Description
The PhD project will investigate how marine observation systems can become more resilient, scalable, and adaptive under accelerating environmental and climate change. The research will explore how environmental variables and emerging observation technologies can be combined to improve the long-term reliability, responsiveness, and usability of marine ecosystem monitoring across spatial and temporal scales.
The project will include work with remote sensing, autonomous sensors, environmental monitoring technologies, data integration, and system-level analyses of monitoring performance under changing environmental conditions. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how observation systems respond to environmental stress, uncertainty, and increasing data complexity, as well as how monitoring approaches can be designed to remain effective across different marine contexts and scales. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of next-generation approaches for marine environmental assessment and sustainability, working at the interface of environmental systems science, marine technology, and data-driven research within an international and collaborative research environment.
The PhD candidate will join the ‘Measuring What Matters’ consortium – a new 30M SEK Formas-funded research programme that aims to develop and operationalise a coordinated, adaptive and science-based foundation for marine and coastal observations. Led by Uppsala University – Campus Gotland, additional consortium partners include the University of Gothenburg and the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) Gotland.
Qualifications
To be admitted for PhD studies the applicant is required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level, or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.
The candidate should have completed courses (at least 120 ECTS credits) within a first-cycle subject relevant to environmental science, such as marine science, environmental engineering, earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, or a related field. At least one course at second-cycle level in a subject that is central to the doctoral student’s planned specialization shall have been completed, as well an independent piece of work (degree project) with relevant specialization of at least 15 ECTS credits.
Requirements
Relevant background in environmental science, marine science, environmental engineering, Earth system science, geoinformatics, oceanography, or a related field as well as good knowledge in written and spoken English is a requirement. Merits are:
- Experience with environmental data analysis and quantitative methods, with programming experience in one or more languages such as Python, R, or MATLAB.
- Experience working with marine / environmental observation systems, sensor data, and / or remote sensing.
- Experience handling large or heterogeneous environmental datasets Familiarity with spatial analysis, GIS, or geospatial data workflows.
- Experience with machine learning, modelling, or systems analysis approaches Interest in resilience, sustainability, and environmental systems thinking.
- Experience collaborating across disciplines and / or with non-academic actors.
The candidate should be creative and able to take own initiative. The candidate is independent, has social competence and collaborative ability. It is expected that the candidate develop independence and build up network contacts during the education.
The position start date is October 2026 or by agreement. Application deadline is 16th August 2026.
