Postdoctoral research fellow in the Social Sciences

Södertörn University is offering an international setting for vital discussions about important contemporary issues. We are a young university, with a strong focus on multidisciplinary research. We offer education and conduct research in the humanities, social sciences, technology and natural sciences, often with a multidisciplinary and intercultural profile. Our campus is located in Stockholm. We have around 13 000 students and employ 840 staff and faculty, including almost ninety full professors. Our proximity to Eastern Europe influences much of our research and education. Since 2005, we have been home to the multidisciplinary Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES), a hub for our research that focuses on this geographic area. CBEES attracts many researchers from Eastern Europe, and more than 100 doctoral students have been educated at the Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS). This position is located within the School of Social Sciences where the Economics department is located. As this position is funded by a grant that also includes other partners in Stockholm, Kyiv, and Rome, there is also access to a much broader international network of colleagues and collaborators.

Job description

This position is part of a large international research project entitled (Re)Constructing Modern Ukraine—People, Institutions, and the Environment awarded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (FBEES). The project, staffed by several internationally well-established researchers, is led by Associate Professor Anders Olofsgård at Södertörn University and the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) at the Stockholm School of Economics and is a joint project between Södertörn, Kyiv School of Economics, SITE, and Tor Vergata University in Rome.

The project has four sub-headings, and this position is primarily aimed to contribute to the areas focusing on public opinion during war time and urban resilience and reconstruction. In this position, the applicant gets an opportunity to contribute to applied and policy relevant research with an international group of prominent scholars on some of the key challenges Ukraine, and Europe, are currently facing. The ambition is to produce a number of research papers for publication in strong journals in the social sciences, including sociology, urban studies, business, economics, and political science. The main task of the position is to contribute to the research and data analysis of the project and co-authorship of research papers. It may also include some administrative project management duties.

Qualifications

An individual is qualified to apply for a position as a postdoctoral research fellow if they have a doctoral degree in a relevant field in the social sciences, or a qualification from abroad that is equivalent to a doctoral degree. This requirement must be fulfilled at the time the decision on employment is made. Primary consideration will be given to applicants who were awarded the above qualifications within three years prior to the application deadline for employment as a postdoctoral research fellow.

To qualify for the position, the following further criteria must be fulfilled.

• Proven skills in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including experience with data collection and data analysis.
• A proven track record of research in the format of academic publications and/or polished working papers.
• A professional competence in spoken and written English.
• The personal skills necessary to do your job well and to represent the university and the project in a way that benefits their activities.

Grounds for assessment

The following grounds for assessment have been established for this position. The below items must be documented.

• Shown competence and experience in collecting, managing, and analysing different types of data. Experience working with big datasets, satellite data, and geo-coded data is a benefit.
• Proven knowledge of relevant software for quantitative analysis.
• The quality of academic publications and/or polished working papers. Preferably in either or both areas of research mentioned above.
• Competence in the Ukrainian language is a significant advantage.
• Personal non-cognitive skills required to be a good team member.

For complete information about qualifications and the criteria for assessing them, please read Södertörn University’s Appointments Procedure.

Employment

This position is full time and is limited to a period of maximum 24 months. The start date is January 1, 2027 or as agreed.

Application

The application deadline is October 31, 2026. For our assessment of your qualifications, please provide us with the following:

• A copy of your Ph D certificate or corresponding degree.
• A full academic CV.
• A personal letter outlining the reasons for your interest in this position, and why you are a qualified applicant.
• One research paper showcasing your relevant skills (a “job market paper”).
• Three letters of recommendation.

Applicants selected in the first round will be invited to a Zoom interview with the selection committee in a second round. Those selected from the second round will be asked to give a research presentation.

Additional information

For any questions with regard to the content of the position and required qualifications, please contact project leader Anders Olofsgård at anders.olofsgard@hhs.se.

For any questions with regards to the formal requirements for a postdoctoral position at Södertörn University, please contact Ulrica Lindbäck at ulrica.lindback@sh.se.

The salary range for post doc positions is at a level competitive with other strong institutions in western Europe. The university has apartments for time-limited positions, such as post docs, located close to the university, though availability cannot be guaranteed, and normal rents will be charged to the tenant.

Welcome with your application!

On our website, sh.se/vacantpositions, there is an application template that the applicant needs to follow. Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University after the closing date may be rejected.

Union representatives:

SACO: info.saco@sh.se

ST: st@sh.se

SEKO: mattias.kollberg@seko.se

and Robert Lindberg robert.g.lindberg@seko.se

Södertörn University has made strategic advertisement choices for this recruitment. Therefore, we decline all contact with advertisers and other salespersons of advertisement.