Postdoctoral researcher in sociology

Ref no: ORU 2.1.1-07355/2025

Örebro University is shaping the future through internationally competitive research and offers professional-oriented education among the best in the country. We are now looking for someone who wants to work as a postdoctoral researcher in sociology at the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. With us, you will have the opportunity to be part of Örebro University's continued journey, with research and education in focus.

Subject area

The subject area for this position is sociology.

Background

The School of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (HumUS) offers undergraduate and graduate education in a wide range of subjects and areas in the form of independent courses and programs. HumUS conducts high-quality research and postgraduate education. The School is characterized by collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and a commitment to the continuous development of education and research.

Sociology offers education at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. In addition to independent courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, sociology is responsible for the Human Resources Program and the Bachelor’s and a Master’s Program in Social Analysis. It has two strong research groups, Environmental sociology and Work, family, and intimate relations. This project is part of the research conducted by the Environmental Sociology Research Group. Visit the research group’s website for more information.

As a postdoctoral fellow, your work will be part of a research project examining the role of expertise in international environmental policy. More specifically, the project will explore the conditions and challenges that international scientific networks and intergovernmental expert panels face in influencing global environmental policy. For more information about the project, click here.

Duties and responsibilities

The appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is intended to enable persons who have recently been awarded their doctoral degree to consolidate and develop primarily their research skills.

Your task will be to conduct research on how international expertise develops policy-relevant knowledge for global environmental problems. Specifically, you will collect and analyze empirical material — in the form of interviews, documents, and participant observations — on how international expert organizations develop their institutional designs to create policy-relevant and actionable knowledge. This also involves to study how the expert organizations compile a complex, multidisciplinary field and package it in a scientifically credible and politically relevant manner. You will work closely with the research project leader and have good opportunities to co-author scientific articles.

Qualifications

Those qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher are applicants who at the time of appointment hold a doctoral degree in sociology or have a degree from abroad deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree. Applicants with doctoral degrees that have been awarded no more than 3 years prior to the application deadline are to be considered first. The applicant may not previously have held a position as a postdoctoral researcher for more than one year in the same subject and at the same university. The position is for a term of at least 2 years initially but may be extended for a further 1 year. If the person during the period of employment has been on parental leave, the period of employment is to be extended by the corresponding number of days. The period of employment may also be extended in the event of absence due to illness.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria are scientific proficiency and the applicant’s prospects of contributing to the future development of research. Importance is also attached to a demonstrated ability and ambition to embark on a career within academia. Additional criteria are the applicant’s ability to disseminate information and communicate; collaborate and engage with the wider community; and facilitate utilisation of the university’s research. In addition, the applicant’s suitability for the position will be assessed. Suitability refers to the applicant demonstrating the personal qualities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities at hand, the ability to cooperate with other members of staff, and the ability to contribute to the development of the operations.

Particular attention is to be paid to the applicant’s prospects of contributing to the future development of both research and education. Importance is also attached to a demonstrated ability and ambition to embark on a career within academia.

Since interviews will be conducted in English within the project, proficiency in English is required. Particular importance will be given to documented experience working with interview and document studies, as well as international publications. Knowledge of the field Environmental sociology and Science and Technology Studies (STS) is meritorious, as is experience working within project frameworks.

Information

This is a full-time position for two years. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

For more information about the position, contact project leader professor Rolf Lidskog, rolf.lidskog@oru.se or head of division professor Magnus Boström, +46 19 30 00 00 magnus.bostrom@oru.se.

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application

The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

• Covering letter, outlining how you believe you can contribute to the continued development of Örebro University
• CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
• Account of research qualifications and experience
• Copies of relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met
• Relevant scientific publications (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)

Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish can be reviewed.
More information for applicants will be found on our career site: https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is February 2, 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!

As we have already made our choices in terms of external collaboration partners and marketing efforts for this recruitment process, we decline any contact with recruitment agencies and advertisers.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.