Research Fellow in Regenerative Livestock Systems

The successful candidate will be part of GROUNDWORK, a flagship Horizon Europe project under the EU Soil Mission, uniting researchers, innovative farmers, universities, and technology developers to advance regenerative livestock systems and soil health across Europe. You will work within the Swedish Living Lab, co-led by SLU and Svensk Kolinlagring, engaging directly with farmers to test and monitor regenerative grazing and soil management practices.

You will design and carry out on-farm measurements of soil health, biodiversity, and management outcomes, and integrate these findings into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and sustainability analyses. You will help benchmark Swedish results with other Living Labs in Europe, contribute to scientific publications, and communicate outcomes to both researchers and practitioners.

The role combines hands-on fieldwork with quantitative analysis and requires an adaptable, self-motivated researcher who can take independent responsibility for coordinating remote collaboration, leading online meetings, and managing diverse field activities. As GROUNDWORK is a large, multi-country initiative, you will often work autonomously to drive your tasks forward between joint activities, while maintaining strong communication with geographically dispersed colleagues. At the same time, you will be part of a supportive, interdisciplinary team and engage closely with farming communities and partners in Europe. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• PhD in agroecology, environmental science, agricultural systems, or a related field.
• Proven experience in Life Cycle Assessment applied to agricultural systems.
• Proven experience with field data collection in livestock or mixed farming contexts.
• Proven ability to publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Strong communication skills and proven ability to work in transdisciplinary, participatory projects.
• Willingness and ability to conduct on-farm fieldwork in Sweden.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

ADDITIONAL MERIT:

• Experience with farmer engagement and participatory research approaches.
• Experience with LCA software (SimaPro, OpenLCA, Brightway).
• Skills in R or Python for data processing and analysis.
• Experience with soil or biodiversity monitoring methods.
• Experience using GIS (QGIS, ArcGIS).
• Knowledge of Swedish or another Scandinavian language
• Holding a valid Swedish or EU driving licence.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally

At the Department of Biosystems and Technology we explore interactions between soil, plants, animals, environment, climate and humans in systems for sustainable production of food and renewable raw materials. Our teaching and research deal with questions about sustainable and efficient use of limited resources for production in greenhouses, on agricultural land and in farm buildings.

The research activities combine detailed studies in biology and technology of production systems with systems analyses and cross-disciplinary syntheses. The Department has a broad competence in agricultural and horticultural crop science, bio-energy, technology, animal welfare, resource use efficiency, environmental impact and food safety. We deliver research-based knowledge in teaching at basic and advanced levels and through collaboration with society, and contribute thereby to innovations, advisory services and decision making for solving complex problems.

The Department was formed on 1 January 2013, and consists of around 60 persons from the previous Departments of Agrosystems, Horticulture, and Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry.  

For more information about the department visit: Department of Biosystems and Technology

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

The successful candidate will be part of the Animal Centered Environments research group within the Department of Biosystems and Technology at SLU’s Alnarp Campus, with field activities taking place in southern Sweden as part of the Swedish Living Lab.

Indefinite-term employment. SLU may use probationary employment.

100%

March 2nd 2026, or as agreed.

Please submit your application before deadline 30 January 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

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 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 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.

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