PhD-student in human geography

The Department of Geography is to appoint a doctoral student in tourism geography focussing on tourism and its role for local and regional development in peripheral northern regions. The employment begins on December 1st, 2024 or by agreement. 

Description of work

The current doctoral project will be carried out within the framework of an ongoing research project called The Internationalization of Tourism Labor Markets in Rural Arctic Sweden. This project asks what happens with companies and their local embeddedness when rural tourism entrepreneurs need to find employees abroad. During the last decade, tourism has been established as an important way of making a living in rural Sweden. Particularly in Arctic Sweden successful entrepreneurs have often started small-scale accommodation and activity businesses attracting tourists from all over the world. Recently, however, their businesses have been challenged by insufficient access to labor. The industrial boom in Arctic Sweden has eradicated unemployment and consecutively tourism companies struggle to staff their operations. Therefore, international recruitment has become an important replacement for local employees. While this reduces the problem temporarily, it can also create challenges for entrepreneurs and communities.

Consequently, this project aims to assess the consequences of the internationalization of the rural tourism labor market. 

The position requires active communication of research in both academic and policy circles and the candidate is expected to participate in daily project and departmental activities. 

About the position

Employment as PhD-student aims to reach a doctoral degree and is normally full-time employment for 4 years starting 2024-12-01 or when mutually agreed. Your salary is determined in accordance with a stipulated scale for PhD positions. If departmental duties (e.g., teaching) can be offered (maximum of 20%),  the position will be prolonged accordingly. As a PhD student you are expected to work independently with your PhD project as well as to collaborate with the research group, participate in seminars and other department activities. 

The procedure for recruitment for the position is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (chapt. 12, 2§) and the decision regarding the position cannot be appealed.

Eligibility requirements 

Eligible applicants must fulfil the following prerequisites: 240 ECTS-credits of higher education studies of which at least 60 should be on an advanced level (Master level), at least 90 credits must be in human geography or related disciplines, and at least 30 credits must be awarded for successful thesis work in human geography or related disciplines.

Other qualifications

Applicants must be proficient in both oral and written communication in English and have insight in the research field of social sciences, especially human geography. Applicants should have experience of working with quantitative and qualitative data.  Knowledge of GIS is a merit. 

Since field work is  conducted in sparsely populated rural areas a driver’s licence is necessary. An ability to communicate in Swedish or another Scandinavian language is meritorious. 

If considered eligible the ability to formulate a research proposal that is related to the call and embedded in current discussions in human geography together with previous academic achievements will primarily be evaluated. Attention will also be given to the ability to utilize the education (communicative ability, ability to work in a group as well as independently and ability of critical reasoning). 

Application 

A complete application must include:

1. Research proposal presenting your research ideas in relation to the call (no more than 3 pages), including

·         Motivation of project in relation to the theme of this call

·         Aim and research questions

·         Connection to relevant literature in tourism and economic/rural geography. 

2. A cover letter summarizing your qualifications, scientific interests and motives for applying (max 3 pages)

3. CV

4. Diplomas of bachelor and Master level degrees

5. Bachelor/Master theses work/other relevant publications 

6. Other merits of relevance for the position

7. Contact information to two reference persons

Note that incomplete applications will not be processed.

Your application must be registered in Umeå University’s e-recruitment system no later than 2024-10-15. 

For more information contact Professor Dieter Müller (tfn +46-(0)90-786 6366, e-post dieter.muller@umu.se) or the director of graduate studies, Linda Sandberg (tfn +46-(0)90-786 6940, e-post linda.sandberg@umu.se).

The Department of Geography has around 40 employees and conducts extensive research within the field of human geography. Our main research and teaching evolve around topics like spatial planning, economic geography, tourism, resource management and sustainability. For more information about the department, please visit: https://www.umu.se/institutionen-for-geografi/

We are looking forward to receiving your application!