PhD student in Human Geography

at the Department of Human Geography. Closing date: 1 June 2020.

Stockholm University is a leading European university in one of the world’s most dynamic capitals and is characterised by openness, innovation and collaboration. Ranked among the world’s top 100 universities, Stockholm University is one of Europe's leading centres for higher education and research in human science and science. Stockholm University was founded in 1878 with the ambition to revitalise higher education in Sweden. Since its inception, close contact with the wider world and active exchange of knowledge and experience have been integral to this vision. Currently, the university has 33,000 students, 1,600 doctoral students, and 5,500 members of staff.

The Department of Human Geography is dedicated to research and education in geography, human geography and urban and regional planning. Today, the Department employs about 50 people, 30 of whom are academic staff and about 15 post-graduate (doctoral) students. The total number of students during one year is about 500 including around 100 master programme students.

The Department of Human Geography has three research profiles; The Stockholm Urban and Regional Research Environment (SURE), Historical geography and landscape studies and Population geography, migration and GIS. Information on ongoing research in the profiles is available at: www.humangeo.su.se/english/research.

Human geography studies human activity from a spatial perspective. This means that human geographers are interested in social processes and their spatial aspects, such as spatial organisation, context, interaction between different locations, and space as a physical location or social construction created by social relations. Human geography is often studied within different subdisciplines, such as economic geography, population geography, historical geography, political geography, and social geography.

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 credits (ects), of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In addition, applicants must have earned at least 90 credits in human geography or another relevant subject. In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Geography with emphasis on Human Geography stipulates that: ”The language of instruction and supervision is either Swedish or English". Accordingly, very good knowledge of Swedish or English is required in order to meet the specific entry requirements.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The most important selection criterion is the candidate’s ability to achieve the programme objectives. Special attention is given to (ranked criteria):


• The scholarly ability previously demonstrated by the candidate in first- and second-cycle thesis projects, as well as in the preliminary research plan
a. independence in the analysis and planning of previous degree projects;
b. definition of problem and rigor, both in previous projects and in the research plan;
c. previously demonstrated ability to complete tasks within specified time limits;
d. methodological and scholarly maturity;
e. ability to communicate and collaborate.
• The candidate’s prior knowledge of relevant academic fields.
• The candidate’s ability to contribute to and benefit from the research environment at the Department of Human Geography.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations.




Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education (a total of 240 credits – 180 credits for the PhD thesis and 60 credits for courses), but may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

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

Contact
For more information, please contact our Director of Studies, Dominic Power, dominic.power@su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, seko@seko.su.se (SEKO), and PhD student representative, doktorandombud@sus.su.se.



Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application


• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents:


• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Project proposal/Research proposal describing:
– why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement 
– why and how you wish to complete the project 
– what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 6 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: Instructions – Applicants.

You are welcome to apply!



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