PhD student in Public Health Sciences

The Department of Public Health Sciences is a department at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University, with around 60 employees. We offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and internationally leading research environment. The Department houses two research centres: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS) and Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD). We offer education on basic, advanced, and doctoral level. More information is available at: Department of Public Health Sciences

Project description

The thesis work will focus on the significance of commercial determinants of health (CDH), with particular attention to addictive substances and behaviours, such as alcohol, nicotine, and gambling. The starting point is the potential conflict between the profit interests of commercial actors and public health policy. In The Lancet in 2023, an overarching framework for CDH was developed. Commercial entities can take different forms and operate at different levels. CDH refers to the systems, practices, and pathways through which commercial actors drive health and equity.

Using primarily qualitative research methods, the doctoral student will generate research material and analyse, for example, commercial actors’ strategies and lobbying activities, regulatory processes, and users’ experiences. Analyses may include examining how commercial strategies and shifting norms have gradually strengthened the influence of profit-driven actors on policy, national and international regulation, and knowledge production concerning health-harming products, as well as how and why political systems sometimes enable rather than constrain this influence. It may involve examining how commercial actors circumvent marketing restrictions, for example on social media platforms, and how such messages are perceived by their audiences. It is desirable for the project to focus on Swedish conditions, while international perspectives and comparisons are also welcomed.

As the research field is relatively new, the doctoral project may benefit from methodological and theoretical development. This could include exploring how CDH can be conceptualized and measured. Comparisons of the importance and regulation of commercial determinants across substances and products are of interest, as regulation varies within and across countries.

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, according to the General Syllabus for Doctoral Level Education in Public Health Sciences, the applicant must have good oral and written skills in English. In addition, the candidate must have completed coursework of at least 7.5 credits on advanced level in quantitative or qualitative methods relevant to public health sciences. The entry requirements can also be fulfilled by those who have acquired equivalent competence in Sweden or abroad. Assessment of equivalent competence is made by the Director of Studies for the doctoral program in Public Health Sciences, and the decision is made by the Head of Department.

Selection

The selection among qualified candidates is based on their ability to benefit from the doctoral studies. The criteria used in the selection process are:

• subject-specific knowledge of relevance to public health sciences
• subject-specific knowledge of relevance to the research project to which the employment is linked (where applicable)
• independence in the analysis and planning of previous scholarly work
• scholarly stringency and quality of previous work and of the outline of the concept note
• the ability to communicate and collaborate
• the department’s possibilities to provide adequate supervision for the planned research
• good proficiency in Swedish is an advantage.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

The doctoral student is expected to primarily work on-site at Stockholm University.

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

Contact

For more information, please contact the main supervisor Jessica Storbjörk, jessica.storbjork@su.se.

For more information about the doctoral student programme, please contact the director of studies, Sara Brolin Låftman, sara.brolin.laftman@su.se.

Application

Apply for the doctoral student position in 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 announcement, and that it is submitted before the application deadline.

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

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 % | Ort: Stockholm | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: SU FV-2893-26 | Facklig företrädare: ST/OFR ST/OFR 08162000, ST/OFR ST/OFR 08162000, Saco-S Saco-S 08162000, Saco-S Saco-S 08162000, Seko Seko 0770457900, Seko Seko 0770457900, | Publicerat: 2026-09-15 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-10-15