Postdoctoral Position - WASP-HS project

Position
We invite applications for a two-year postdoctoral position at the Department of Sociology of Law at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lund in the context of the WASP-HS project “Vulnerability in the Swedish welfare state”, co-led by Associate Professor Jannice Käll and Guest Professor Sofia Ranchordas. The position should ideally start by no later than January 1, 2027.

Project Focus
Across Scandinavia, welfare states have become increasingly digitalized and automated over the past decades. This shift has led to significant improvements in public services, streamlined administrative decision-making processes, and enhanced the majority of government-citizen interactions. However, the digitalization and automation of welfare systems have also excluded thousands of citizens who lack the capacity to engage critically with digital technology. Moreover, digital tools have not been employed to address longstanding structural problems and inequalities. A substantial body of critical scholarship has highlighted the risks of algorithmic bias, the digital exclusion of individuals who already face barriers to accessing welfare rights, and the erosion of accountability resulting from reliance on opaque algorithmic processes. Yet, many aspects remain underexplored.

This postdoctoral project aims to investigate, from an empirical and interdisciplinary perspective, how digital technology both reflects and exacerbates underlying structural and systemic inequalities, shapes the politics and moral dimensions of the welfare state, and influences how Swedish public authorities perceive welfare recipients. In collaboration with other members of the project team, it will also explore—and potentially help develop—novel approaches by which Swedish public authorities seek to address these challenges, enhance citizen engagement, mitigate structural vulnerabilities, and empower individuals to navigate an increasingly automated welfare system.

Responsibilities

• Conduct empirical research (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) on how Swedish public authorities engage with citizens in the governance of welfare automation.
• Analyze how citizen participation initiatives address vulnerability, exclusion, and empowerment in the automated welfare state.
• Examine the legal and governance frameworks shaping the use of AI and ADM in welfare provision.
• Publish research in leading academic journals and contribute to the dissemination of findings within and beyond academia.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary research team working on law, vulnerability, socio-legal studies, and public administration.

Requirements

• A PhD (completed or near completion) in sociology of law, law, STS, political science, public administration, sociology, or related fields.
• Strong and demonstrated expertise in empirical research methods (e.g., interviews, ethnography, surveys, case study research).
• Demonstrated interest in vulnerability, welfare state governance, digitalisation, and citizen rights.
• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in Swedish (C1/C2) and English;
• Ability to work independently while contributing to an international, collaborative research environment.

We Offer

• A stimulating interdisciplinary research environment with opportunities to shape an emerging field of inquiry.
• The possibility to engage in the wide WASP-HS community and its interdisciplinary events.
• Funding for fieldwork in Sweden and participation in international conferences.
• Mentorship, publication support, and career development opportunities.
• Salary and employment conditions in accordance with university regulations.

Application
Please submit the following documents as a single PDF:

• Cover letter (max. 2 pages) outlining your motivation, research interests, and fit for the project.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.
• A writing sample (e.g., article, dissertation chapter).
• A research plan for your project (5 pages)
• Contact details of two academic referees.