Applicants are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Agroecology programme. The position is available from 01 November 2025 or later. You can submit your application via the link under 'how to apply'.
 

Title:
PhD Position in Nutrient Dynamics in Forested Peatlands under Changing Hydrological and Management Conditions

Research area and project description:
Forested peatlands are vital ecosystems, contributing to carbon sequestration, water regulation, and biodiversity support. However, these ecosystems are highly sensitive to hydrological changes and forest management practices, which can significantly influence nutrient retention and leaching processes. As climate change and land-use pressures intensify, understanding and improving the management of forested peatlands has become an urgent environmental priority.

One pressing concern is nutrient leaching—the movement of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from soils into nearby water bodies. In many regions, peatlands have been drained for timber production, leading to increased nutrient losses and contributing to eutrophication, a process that disrupts aquatic ecosystems and reduces water quality. Climate-driven extremes like droughts and intense rainfall events are expected to further intensify nutrient leaching. Despite these challenges, nutrient cycling in forested peat soils remains understudied, especially compared to agricultural peatlands. This knowledge gap limits the development of effective restoration and management strategies.

About the PhD project

This PhD project seeks to advance our understanding of nutrient dynamics in forested peatlands by exploring how different forest and hydrological management strategies influence nutrient retention and leaching.

Possible research activities include:

• Designing and conducting controlled laboratory experiments to simulate hydrological fluctuations and climate extremes using a leaching platform.
• Investigating how forest management practices and water table manipulations affect nutrient balances and water retention.
• Developing field-scale indicators to assess nutrient leaching risk across diverse peatland types.
• Applying statistical and machine learning methods to evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies and restoration efforts.

Research environment

The PhD candidate will work in a collaborative, international research setting. The project is connected to eight living labs across the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Poland, and Portugal, each offering unique conditions and restoration approaches. These living labs are testbeds for co-developing innovative solutions that address ecological, technical, economic, and social dimensions of peatland restoration.

The position combines hands-on fieldwork, lab-based experimentation, and data-driven analysis—offering an exciting opportunity to contribute to evidence-based policy and sustainable forest peatland management.

Who should apply?

We welcome applicants from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, including (but not limited to): environmental sciences, forestry, ecology, hydrology, soil science, or data science. If you are passionate about peatland ecosystems, climate adaptation, or interdisciplinary environmental research, we encourage you to apply.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment. We value different perspectives and experiences and aim to support all candidates in achieving their research potential.

Application instructions

Please upload a brief project description (½–4 pages) outlining:

• Your research interests and ideas related to the topic
• Your proposed approach or methods
• How this PhD aligns with your academic and professional goals

You may include a URL with further information, if applicable.

Qualifications and specific competences:
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong academic background and a genuine interest in advancing knowledge on peatland forest management, nutrient dynamics, and hydrological processes. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental science, forestry, ecology, soil science, hydrology, geography, or a related field.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Knowledge of and interest in ecosystem dynamics, nutrient cycling, and        hydrological processes.
• Experience with ecological and geographic data analysis.
• Strong analytical skills to design experiments, interpret results, and apply them to global environmental challenges.
• Proficiency in both oral and written English, with the ability to write scientific publications.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey research findings to both specialists and broader audiences.

Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.

Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information regarding the PhD position are invited to contact:

• Shubiao Wu, wushubiao@agro.au.dk (main supervisor)
• Lorenzo Pugliese, lorenzo.pugliese@agro.au.dk  (co-supervisor)

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide. If answers cannot be found there, please contact:

• admission.gradschool.tech@au.dk

How to apply:
Please follow this link to submit your application.

Application deadline is 1 June 2025 at 23:59 CEST.

Preferred starting date is 01 November 2025.

Please note:

• Only documents received prior to the application deadline will be evaluated. Thus, documents sent after deadline will not be taken into account.
• The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview.
• Shortlisting will be used, which means that the evaluation committee only will evaluate the most relevant applications.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.