Post-doctoral fellow to the department of human geography focusing on regional development and circular supply chains - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Subject description

LU Text Agenda 2030
The 2030 Agenda is the framework for sustainable development that the world’s nations have signed to end extreme poverty, reduce inequalities, solve the climate crisis, promote peace and equity and much more. To achieve the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, research has several important roles: to identify challenges and conflicting objectives, contribute to new solutions, generate dialogue and learning between different societal stakeholders and critically analyse the goals. Lund University aspires to be a part of the solution and has therefore initiated a research programme on sustainable development with postdoc fellowships in interdisciplinary projects. The projects will not only constitute platforms for the postdocs’ career development, but also form a basis for national and European applications, and for future environments for excellence and profiling. The programme is also to develop the postdocs’ expertise in teaching and learning in higher education. For more information about the programme, please visit Excellence Programme for Sustainable Development | Sustainability Forum (lu.se)

Project Description
Global Value Chains (GVCs) are fundamental in today’s economy accounting for 50% of global trade and having tremendous social and environmental impacts. This project, thus, addresses a critical but hitherto neglected requirement for the Agenda2030, namely the shift from GVCs to Circular Supply Chains (CSCs), the latter being by design restorative and regenerative. We investigate tensions inherent in such a shift relating to i) linear versus circular business logics, ii) processes led top-down by dominant firms versus bottom-up local and inclusive processes, and iii) multi-level policy mixes shifting from deregulations and low taxes supporting GVCs to regulation and governance mechanisms that take environmental and social impacts into consideration. Hence, the overall aim of the project is to generate knowledge fot the transition from global to circular value chains in the multi-level context of local, regional, national, and global systems.

This is important because transformative initiatives are often designed and studied with limited attention to the multi-level interactions between various actors within local, regional, national, and global systems, as well as the potential local and global repercussions. Furthermore, GVCs and large firms may accelerate the shift from GVCs to CSCs with the pitfalls, however, of solutionism and democratic shortcomings. We draw upon our networks in industry and with policymakers at regional, national and EU levels. Involving key stakeholders, we create strong impact and further strengthen Lund University’s role as knowledge curator.

For this position we are looking for one post-doc who will work in an interdisciplinary team with two other post-docs as well as Associate Professor Markus Grillitsch (Department of Human Geograph, Social Science Faculty), Professor Fredrik Nilsson (Department of Design Sciences, Faculty of Engineering), and Professor Sylvia Schwaag Serger (Department of Economic History, School of Economic and Management). This position is located at the department of human geography and is supervised by Markus Grillitsch. You and the other post-docs will bring in complementary disciplinary competences related to global value chains, circular supply chains, global production networks, regional and industrial dynamics, multi-level governance, and policy.

Work duties
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research. Teaching and administrative duties are included up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

Detailed description of the work duties include:
•    Collaborative research within the subject area
o    Co-creation of theoretical and analytical frameworks
o    Co-creation of research methodology
o    Conducting empirical research
o    Drafting and publish research papers in collaboration.
•    Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students
•    Actively seeking external research funding
•    Collaboration with industry and wider society
•    Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies
•    Administration related to the work duties listed above.

Qualification requirements 
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier. 

Additional requirements:
•    Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
•    Good publication records in the area of economic geography

Assessment criteria and other qualifications

This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers.
Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:
•    A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
•    Ability to work in research teams and conduct collaborative research.

Additional assessment criteria:
•    Proven experience in collaborating with societal actors (firms, policy makers).
•    Teaching skills.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
The position involves three year full-time employment. Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor. 

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and be compiled into a PDF-file containing:

   résumé/CV, including a list of publications,
•    a general description of past research and future research interests, with an explicit reflection how this contributes to achieve the project’s aims (no more than three pages),
•    copy of the doctoral degree certificate, and other certificates/grades that you wish to be considered.
•    Contact information to two or more references (will be required for candidates invited for interviews).