Post doctoral researcher in Geography

The department of Geography is announcing a position as post doctoral researcher. The employment is a fixed term position for 2 years  starting on July 1st 2024 or as agreed upon.

Description and work tasks  
The focus of this postdoc is to explore and discuss the consequences of different perspectives in institutions and agents for the understanding of environmental issues. The analysis will be, based on various geographical and other social science theories. 
The main tasks for the postdoc will involve conducting research and publishing scientific articles related to the research field described above. Work on theories of change will be conducted together with the research leader Carina Keskitalo, as well as independently on the case study area chosen by the applicant.   
 
The position is based at the Department of Geography, Umeå University. The postdoc is expected to participate in common regular departmental activities and the department research environment. Maximum 20% of the position may include teaching or a similar form of institutional service.   
 
Competence  
To be eligible for this position, you must have a PhD, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a PhD in human geography, political science, planning or another subject relevant to the field. The degree must be dated at the latest by the time when the employment decision is made.  Applicants should not have previously held a postdoctoral researcher position for more than one year in the same or related subject area within Umeå University.  Since employment as a postdoctoral researcher is a qualifying position for junior researchers, we primarily target those who have a doctoral degree that is no older than three years from the application deadline. If there are special reasons, it can be considered as a previously completed doctoral degree. By special reasons is meant leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within trade unions or other similar circumstances, as well as service/assignments relevant to the subject area.   

The successful applicant must demonstrate documented ability of independent research work and skills in writing scientific articles as well as previous research experience of relevance to the planned project. The applicant should showcase both breadth and depth in their understanding of theory within geography and other social sciences. Specifically, they should apply relevant theories to environmental research.  Knowledge  on institutional theory and evolutionary economic geography is particularly meritorious. 

Good language skills in English is a requirement. This is evidenced by publications, where self-authored publications are extra meritorious. You are also expected to have good cooperation skills and an ability to work independently as well as within a group.   
As part of the application, the applicant must  suggest and describe a research field suitable for a case study. This case should be relevant to understanding change in relation to natural environment.  

Special importance will be attached to documented scientific skills. Additionally,  the quality and feasibility of the applicant's planned research activities (as described in the suggested case study) will be assessed.   

Since the main part of the employment as a postdoctoral fellow consists of own research, scientific competence weighs more heavily than pedagogical and educational competence when assessing the applicants' qualifications.   
The assessment  will primarily consider the applicants previous publications and the intended case studie thereafter on other scientific merits will be considered. 

The employment  
The position is a full-time employment on a fixed term of two years.  
The employment as a postdoctoral fellow follows the Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral fellow which applies from February 1, 2022.  

Application  

The application must contain:  

• A cover letter regarding your scientific interests and your motives for applying for the position (maximum two pages) 
• CV / curriculum vitae including the date of your PhD exam, title on your thesis and with a list of publications. If you plan to complete your doctoral degree after the deadline for applying, please upload information about the planned examination and expected examination date.  
• Certified copies of grades and diplomas 
• Your PhD thesis and other relevant publications för the employment 
• A plan for case studies conducted during the employment (maximum three pages)  
• Any other merits of relevance for the position (optional) 
• Name and contact information to 2 references  
  Apply via our recruitment system Varbi. The deadline for applying is 15/5 2024.  

The Department of Geography is an educational and research environment with approximately 40 employees. Examples of research and teaching areas are social planning, economic geography, migration, and regional development. Here you can read more about the department https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-geography/