Master of Science [M.S] [Biology] From Mid Sweden University

The individualized Biology programme at Mid Sweden University targets those who are interested in developing skills and knowledge for a future career in academic research as well as in industrial or public R&D.

The programme is project dominated. As a student, from day one you will start an individual project that will lead to your Master thesis after two years. You will be a member of a research group and carry out research together with PhD students and be supervised by the researchers in the group. Only a few students will be admitted each semester and supervised on an individual level. If you have shown excellent results in your Bachelor studies and are self-motivated to specialize further in your field, you are the one we are looking for.

Our research focus on the effects of 150 years of forestry on forest biodiversity and ecosystem services. Although providing important resources to the society, it has also had negative consequences for forest biodiversity and particularly the loss of dead wood, natural processes, deciduous trees and old trees. As a result the survival of many species associated with forests is threatened. We seek Master students that are interested in the factors that shape boreal forest biodiversity and interested in supporting efficient nature conservation. Within this broad theme, we particularly focus on the role of small protected areas and active restoration (for example prescribed fires) as tools to maintain fragmented populations of wood dependent species ? ranging from their habitat demands to their genetic variability. We also study the dynamics of natural forests ? from the long term changes at stand and landscape scale to the decay rates of dead trees.