PhD in Sustainability science

Department: Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS)

The Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS) is an institute hosting research and education to address sustainability challenges with a critical perspective and solutions-based approaches. Our research projects focus on five sustainability themes: climate change & resilience, land-use governance & development, urban governance & transformation, energy justice & sustainability of energy systems and biodiversity & natural resource management. Our research is often conducted in national and international cooperation. LUCSUS strives to catalyse change, on both a local and a global level, for a more sustainable society and future. The educational programmes at LUCSUS include two Master programmes (LUMES & LUCAS)  and a PhD research school. The working language of LUCSUS is English. As of 1 January 2019, LUCSUS is part of the Social Sciences faculty at Lund University.

Sustainability Science PhD programme

The PhD programme in sustainability science consists of 240 credits (equivalent to four years of full-time studies); it concludes with the public defence of a doctoral thesis. The appointed doctoral student will receive a salary from the University for the four years, where their primary obligation is to complete the PhD studies. The PhD position also may involve departmental duties, mainly in the form of teaching of up to 20 per cent of full time working hours, in which case the position appointment will be extended by the equivalent number of hours. The doctoral student will have access to a work space at LUCSUS, and is expected to be based full-time in Lund. The terms of employment for doctoral students are regulated in the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (HF), Chapter 5, Sections 1– 7.

The research project on the role of finance in shaping (dis)orderly energy transitions

The successful candidate will conduct their research as part of the FORMAS-funded project ‘(Dis)orderly transitions: The financial sector's role in shaping just energy transitions’. The starting point for the project is the COP28 agreement which identified that a move away from fossil fuels should take place in a “just, orderly, and equitable manner.” The aim of this project is to critically analyse this idea of an ’orderly transition’. More specifically, the project focuses on identifying and analysing how actors in the financial sector try to implement an ’orderly transition’ away from fossil fuels through the use of specific financial instruments and practices that try to make the future knowable, trajectories towards it manageable, and outcomes controllable. Based on this, the project will advance conceptual and empirical understanding of how attempts to impose order in transitions can be understood as expressions of power, with potential winners and losers.

The project is a collaboration between researchers in Sweden and Canada and builds on a strong critical social science tradition, particularly economic sociology and political economy. It is envisioned that the successful PhD candidate will conduct qualitative fieldwork with financial actors in Scandinavia to investigate how financial instruments (such as transition bonds and green taxonomies) try to impose order in energy transitions by shaping time horizons, uncertainty, and risk distribution. A longer description of the research project can be provided upon request.

General qualifications

The requirements for admission to third cycle courses and study programmes (in accordance with HF, Chapter 7, Section 35) are that the applicant:

• meets the general and specific entry requirements that the higher education institution may have laid down, and
• is considered in other respects to have the ability required to benefit from the course or study programme (Swedish Code of Statutes 2010:1064).

A person meets the general entry requirements for third cycle courses and study programmes if (s)he:

• has been awarded a second cycle qualification by the start of the appointment (1st of January, 2027),
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or internationally.

Required qualifications

The main research tasks for the position will be linked closely to the broader project’s objectives (briefly outlined above). The successful candidate will carry out independent and interdisciplinary research on attempts to implement an orderly transition away from fossil fuels investments, and resistance to this. Data collection could involve interviews, participant observation at industry events, and document analysis. The main geographical focus for the PhD position will be on Scandinavia and the PhD candidates will have to engage with stakeholders in the region through e.g. interviews.

The ideal PhD candidate for the position will have the following specific qualifications:

• A Master degree in Sustainability Science, Human Geography, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, or a related field
• A strong interest in critical social science approaches as documented for example by previous engagements (e.g. in the Master thesis) with political economy, economic sociology, science and technologies studies, or similar
• A strong and documented interest in climate, energy and/or finance-related research  
• Experience with conducting qualitative research
• Ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary and international research team and environment
• Excellent skills in written and spoken English
• Enthusiasm to contribute to teaching and departmental life at LUCSUS

Desired qualifications

In addition, the following qualifications strengthen a candidate’s profile:

• Good skills in written and spoken Swedish or another Scandinavian language
• Familiarity with social constructivist or relational approaches, particularly in relation to topics relevant to the project, such as the making of financial markets; understandings of risk; and/or future-making
• Experience with research methods relevant to the project (e.g., interviews, discourse analysis, stakeholder mapping)
• Conducting research with, and producing outputs for, diverse stakeholders such as investors, policy makers and NGOs
• Experience with scientific publishing

We do not expect candidates to have all the desired qualifications already, so do consider applying if you have only one, or some, of these.

Assessment criteria

Only applicants who are eligible for third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Admission is primarily to be based on the applicant’s ability to benefit from the third cycle programme.

The applicants will be assessed based on the criteria named above and, in particular, their ability to conduct independent research and their ability and interest to contribute to a new and developing research field. As third cycle studies in sustainability science are demanding, the applicant must be highly motivated and able to work independently under multiple time constraints. Good collaboration and communication skills are also required, as is proficiency in written and spoken English. Scandinavian language skills are an advantage, but not a requirement.[Bv2] 

Application procedure

Applications are to be submitted electronically via the Lund University application portal. The application must include:

• A cover letter in English of max. 2000 words. This should contain a brief presentation of yourself, your motivation and qualifications for carrying out PhD research. The letter should also contain a statement on why you would like to work on this specific project, how your qualifications make you suitable for the position (with reference to the specific qualifications listed above), and what individual interests and priorities you would like to pursue within the project’s overall aims if your application were successful.
• A CV in English (2 pages max) that demonstrates your qualifications for the third cycle (PhD) programme in Sustainability Science (including publications, if relevant)
• Degree and grade certificates.
• A copy of your degree thesis/theses, corresponding to at least 30 credits (30 credits Master’s degree thesis, or 15 credits Master’s degree thesis plus 15 credits Bachelor's degree thesis).
• Name and contact information of three professional references (note: letters of reference are not required in the first stage of application).