PhD student in Sociological Demography

Stockholms universitet · Stockholm, Sweden

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The Department of Sociology, founded 1954, offers a lively and collaborative research environment with a strong international research profile. The department is especially competitive in the areas of demography, ethnic relations and migration, gender, family sociology, political sociology, social policy regimes, social networks and social stratification. Masters and doctoral programs offered at the department are taught in English and attract applicants from all over Europe. At present members of the department include doctoral students, post-docs and faculty from at least 15 different countries.

The department also include the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA), established in 1983, an international group of scholars and doctoral students, working on many facets of population dynamics. SUDA offers the only comprehensive demographic training in Sweden, and the unit is well connected with research schools throughout the world. As an acknowledgement of SUDA’s success, demography has officially been appointed a leading research area at Stockholm University.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Sociology.

Project description

The thesis work will be conducted within the framework of the ERC-funded project “Social Inequalities in Bereavement: From Demographic Rates to Lived Experience (DEM-LOSS),” led by Prof. Isaac Sasson. The loss of family members is a ubiquitous human experience that profoundly impacts social and psychological wellbeing. Mortality decline in high-income countries has rendered this experience more predictable across the life course, yet family bereavement patterns may vary across social groups and socioeconomic strata. Project DEM-LOSS aims to uncover the demographic and social determinants of family bereavement across the life course, to document social disparities in bereavement within and across countries, and to understand how bereavement shapes how individuals feel, think, and act. The study is multi-sited, part of which is based at Tel Aviv University and the other part at Stockholm University; it will examine family bereavement in multiple social and national contexts including Sweden, Israel, and other countries. More information about the project can be found on the project website: Social inequalities in bereavement: From demographic rates to lived experience.

The PhD candidate will join a research team based at Stockholm University and will be expected to contribute to one or more of the research objectives through independent and collaborative work. The work involves formulating research questions, preparing literature reviews, conducting data analysis, coding, and writing research papers. Prior training in quantitative research methods is required as well as experience with diverse demographic data sources (e.g., population registers, administrative records, survey data). A main task for the PhD candidate will be using the Swedish population register for linking multigenerational kinship networks, in order to examine exposure to family bereavement across the life course, its demographic determinants, and individual consequences.

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.

Specific entry requirements are described in the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Sociological Demography

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

Documented knowledge in one or more of the following areas: kinship demography, mortality inequalities, social stratification, and life course theory
Strong background in demographic and/or statistical research methods and readiness to undertake further methodological training
Experience working with (preferably Swedish) population register and survey data
Fit between the research plan and project DEM-LOSS
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
Written and oral proficiency in English

The assessment will be based on previous courses and grades, references, relevant experience, interviews, the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position, and the quality (i.e., originality and feasibility) of the research plan for the PhD thesis. The applicant will be required to submit a tentative research plan in the application system, not to exceed 1000 words (excluding references). The plan should focus on research themes related to project DEM-LOSS (e.g., the social determinants of bereavement, kinship demography, mortality inequalities, family heterogeneity and social mobility

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

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

Contact

For more information, please contact Prof. Isaac Sasson, isaac.sasson@sociology.su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student position at 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 job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the 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.