PhD i Technology and Social Change

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

The Department of Thematic Studies was the first in Sweden to offer an academic setting for thematically organised, interdisciplinary, socially relevant research. We combine strong research with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and courses, often in collaboration with actors outside the university.
Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/tema

We are looking for a PhD student in Technology and Social Change.

Your work assignments
Research related to the announced PhD position will be carried out within the Biogas Solutions Research Centre (BSRC), which is a five-year research programme aiming to develop a strong national competence base for the research and development of biogas solutions. The PhD project will study the social, political and technological development of biogas in Sweden and Europe with a focus on actor-driven institutionalization processes and concepts of institutional work or institutional entrepreneurs at different governance levels and within new application fields of biogas. Research will be carried out in close collaboration with representatives of public authorities, companies and branch organisations. .

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your workplace
Technology and Social Change is a nationally and internationally leading environment for research and education in how people create and use technology, and how technological change is interwoven with cultural patterns, everyday life, politics, ethics and economy. Third cycle and first cycle studies specialising in issues of technology and social change are carried out at the department.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Special qualifications: 90 credits of your total credits should be in a subject of central importance to the research area.

Relevant educational backgrounds for the announced position are for example within sociology, political science, human geography, urban and regional planning, environmental science and related social science or interdisciplinary educations. An important qualification for the position is the ability to plan, organise and carry out research tasks, take responsibility for one’s own research and work both independently and in collaboration with other researchers. 

Documented knowledge on social science perspectives on energy, environment and climate change as well as in methods of qualitative social science methods is particularly meriting. Documented knowledge within institutional analysis or sustainability transitions research is meriting. Part of the work task is to write research articles in English, independently or in collaboration with other members of the research group and documented proficiency in English, both in speaking and in writing, is therefore a merit. Documented abilities to work across disciplinary boundaries is of merit as well. 

Terms of employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of maximum one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
By agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of doctoral students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than September 9th, 2022.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

The application shall contain a letter of intent (that describes why the applicant wants to become a PhD student), max 1 A4, and a research plan, max 3 A4. The research plan describes a possible research project within areas relevant to the position, e.g., around the following points: What questions are relevant to ask and why? Which theoretical approaches could inspire your work? What material would be possible to study? 

In case of any discrepancy between the English and the Swedish version of the announcement, the Swedish version will take precedence. 


We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.

We look forward to receiving your application!


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