Phd student in Technology and Social Change

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

The Department of Thematic Studies was the first in Sweden to offer an academic setting for thematically organised, interdisciplinary, socially relevant research. We combine strong research with undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and courses, often in collaboration with actors outside the university.
Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/tema

We are looking for a PhD student in Technology and Social Change.

Your workplace
Technology and Social Change is a nationally and internationally leading environment for research and education in how people create and use technology, and how technological change is interwoven with cultural patterns, everyday life, politics, ethics and economy. Third cycle and first cycle studies specialising in issues of technology and social change are carried out at the department.

Located at the Department of Thematic Studies is also the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics (CMHB). CMHB is a LiU-centre that gathers research colleagues from several departments at LiU. At CMHB medical humanities is understood in a broad sense, including for example studies of questions that arise at the intersection between the humanities, the social sciences, clinical practice, and biomedicine. Read more at https://liu.se/en/research/centre-for-medical-humanities-and-bioethics

Your work assignments
The PhD student is expected to do work within the research project ‘Biomedicine, Clinical Knowledge, and the Humanities in Collaboration: A Novel Epistemology for Radically Interdisciplinary Health Research and Policy-Work on Post-Covid-19 Syndrome’. More specifically, the PhD student will work in relation to the two sub-projects ‘Post-Covid syndrome: Diagnosis and Recovery’ and ‘A Novel Model for Policy-Work’. The PhD student will work with questions around epistemology and knowledge production in policy work around post-covid. For example, this could be studies of how different kinds of knowledge are included or not included in policy processes around post-covid diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation. It could also involve studies of socio-cultural and political processes in policy work around post-covid as a new diagnosis. The specific topic of study is open to be formulated in dialogue between PhD student and supervisor, within the larger project framework.  

The obligations of the appointed PhD candidate include writing academic texts in English, and the selected candidate is expected to work independently and together with other researchers. Responsibilities also include participation in seminars within the project as well as at the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics and the Department of Thematic Studies – Technology and Social Change.  

As a Phd student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Special qualifications: 90 credits of your total credits should be in a subject of central importance to the research area.

Relevant educational backgrounds for this position are, e.g. sociology, anthropology, science- and technology studies, public health science, political science, philosophy, or related fields.  

It is a requirement for this position that the candidate has documented skills in working with qualitative methods. Documented skills in writing about questions relevant to the position and in relation to the medical field are of particular merit. Documented skills in working in interdisciplinary ways are of merit. The position requires written and oral proficiency in English.  

The application shall contain a letter of intent (that describes why the applicant wants to become a PhD student), max 1 A4, and a research plan, max 3 A4. The research plan describes a possible research project within areas relevant to the position, e.g., around the following points: What questions are relevant to ask and why? Which theoretical approaches could inspire your work? What material would be possible to study? 

Terms of employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for Phd studies. More information about the PhD studies at each faculty is available here.

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
By agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of doctoral students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants .

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than May 16th 2022.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

In case of any discrepancy between the English and the Swedish version of the announcement, the Swedish version will take precedence. 

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities .

We look forward to receiving your application!

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