Postdoctoral position in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Description of the workplace

The postdoc will be employed in the division of Engineering Logistics, Department of Industrial and Mechanical Sciences. We have approximately 15 employees. Here we teach and conduct research in the field of logistics and supply chain management. Our research addresses various aspects of strategy, design, planning and control, measurement and development of supply chains. Current research areas include supply chain preparedness and risk management, global and sustainable supply chains, retail distribution, automation technology for materials handling, purchasing and supplier development.

This position is part will be part of the newly formed Centre for Security of Supply Research (CenSSUR) at Lund University, financed by Myndigheten för Civilt försvar. The centre focuses on research related to security of supply, critical infrastructure and supply chains from a resilience, governance, and interdependency perspective. Other research centers to cooperate with are are FORCE (Center for Food Resilience and Competitiveness) as well as Centre for Preparedness and Resilience (campus Totalförsvar) and REAL (Center for Retail and Logistics).  

Subject description

Logistics and Supply Chain Management with a focus on private-public governance of Security of Supply.  

The research area is Supply chain mangement with a focus on Security of Supply, Critical Infrastructure protection, and private-public governance of critical supply chains. The research should develop frameworks and principles for increased joint cross-sectorial analysis of supply chain risks and disturbances. This includes qualitative and quantitative aspects of analyzing governance, risk mitigation (e.g. preparedness stock piling), governance mechanisms and incentives. The research will combine perspectives and methods from Supply chain risk management, Critical Infrastructure Resilience, Colloborative Governance, and Social Network Analysis.

The position is part of the research centre-of-excellence CenSSUR, financed by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF). The project studies roles and challenges for private-public governance of security of supply in general, and more specifically in the focused sectors food, transportation, and energy and their dependencies.

The partners in CenSSUR consists of Lund University, RISE and Stockholm University in collaboration with many societal actors such as authorities, critical infrastructure operators and consultant companies. Research will mainly be done together with professor Andreas Norrman (Division of Engineering Logistics, LU), professor Örjan Bodin (Stockholm University) and the Director for CenSSUR Jonas Johansson (Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety, LU).

Work duties

The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The purpose of the position is to develop the independence as a researcher and to create the opportunity of further development.

You will have the responsibility for studying and comparing how different governance mechanisms for Security of Supply develop within and between different sectors’ supply chains, especially how different actors get involved in different venues and how focused issues change.  You should develop theoretical frameworks, be responsible for data collection and analysis, and in collaboration with co-authors contribute to scientific articles. You will probably collect empirics both through interviews with actors in the Swedish preparedness system, and using surveys. Data collection and project meetings could require travelling in Sweden. You will collaborate with Swedish public authorities and companies. You will disseminate results at scientific conferences (1-2 per year). As part of the position, you would also take part in teaching, mainly in our international MSc-programme in Logistics and SCM, by supervising master student thesis writing and taking part in PhD-student supervision. 

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. The certificate proving the qualification requirement is met, must be received before the employment decision is made. Priority will be given to candidates who have graduated no more than three years ago before the last day for application. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• PhD exam in logistics, Supply Chain Management or similar
• Very good oral and written proficiency in Swedish and English.
• Knowledge and experience of the research field of Supply chain management
• Documented ability to conduct qualitative research studies (e.g. case studies) and/or Social Network Analysis
• Ability to conduct research work independently and systematically in a collaborative environment.
• Drive and ability to collaborate

Assessment criteria

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.
• Teaching skills.

Other qualifications:

• Ability to collect and analyze oral and written data from Swedish authorities and private actors in preparedness sectors
• Knowledge and experience from focused preparedness sectors food, transport and energy.
• Knowledge and experience of the research field of supply chain management
• Knowledge and experience of the research field Critical Infrastructure Resilience
• Knowledge of Collaboration theories
• Ability to conduct social network analysis, statistical analysis of surveys, or modelling of critical infrastructures.
• Knowledge and experience of crisis and preparedness management at local, regional or (inter-)national levels.
• Documented ability to publish in well-established scientific journals within logistics and Supply Chain Management.
• Experience of teaching on advanced level in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Experience of supervising master theses in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Consideration will also be given to 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.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee, Work for us.

Further information

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 2 years. Start October 1st or by agreement. The work place is in Lund. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”). The selection process will start in August.

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)”  

We welcome your application!

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