Jobs within the network

Doctoral position in Peace and Development research at the University of Gothenburg

January 21, 2022

New PhD opportunity in Peace and Development Research at the School of Global Studies.

Photo: Unsplash / Nikola Johnny Mirkovic

Deadline

28 February 2022. Decisions on the shortlist will be made in March and final decisions taken in April 2022.

Job description

Peace and Development research at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, announces a doctoral position affiliated with the research project “Litigating land rights in Sápmi: Indigenous legal mobilization in Finland, Norway and Sweden.” In recent decades, Sami groups have been involved in numerous legal disputes on rights to land and natural resources in Norway, Sweden, and Finland. This project seeks to explain legal mobilization on indigenous land rights and its broader effects on Sami communities and the Nordic societies. The project employs socio-legal mobilization theory, a comparative research design, and a mixed-methods approach to explore how institutional and structural features of the three countries shape litigation and its outcomes, and how legal struggles have altered power dynamics within Sami communities and between them and the societies in which they live.

The purpose of undertaking doctoral studies is to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for conducting independent research within the field of Peace and Development Research. The doctoral studies comprise one year of coursework and three years of research, culminating in the production of a dissertation that makes a significant and original contribution to the research field. The knowledge and skills that are acquired during the studies should be applicable to postdoctoral research or other professional work. The position is salaried and covers four years (full-time equivalent, fixed term), beginning in August 2021.

We are looking for a candidate with an interest in the politics of indigenous legal mobilization. We are particularly interested in candidates who have some prior knowledge and experience of socio-legal and/or comparative social science research, as well as qualitative and quantitative social science methods. The candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Language proficiency in Finnish, Norwegian, Sami and/or Swedish is advantageous.

Peace and Development Research – School of Global Studies

Peace and Development Research at the University of Gothenburg is a leading site of interdisciplinary enquiry. The research environment consists of ca 50 researchers using a broad range of approaches to investigate various themes in peace and development in different regions of the world. These themes include, but are not limited to, conflicts, security, gender, human rights, global political economy, migration, regional and global governance, and resistance.

PhD Programme

Peace and Development Research at the University of Gothenburg is a leading site of interdisciplinary enquiry. The research environment consists of ca 50 researchers using a broad range of approaches to investigate various themes in peace and development in different regions of the world. These themes include but are not limited to, conflicts, security, gender, human rights, global political economy, migration, regional and global governance, and resistance.

Doctoral studies in Peace and Development Research often involve fieldwork outside Sweden. The PhD programme comprises 240 credits in total. Of the total credits, the dissertation comprises 180 credits, and the course work comprises 60 credits.

As a doctoral student, your employment typically lasts four years. Up to 20 percent of the doctoral studies can consist of departmental service, and the doctoral position is then extended by the corresponding time. This means that the total period of employment will be a maximum of five years. Salaries for doctoral students are made according to local agreements at the University of Gothenburg and are negotiated by trade union representatives.

Further details

For further details please check current legislation, the University of Gothenburg guidelines and the Faculty of Social Sciences guidelines as well as local application principles at the School of Global Studies. 

Contact person

Johan Karlsson Schaffer, PhD Programme Coordinator