Department of Forest Ecology and ManagementThird-cycle subject areaBiologyDescription of the doctoral projectNitrogen availability is a major constraint on plant growth and carbon sequestration in boreal forest soils. Although proteins constitute a large fraction of the soil nitrogen pool, the processes governing their breakdown into amino acids remain poorly understood. A critical knowledge gap lies in understanding the composition and properties of soil proteins and their role in regulating nitrogen cycling. This PhD project will address this challenge by characterizing soil protein composition and investigating the mechanisms that control nitrogen turnover. The doctoral candidate will primarily work in the laboratory, analysing natural soils from mesocosm and field experiments. Analytical work will be done in close collaboration with the Umeå Proteomics Platform. https://www.umu.se/en/research/infrastructure/umea-proteomics-platform/ The project is led by Sandra Jämtgård, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU in collaboration with Maja Sundquist and Jonatan Klaminder. The doctoral candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary research team with expertise spanning plant ecophysiology, vegetation ecology, soil science and proteomics, which provides good conditions for scientific exchange and discussion.RequirementsTo 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…

PhD position