Luleå University of Technology

Luleå University of Technology experiences rapid growth with world-leading expertise within several research areas. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, the public sector and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of just over SEK 2.3 billion. We have more than 1,800 employees and nearly 21,600 students.

Applied Geochemistry at LTU focuses on the occurrence and mobility of elements and the geochemical processes that occur in rock, soil and water at the Earth’s surface. Research is carried out on both natural and anthropogenic sources influencing the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. This is achieved by combining analytical chemistry, isotopic geochemistry, environmental forensics and environmental mineralogy. Research and education in this subject address environmental issues tied to the mining industry, infrastructure construction, acid sulfate soils and sulphide-bearing rocks. Special focus is put on Critical Raw Material (CRM, incl. e.g. REE, W, V) mobilization in the environment.

The research group has a strong experimental and applied profile, with well-equipped laboratories and extensive collaborations with industry and the public sector, all geared towards building a long-term sustainable society.

Subject description
Applied Geochemistry is concerned with studies into the occurrence and mobility of the elements in rocks, soil, and water, focusing on methods to prevent or reduce the environmental impact of metal extraction and infrastructure development.

Homepage: https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I003/583/job?site=14&lang=UK&validator=47967adc563af74ecd9bf5ba5a3846e8&job_id=10020

Climate change is reshaping northern landscapes at an unprecedented pace, altering groundwater recharge, destabilizing permafrost, mobilizing carbon and nitrogen, and threatening long-term water security. Sweden offers a unique natural laboratory spanning drought-stressed aquifers in the south to rapidly warming permafrost systems in the north.

We are seeking an ambitious and scientifically independent postdoctoral researcher to lead advanced multi-isotope investigations (H, C, N, O) integrated with process-based hydrological and biogeochemical modelling. The project aims to quantify how climate stress alters water storage, nutrient cycling, and contaminant transport across contrasting hydroclimatic regimes.

By combining isotope forensics with predictive modelling, the research will establish a unified framework for assessing aquifer resilience under future climate scenarios, strengthening LTU’s position as a national hub for isotope-based environmental science.

The postdoctoral researcher will:

• Design and execute field campaigns in southern drought-affected aquifers and northern permafrost-influenced systems.
• Conduct and interpret multi-isotope analyses (δ²H, δ¹⁸O, δ¹⁷O, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and related tracers).
• Develop isotope-informed hydrological and biogeochemical models to quantify recharge dynamics, nutrient mobilization, and contaminant transport.
• Integrate isotope datasets and modelling outputs into predictive frameworks of climate-sensitive aquifer resilience.
• Publish results in leading international journals.
• Present findings at major conferences (e.g., EGU, AGU, Goldschmidt).
• Contribute to the strategic development of isotope-based environmental research at LTU.

Qualifications
In order to be eligible for the post-doctor scholarship, you must have a PhD or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD in applied geochemistry, hydrology, environmental sciences, Earth sciences or similar. A doctoral degree awarded within the past 5 years is a useful qualification. Candidates who have been awarded a doctoral degree at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds, for example, different types of statutory leave of absence.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence in isotope hydrology, hydrogeochemistry, or climate-driven catchment processes.
• Experience with stable isotope systems (e.g., water isotopes, IRMS-based analyses).
• Strong competence in hydrological or biogeochemical modelling (e.g., MODFLOW, HYDRUS, ParFlow, or similar).
• Experience handling and interpreting complex environmental datasets.
• Documented peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong programming skills (Python, R, MATLAB, or similar).

Meritorious Qualifications (Considered an Advantage)

• Experience in climate-sensitive environments (e.g., drought-prone aquifers, Arctic or permafrost regions).
• Integration of isotopic tracers with numerical models.
• Experience with hydrogeological field instrumentation.
• Familiarity with GIS tools.
• Experience contributing to collaborative or international projects.
• Analytical techniques, such as IRMS.

Personal Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and oral.
• Willingness to participate in fieldwork across Sweden, sometimes under challenging conditions.

Please apply via the link.