Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainability Science: Social Justice and Extreme Climate Events

About the Role 

We invite applications for a two-year postdoctoral position at the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS), Sweden. The post doc will be affiliated with the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (CLIMES), a national Centre of Excellence involving Lund University, Uppsala University, and RISE. CLIMES is dedicated to interdisciplinary research on the wide-ranging impacts of climate extremes, supporting international collaboration, policy engagement, and knowledge co-production.

This position focuses on the social justice dimensions of extreme climate events, with a particular emphasis on coastal communities and urban populations facing intensifying extreme and slow onset events. The successful candidate will contribute to LUCSUS’s research on  loss and damage, examining how slow-onset and extreme events intersect with questions of power, responsibility, and mobilisation.

We are especially interested in applicants with experience or interest in:

Storylines and political imaginaries of adaptation and justice; Systematic reviews of research on vulnerability, legal mobilisation, and environmental justice; Socio-legal approaches to climate impacts, including public responses, legal claims, and policy accountability mechanisms.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to novel methodological development that links lived experiences with legal, infrastructural and political framings of loss and damage. The geographic focus is Sweden (especially coastal and urban regions), but comparative or global perspectives are welcomed.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Emily Boyd and collaborate closely with researchers at Lund University, Uppsala University, and RISE Stockholm.

Position Instructions

Research Focus (90% time)

The main research tasks for the position will be linked closely to the broader project objectives. The successful candidate will carry out collaborative and interdisciplinary research that involves desk-based and empirical methods as well as engagement with actors and users of our science and case study work related to ongoing projects in Sweden. This includes reviewing interdisciplinary literature on social vulnerability, legal mobilisation, and loss and damage - with special attention to coastal impacts (e.g. sea level rise, erosion, retreat) and heatwaves (e.g. urban inequality, public health impacts, housing). Co-developing climate storylines that explore future imaginaries of justice, adaptation, and policy response - grounded in empirical research with immobile, structurally excluded, and other diverse communities, including those traditionally perceived as less vulnerable, such as affluent or privileged populations who may face unexpected vulnerabilities. Contributing to Swedish case studies on how legal, institutional, and community responses shape the experience and recognition of climate loss - including socio-legal mobilisation and local advocacy. And exploring how societal and cultural values (e.g. around nature, place, health, or ageing) influence adaptation pathways and perceptions of climate responsibility.

Specifically background qualifications include:

We seek a researcher with strong theoretical and empirical expertise in the complex social dimensions of climate extremes, focusing on coastal and inland regions experiencing ecological and land loss. The successful candidate will demonstrate deep knowledge of climate and environmental justice theories, including frameworks of recognition, representation, and redistribution, alongside a nuanced understanding of the diverse and intersectional societal drivers of environmental change and vulnerability. This includes recognising that vulnerability to climate extremes affects not only marginalised and immobile populations but can also encompass affluent or privileged groups who may be more vulnerable than commonly assumed due to social, psychological, or place-based factors. Methodologically, the candidate should be proficient in interdisciplinary approaches such as narrative/storytelling methods, intersectional analysis, and participatory research, and committed to collaborative engagement with both academic and non-academic stakeholders. The role requires theoretical competence to critically engage with socio-legal mobilisation frameworks and to investigate how diverse communities negotiate, resist, and adapt to heatwaves and other climate extremes, contributing to transformative sustainability pathways grounded in justice across all dimensions.

Administrative and Service Focus (10% time)

The main administrative responsibilities include project coordination and reporting, contributing to coordinating workshops, funders reports and producing outreach materials for stakeholders. The postdoctoral researcher will also engage in science communication activities, such as maintaining regular updates on project progress via the website and social media channels.

The successful candidate will have opportunities to contribute to teaching, especially on societal dimensions of climate change.

The ideal candidate will have the following specific qualifications:

A PhD in sustainability science, geography, political ecology, or a related field. A demonstrated publication record and proven academic writing skills, including leading the preparation of well-argued, clearly written scientific manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. Evidence of successful interdisciplinary collaboration. Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary, inclusive, and international research team. Experience conducting fieldwork with an awareness of research ethics and working collaboratively with stakeholders and research teams in remote communities. Enthusiasm for teaching and student engagement. Language skills in English and Swedish

Desired Qualifications
The following will strengthen a candidate’s profile:

Experience with qualitative, ethnographic, or participatory research methods, as well as policy engagement and workshop facilitation. Familiarity with relevant theories and concepts, such as vulnerability, intersectionality, imaginaries, and storylines. Experience managing research teams, including supervision of students or research assistants. Skills in popular science writing and communication, including blogs and social media.

The Postdoctoral researcher is a 2 year position.

Welcome with your application!

All applications for this position must go through our recruitment system, Varbi. We do not accept applications by email.

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to contribute to the LUCSUS–CLIMES project, focusing on the social impacts of climate extremes in Sweden, particularly through the lens of coastal loss, heatwaves, socio-legal mobilisation, storylines, and intersectional approaches to vulnerability. We welcome proposals that critically engage with these themes and demonstrate both methodological awareness and alignment with the project’s broader objectives.

Application Components

A complete application consists of:

Cover Page (max. 1 page):
A short motivation outlining your interest in the position and how it aligns with your future career goals. Include your name and contact information. CV:
Detailing your academic and professional background, including relevant research, interdisciplinary experience, and public communication. List of Publications:
Please separate peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and popular science or outreach publications. Research Proposal (max. 1000 words, Times New Roman 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, 2.5 cm margins):
The proposal should demonstrate how your research aligns with the goals of LUCSUS–CLIMES and contribute to understanding and addressing the social dimensions of climate extremes. The proposal must include: Project title (max. 20 words) Abstract (max. 150 words) Research questions or hypotheses Relevance to LUCSUS–CLIMES key themes Research plan and methods (including feasibility) Expected outcomes and significance

We encourage proposals that integrate interdisciplinary methods such as storytelling, intersectional analysis, socio-legal engagement, and/or stakeholder collaboration.

Please include names and contact information for three academic or professional references who can speak to your professional and teamwork abilities. At least one should be a former or current research supervisor.