PhD (Doctoral studentship) position in Political Science focusing on renewable

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Political Science is an open and socially engaged institution, at the centre of the city and at the centre of the debate. Our research revolves around elections, democracy, corruption, forms of government, globalization, the environment and politics, as well as European issues. The department hosts research programs such as the Center for Collective Action Research (CeCAR), the QoG Institute, Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the Swedish Electoral Research Program. We offer education at all levels, undergraduate advanced level and postgraduate level, as well as independent courses. Teaching is given in both Swedish and English. In total, about 1,400 people study with us. The Department of Political Science has around 160 employees. For more information about the Department, please visit our website at https://www.gu.se/en/political-science  

The Department of Political Science is currently looking for one qualified and motivated individual for a doctoral studentship position (PhD position) in Political Science with a focus on renewable energy.

A doctoral (PhD) student conducts research and contributes to the development of knowledge within the discipline. Expectations towards a doctoral student include the capacity to develop ideas independently, and to communicate research results in oral and written form. The specific project, The importance of physical and socio-political factors for wind power deployment, within in which the doctoral student writes the thesis, is led by Associate Professor Niklas Harring in collaboration with Professor Fredrik Hedenus (Chalmers University of Technology) and Professor Simon Matti (Luleå University of Technology).  

The point of departure for the project, is that the technical potential for solar and wind power is large enough to supply mankind with renewable energy. However, the potential for renewable energy cannot be reduced to a purely technical issue and the project at large aims to identify and quantify socio-political The ambition with the project is to identify and quantify socio-political (e.g. public attitudes) and institutional factors (e.g. the quality of political institutions) that constrain this potential. The project will thus extend and refine previous frameworks used to understand social acceptance, by for example incorporating variables such as the quality of the political institutions 

Within the framework of the overall aim, there is great freedom for the doctoral student to develop his own focus and we are open to the applicant's ideas being implemented, as well as the applicant becoming part of existing studies within the project. We will hire and fund a well-qualified and motivated person to work on issues related to the project. There is an opportunity here for the individual applicant to formulate their own questions related to the project's theme. We are interested in an applicant who is well-grounded in political science and interested in the project's themes. We welcome applicants who wish to use quantitative methods in their dissertation project. The admitted doctoral student must write his doctoral thesis within the project's theme and actively participate in its activities.   

The working language within the project and at the Department of Political Science is English. The research environment offers good opportunities for data collection, conference participation and other forms of international networking. The PhD position is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency through the Graduate School in Energy Systems. The doctoral student must also participate in the joint doctoral education courses and meetings organized within the framework of the graduate school. 

The aim of the doctoral studentship is to give the opportunity to the doctoral student to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to conduct research independently within the field of Political Science and to contribute to the development of knowledge within the discipline by writing a dissertation. Another aim is for the doctoral student to develop an ability to later apply the acquired knowledge and skills within post-degree research or other qualified professional work. For more information on the structure of our PhD programme, and on the doctoral student's work assignments, please see our website .

The position is limited to four years in duration and is carried out on a full-time basis unless there are acceptable reasons to the contrary (minimum 50%). The position may include departmental duties, such as teaching, corresponding to up to 20% of a full-time position over the course of study. If such tasks are carried out, the employment will be extended accordingly. 

To be eligible for the position, the applicant must meet both general and specific entry requirements. 

The general entry requirements for third-cycle (PhD) studies if he/she has obtained (Higher Education Ordinance Ch.7, Sec.39):  

According to the Higher Education Ordinance Ch.7, Sec.40, and the General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Political Science, U2018/719, an applicant meets the specific entry requirements if he/she has obtained at least 60 higher education credits (one year of full-time studies) in Political Science or has equivalent qualifications.

Applicants will be assessed based on their estimated ability to benefit from the study programme and on the Department’s supervisory resources. We will base this assessment primarily on the following: 

Admission to the PhD programme may also be granted within a framework where the University of Gothenburg does not serve as employer (external position, so-called samverkansdoktorand). The assessment process for these applicants is the same as for other applicants. A special agreement will be developed in these cases. 

After being admitted to the PhD programme, you will receive a doctoral employment (doktorandanställning) at the University of Gothenburg. 

Employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 5. The initial appointment may apply for no longer than one year. An appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be appointed to a doctoral studentship for a total of eight years. The total employment period may, however, not exceed the time corresponding to full-time third-cycle study for four years. 

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years full time
Extent: 100% (full-time)
Location: Department of Political Science, Gothenburg
Starting date: 2023-04-03 or according to agreement

Salaries for doctoral students are regulated in a local agreement at the University. 

All applications will be screened by an admission committee led by the Director of Studies of the PhD Program..The formal decision on admission is taken by the Head of Department. The final admission decision will be announced during April. Decisions cannot be appealed. 

Lena Caspers, research administrator
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +46 31 786 2792

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/union-representatives  

Please register your application electronically under ‘Apply online’. All applications should be written in English. For the application to be considered, it must include: 

It is up to the applicant to make sure that the application is complete. No changes or additions are allowed after the last date of application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

All electronic documents must be submitted in PDF format. 

Closing date 3 February 2023.

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.