PhD Student in MKV, Strategic Communication and Psychological Defence - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for a PhD student in Media and Communication Studies with a focus on strategic communication and psychological defense.

Work duties

The main duties are to devote themselves to their own research education, which includes both own research and third cycle courses. In addition to doctoral studies, participation in teaching and other departmental work (max 20%) may also be included. 

Strategic communication deals with the study of organizations' conscious communication efforts to achieve their overall goals. The research will highlight, create an understanding of and critically examine the communication processes that govern and shape organizations in our society and the effects of strategic communication.

The Department of Strategic Communication has a newly established research institute for psychological defence (psychologicaldefence.lu.se). Psychological defense is society's common ability to identify and resist undue information influence and other misleading information directed against Sweden in order to influence our decisions, perceptions or behaviors. The research institute receives basic funding from the Swedish Agency for Psychological Defence.

The Psychological Defence Research Institute conducts research within the field of strategic communication with a focus on malign information influence and foreign interference. Malign information influence supports the interests of foreign powers’ and aims to influence vulnerabilities in society. The Research Institute focuses on security issues such as civil defence, hybrid threats, social media platforms, and open-source intelligence, and develops research-based guidelines, tools, and analyses to identify and counteract malign information influence. Applications are expected to contribute to the development of the research field of strategic communication through the investigation of psychological defence. The PhD student will actively contribute to the work and development of the Research Institute.

The doctoral programme in Media and Communication Studies at Lund University is given jointly by the Department of Strategic Communication and the Department of Communication and Media. For more information about doctoral education, see the website.

Eligibility

General eligibility for third-cycle studies requires that the applicant has completed: a second-cycle degree, completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are fromsecond-cycle level, or in some other way in Sweden or abroad acquired largely equivalent knowledge.

In addition to the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies, the doctoral student must have at least 30 credits in the main field of study Media and Communication Studies at advanced level or acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.

The doctoral student must also have completed independent projects of at least 15 credits at second-cycle level.

The applicant should have such knowledge of English that he/she can assimilate research literature, third-cycle courses and participate actively in seminar activities.

Assessment criteria

When appointing, consideration shall primarily be given to the degree of ability to benefit from the doctoral education.

The applicant must have a basic education related to and experience in strategic communication, media and communication studies, rhetoric or equivalent. Great emphasis is placed on the applicant's master's thesis (or equivalent degree project) and the presented thesis idea.

The assessment will also take into account the ability to work independently and structured, but also the ability to contribute to good collaboration and a good research environment at the department.

Type of employment

Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. The employment is limited to 4 years in the case of full-time studies. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended correspondingly, but not more than 5 years (at 20 % departmental duties). Doctoral student employment is regulated in the Ordinance SFS 1993:100 (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 7). The position is planned to start January 2024 or according to agreement.

Instructions on how to apply

The application must be attached:
1) CV with certified copies of degree certificates, academic grades and other relevant certificates 2) a copy of the Master's thesis and, where applicable, the applicant's other scientific
publications (e.g. articles in scientific journals)
3) a personal letter describing the applicant's background, interest in the subject and intention of the doctoral education
4) a thesis sketch where the applicant presents an idea for the thesis (maximum five pages)
5) contact information for two reference persons.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Welcome with your application!