The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.
With about 8000 students, 500 employees, more than 160 international partner universities, and the main disciplines being business administration, economics, and law, the School has a unique broadness. The School is also characterized by its close relationship between research and education, internationalization, overall embeddedness of sustainability, and its close engagement with business and society. The School is accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA – “Triple Crown”. For further information please see the School of Business, Economics and Law´s web page; School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg (gu.se)
The Environment for Development (EfD) is a unit at the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg. The EfD Global Hub coordinates a global network of environmental economics research centers based in the Global South. The overall objective of EfD is to support poverty alleviation and sustainable development by building environmental economics’ capacity for policy-making processes. EfD has centers hosted by academic institutions in Central America, Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam. EfD also has academic partners in China, Colombia. France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States (Duke University, Portland State University and Resources for the Future). More information about EfD can be found on the EfD website: www.environmentfordevelopment.org.
EfD was launched in 2007 by the Environmental Economics Unit at the Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. EfD continues to work in close partnership with the Department of Economics, which has around 100 employees and 800 students. The collaboration is particularly strong with the research groups in environmental, behavioral, and development economics.
Project description
The position is part of the work package on “Mainstreaming biodiversity through governance innovations” within the Mistra Biopath research program (https://www.mistrabiopath.se/). The Mistra Biopath program is an interdisciplinary research endeavor that aims to map, assess, co-develop and test existing and novel approaches for integration of biodiversity considerations into financial decision-making, and analyze the institutional and policy implications of potential transition pathways. The position will be placed at the Environment for Development Unit at University of Gothenburg. As such, the position is going to be situated in an interdisciplinary environment of applied and solution-oriented research of strategic relevance for the transition towards a better integration of biodiversity in decision making. The current project period runs up until September 2026, with a possibility for extension based on external evaluation and MISTRA-decisions.
job assignments
The researcher shall develop biodiversity related decision support tools for governing biodiversity conservation. The core of the project is to pilot national biodiversity accounting based on the SEEA-EA standards for inclusion of ecosystem services in the system of national accounts. Experimental biodiversity accounts will be developed and tested in collaboration with partners, data providers and potential users in academia, the public and private sectors. A likely case study for the development of the experimental biodiversity accounts is the Swedish forest sector. The use of artificial intelligence for providing decision support (https://www.captain-project.net/) is envisioned.
Qualifications
A doctoral degree in social sciences, preferably environmental economics or environmental sciences, or equivalent, is a requirement.
An interest in working in interdisciplinary teams with a focus on decision-support.
A demonstrated fundamental understanding of biodiversity.
Experience with national accounting standards and software development is a merit as well as coding experience in Python, C++, R, or other relevant programming languages.
Assessment criteria
The position is intended as an initial career step and the assessment of applicants will be based primarily on their scientific merit and potential as researchers given the qualification requirements specified above.
Employment
The employment is a permanent position with an extent of 100 % of full time, located at Environment for Development, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. Starting date is as soon as possible or upon agreement. The position is funded by a MISTRA grant and depends on this financing.
A probationary employment period may be applied.
Contact information for the post
If you have any questions about the position, please contact:
Gunnar Köhlin, Director of EfD, gunnar.kohlin@efd.gu.se
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
Please include the following documents
- Cover letter
- CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
- Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
– why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
– why and how you wish to complete the project
– what makes you suitable for the project in question - Copy of PhD diploma and transcripts of relevant academic courses completed.
- A single, most important publication in support of your application.
Applications must be received by: 2025-02-26
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.
Salaries are set individually at the University.
In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.
In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.
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