Postdoctoral Fellow in Mapping Submerged Vegetation

The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP) is located in the Arrhenius Laboratories, situated at the University Campus at Frescati. Research spans a broad range of biological subject areas including ecology and evolution, marine biology, plant physiology, systematics, and environmental and climate science. Presently around 100 people, including 35 PhD students and 15 postdocs, in 25 research groups, work at DEEP.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences.

Project description

The position is based at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University. It is linked to the project “Submerged Vegetation from Space: A Sentinel-Based Tool for Environmental Monitoring in Swedish Coastal Waters”, which is currently under review by the Swedish National Space Board (decision expected on 17 October 2025). If funded, the position will start on 3 November 2025. The work will be led by Associate Professor Susanne Kratzer (DEEP) in collaboration with Samantha Lavender (Pixalytics Ltd., UK) and the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland in Gothenburg.

Main responsibilities

The postdoc will conduct research in aquatic remote sensing within the Copernicus programme. The work includes developing and validating a Sentinel-2/3-based processing chain tailored for Swedish coastal waters. This involves atmospheric correction with ACOLITE, radiative transfer modelling using WASI, and classification with spectral libraries to generate vegetation time series from Sentinel-2 MSI data. A key task will be to derive spectral signatures for six to eight indicator species from the Swedish west coast, such as Zostera marina and Fucus vesiculosus, using a PerkinElmer scanning spectrophotometer. Sentinel-3 OLCI data will be used to determine depth limits for underwater vegetation growth. The postdoc will carry out satellite data analysis with scientific support from Pixalytics Ltd. (UK), and take part in fieldwork with the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland to collect fresh vegetation samples and perform bio-optical measurements in the Stockholm University laboratory. In addition, the position includes measuring in-water optical properties such as chlorophyll-a, coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and turbidity to improve retrievals of bottom vegetation. The results will be summarized in vegetation time series to be reported to the County Administrative Board, and the work is expected to lead to one to two peer-reviewed publications, planned jointly at the start of the project.

Qualification requirements

In order to qualify for a Postdoctoral position, applicants are required to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent relevant degree from another country. The degree must have been completed no later than when the employment decision is made.

Assessment criteria

It is considered an advantage if the doctoral degree or an equivalent degree was completed no more than three years prior to the application deadline. Under special circumstances, an older degree may also be an advantage. Special circumstances refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills.

Eligible applicants must hold a PhD in aquatic remote sensing with documented experience in mapping submerged vegetation. Requirements include strong skills in GIS, large dataset handling, Python programming, and a record of scientific publications in the field. Excellent command of English, both spoken and written, is expected.
Merits include knowledge of Swedish, a category B driver’s licence, diving experience, and practical skills in boat-based fieldwork, underwater vegetation mapping, and optical measurements using a scanning spectrophotometer.

About the employment

The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date latest on 2025-11-03 or as per agreement.

We offer

With us, you will experience the dynamic interaction between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You will work in an international environment and get favourable conditions. The university is located in the National City Park with good transport links to the city.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information about the position can be obtained from the project leader, Associate Professor Susanne Kratzer, susanne.kratzer@su.se. 

Application

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.