agreement, but no later than 15 October 2026. Application deadline: 2026-08-10

Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment Third-cycle subject area Biology Description of the doctoral project   Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. A key driver of AMR spread is the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes via conjugative plasmids — mobile genetic elements that move between bacteria. Plasmid-dependent phages (PDPs) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria carrying these plasmids, making them a potentially powerful but largely overlooked tool in controlling resistance gene transmission. This PhD project is part of ECOPHARM, a research project funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Wallenberg Academy Fellows 2025) and is based at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, SLU Uppsala. The overarching aim of ECOPHARM is to decipher the mechanisms driving PDP interactions with conjugative plasmids and bacterial hosts, and to understand their impact on antibiotic resistance gene transmission in aquatic environments. As a PhD student, you will investigate the diversity, ecology, and functional interactions of plasmid-dependent phages in aquatic ecosystems. The work will combine environmental sampling, cultivation-based approaches, metagenomics, genome analysis, and experimental infection assays. You will work in a dynamic and internationally connected research environment at the intersection of microbial ecology, virus-host coevolution, and AMR research. To learn more about our research you can check out our webpage https://www.bionomics-mmlab.com/ About the position The PhD student will be expected to: Design and carry out field sampling of aquatic environments to characterize PDP communities Perform laboratory experiments to study PDP–plasmid–host interactions under controlled conditions Apply metagenomic and bioinformatic tools to analyze microbial and viral community data Contribute to experimental work on phage isolation, cultivation, and infection assays Present findings at lab meetings, national and international conferences, and contribute to scientific publications Adhere to lab policies on data management practices Communicate progress and bottlenecks timely and clearly Collaborate with national and international project partners within the ECOPHARM network Requirements To meet the general entry requirements you must have been awarded a second-cycle (Master's) qualification, satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad (Higher Education Ordinance 1993:100, Chapter 7, Section 39). Specific entry requirements for the third-cycle courses and study programme in biology. To meet the specific entry requirements, you must have at least 90 HEC in biology-related subjects. This must include a degree project and at least 30 HEC must be at second-cycle level. You must also meet the equivalent English language requirements as those necessary for the Swedish upper-secondary qualification Engelska B/6. Your profile Required: A Master's degree in microbiology, biology, molecular biology, environmental science, or a closely related field Solid background in microbiology or molecular biology Experience with laboratory techniques relevant to microbial or environmental research Proficiency in written and spoken English Highly desirable: Experience with bioinformatics or computational analysis of sequencing data Familiarity with phage biology, plasmid biology, or antimicrobial resistance research Experience with aquatic or environmental sampling Personal qualities we are looking for: High agency — you take initiative, define problems independently, and push work forward engaging your supervisor Collaborative mindset — you contribute actively to a team environment and support those around you Clear communicator — you can convey complex ideas in writing and in person, to both specialist and non-specialist audiences Curiosity, rigor, and resilience in the face of scientific uncertainty About us The Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment is working with applied environmental science, with a national responsibility for assessing the condition of Swedish surface waters with respect to water chemistry, pollution and aquatic biota. The research focuses on geochemical and hydrological processes, aquatic ecology and biodiversity, microbial ecology as well as on environmental chemistry and aquatic ecotoxicology. The department has about 150 employees, of which approximately half are researchers/doctoral students and the other half are technical and administrative staff. For more information about the department visit: http://www.slu.se/aquatic-sciences Read more about staff benefits and life as an SLU employee on https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/ Read more about third-cycle courses and study programmes on http://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/ Form of employment / Funding Employment as a doctoral student (4-year programme) Doctoral student's salaries are set following the local collective agreement. Salary progression is fixed. Location: Uppsala Scope: 100% Start date: 1st of October 2026 Application and selection: Please submit your application using the link below. The deadline is 30th of August 2026. Your application should include: A one-page reflection including (1) why you plan to pursue a PhD education (2) why specifically you think our group is a good target for you and (3) why this project interests you Send 2 publications related to the topic of "plasmid dependent phages" that you find most interesting All application documents should be prepared in English Read more about the other attachments that your application should include at https://www.slu.se/en/study/programmes-courses/doctoral-education/how-can-i-become-a-doctoral-student/application/ Selection among eligible applicants is based on the documents attached to the application, and is carried out with regard to the applicant's ability to complete the programme within the allotted time. Academic union representatives: https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/