At least one doctoral studentship in Sociology for the ERC project ENDINGS - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Duties

The PhD students are employed through the project ENDINGS, financed by the ERC: https://erc.easme-web.eu/?p=101042247. The project challenges the current focus on innovation in research on sustainability transitions and instead studies if and how different types of knowledges erode and whether they ever go extinct. The doctoral students will study a variety of processes of decline, de-institutionalization, destabilization, discontinuation, and unlearning in industries such as energy, ICT, and crafts in Sweden, Germany, and the UK.

The PhD candidates are expected to:

- Design and conduct empirical research in different industries and countries in collaboration with the project leader

- Write single- or co-authored scientific publications during the duration of the employment

- Have a close collaboration with the project team and contribute to joint meetings and activities

- Present their research at national and international conferences

- Have very good command of the English language. German and Swedish skills are an asset.

- Write and defend a PhD thesis

The PhD program consists of 240 credits (equivalent to four years of full-time studies) and is concluded with the public defense of a doctoral thesis. The appointed doctoral students will receive a salary from the University during four years, and their primary obligation is to complete their PhD studies. The position may involve departmental duties, mainly in the form of teaching, up to 20 per cent of full time working hours, in which case the appointment will be extended by the equivalent number of hours. The terms of employment for doctoral students are regulated in the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (HF), Chapter 5, Sections 1– 7.

The doctoral student shall be present and actively participate in the research and teaching environment at the department. The main language of the PhD program is English. However, non-Swedish speaking students are expected to acquire basic skills in Swedish during the period of employment. There are opportunities to participate in language courses taught at the University. The doctoral studentship will commence on 1 September 2022. The general syllabus and other information about the PhD program in Sociology is available at: https://www.soc.lu.se/en/research/research-studies/handbook-doctoral-students?q=research/research- studies/handbook

Qualifications

The requirements for admission to third cycle courses and study programs (in accordance with HF, Chapter 7, Section 35) are that the applicant

(1) meets the general and specific entry requirements that the higher education institution may have laid down, and

(2) is considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the course or study program (Swedish Code of Statutes 2010:1064).

A person meets the general entry requirements for third cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

has been awarded a second cycle qualification, has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

In addition to the general entry requirements, a person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle programmes in sociology if they have completed a second-cycle degree in sociology or a related subject, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad. The degree must contain independent projects comprising at least 15 credits in sociology or the equivalent at second-cycle level.

Assessment criteria

Only applicants who are eligible for third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Admission is primarily to be based on the applicant’s ability to benefit from the third cycle programme.

The applicants will be ranked based on an overall assessment of the quality and originality of their submitted papers and their personal suitability. As third cycle studies in Sociology are very demanding, the applicant must be highly motivated and able to work independently under time constraints. Good collaboration and communication skills are also required, as is proficiency in both written and spoken English.

The following criteria are of particular importance in the assessment:

- The quality of the master thesis or other scientific publications and their relation to the project in terms of general relevance and methodological approach.

- Documented experience with social sciences methodologies, in particular qualitative methods like interviews and text analysis

- Competence to independently develop research designs relevant to the project, as evidenced by a master thesis, scientific publications, the cover letter as well as during discussions in the interview

Interviews will be conducted with a shortlisted number of applicants during the final stages of the admission process. The applicants may be asked to provide work samples also after the application has been submitted.

Application procedure

Applications are to be submitted electronically via the Lund University application portal. The application shall be written in English and must include:

1. An extended cover letter in English of max 2500 words, which contains:

• A brief presentation of yourself and your qualifications in relation to the project
• A brief explanation of why you are interested in third cycle studies at the Department of Sociology at Lund University.
• A reflection on how the project corresponds to your interests and potential future research activities

2. A CV in English that demonstrates your qualifications for the third cycle program in Sociology.

3. Degree and grade certificates in Swedish or English.

4. Publications, including degree project/master thesis in Swedish or English corresponding to at least 15 credits at advanced level in Sociology or other discipline deemed equivalent.

5. Name and contact information of two personal references.

Type of employment

Temporary employment, fours years according to HF 5 kap 7§

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