PhD Student in Plant Genetics and Breeding

Department of Plant Breeding
The Department of Plant Breeding focuses on research, education, and innovation that are strategically critical to society's long-term supply of food, industrial raw materials, and energy. We contribute to the efficient and sustainable production of food, feed, and industrial products through our state-of-the-art research targeting plants. our goal is to meet the increasing demands for these resources while making plant production increasingly environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Through our concerted efforts, we expand knowledge that contributes to sustainable societal development. In collaboration with growers and industries involved in crop cultivation, we are actively shaping what will be served on consumer plates in the future. Our department has grown numerically in recent years, with international employees and PhD students accounting for a highly significant proportion. Research activities at the department include population genetics of various crop species, development of omics-based breeding tools, marker-aided selection, genomic prediction, and crossbreeding for crop improvement.

More information about the department can be found here:https://www.slu.se/en/departments/plant-breeding/

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Name of research project/thesis: Population genetics, comparative genomics, marker-trait association analysis and development of speed breeding methods to improve yield and quality in red clover.
Research subject: Agricultural Science
Description:
Currently, the Department is conducting several research projects on crops that have a significant impact on Swedish agriculture. A number of these projects are funded by SLU GroGrund - the Swedish Centre for Breeding of Food Crops: https://www.slu.se/en/Collaborative-Centres-and-Projects/grogrund/

One of these projects is “Building Efficient Breeding Programs in Forages: BreedForage”. Red clover, the most important forage legume crop in Sweden, is one of the target crops of this project. Currently, the Department is seeking a PhD student to join the research team in this project, which focuses on red clover forage yields and forage quality.

The PhD student who will hold this position will be actively engaged in various project activities including

• Crossbreeding
• Phenotyping
• Comparative genomics and allele mining,
• Population genetics and marker-trait association analyses
• Genomic prediction
• Protocol development for speed breeding.
• The PhD student will conduct various hands-on activities in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field.

Qualifications:
We seek a highly motivated candidate with a master's degree in plant genetics and breeding, plant biology, or a related field. The candidate should have

• Adequate knowledge of conventional and genomics-driven plant breeding methods, genomics, and molecular markers.
• A well-developed understanding and skills in various statistical software applications, including R
• Experience working with plants under field and greenhouse conditions is required
• Experience in bioinformatics and quantitative genetics analysis is an advantage.
• research experience with red clover or other legume species is favourable.

The PhD students will work with researchers from different departments at SLU as well as industrial partners, which makes the ability to collaborate essential. Hence, it is of great importance that the candidate has effective communication and collaboration skills.

The ability to write and communicate effectively in English is a prerequisite while communicating in Scandinavian languages is an advantage.

Applicants should demonstrate a high level of scientific curiosity and possess favorable personal characters.

Place of work:
Alnarp

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years)

Starting date:
July 1st, 2025 or according to agreement

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2025-03-15.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: [...]/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
[...]/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.