PhD Candidate in Economic History

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked as one of the world's leading universities. There are about 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We unite in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of people.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Gender equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

The School of Economics and Management at Lund University is an internationally renowned business school that holds triple accreditation. We operate in an international environment and offer sought-after programs at both undergraduate and master's levels. The School has close collaboration with companies and authorities both nationally and internationally. We care about a good, stimulating work environment and continuously work to develop as an attractive employer.

The Department of Economic History is research-intensive and employs about 100 people: researchers, teachers, technical/administrative staff, and doctoral students.

The department has a comprehensive doctoral education and coordinates three international master's programs. It has a well-established reputation for its broad research with an emphasis on long-term processes, and with economic theory and quantitative methods as important research tools. Strong research areas include economic growth and structural change, innovation, energy and sustainability, development economics, economic demography, financial history, as well as education and labor markets. More information can be found on the department's website http://www.ekh.lu.se (http://www.ekh.lu.se).

Job Responsibilities

The person employed as a PhD candidate will primarily engage in their own doctoral education, which is intended to lead to a doctoral degree. The work includes participation in research projects as well as successful participation in doctoral education courses. To a limited extent, the employment may include some teaching or other departmental duties at the Department of Economic History. The extent of this service may amount to a maximum of 20 percent of full working time.

The PhD position is linked to the research project 'Birthing Inequity: Legacies of Colonial Maternal Health and Child Welfare Services in Africa'. The PhD candidate will work on this project together with other project members.

Eligibility

Basic eligibility for doctoral education is met by those who have:

• completed a degree at the advanced level, or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or
• acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.

(Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 7, Section 39)

Specific eligibility for each subject area at the doctoral level is specified in the general study plans, see http://www.lusem.lu.se/study/phd (http://www.lusem.lu.se/study/phd).

Other Requirements

Good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, is a requirement. Demonstrated quantitative skills are required, and good skills in data processing and statistical programming (STATA/R) are considered advantageous.

Assessment Criteria

Recruitment is primarily based on the applicant's ability to benefit from the doctoral education, see the study program for doctoral education in economic history. https://www.lusem.lu.se/study/phd (https://www.lusem.lu.se/study/phd)

The assessment of ability according to the first paragraph is primarily based on the study results at the undergraduate and advanced levels.

The following aspects are considered:

• Quality and content of the applicant's previous work, such as a master's thesis.
• Ability to actively participate in the department's research environment.
• Ability to conduct independent scientific work.
• Experience and interest in using econometric methods, GIS, and AI tools for data transcription.
• Experience or interest in working with survey data, e.g., DHS.
• Ability for written and oral communication.
• Relevant educational background, for example in economic history, demography, economics, geography, as well as global or public health.

Other experiences relevant to doctoral education, e.g., work experience.

We are interested in applicants with a strong commitment to understanding the drivers behind long-term economic development in Africa, particularly those with quantitative skills, experience with survey data, and a strong interest in health issues.

Project

This research project examines how colonial investments in maternal care continue to impact health outcomes today. Despite progress, maternal and infant mortality remains high in parts of Africa, with significant inequalities in access to healthcare and trust in care. By combining historical documents with contemporary survey data, the project traces the development of state-provided maternal health services across various colonies. It investigates the long-term effects of political decisions and investments on fertility trends, population dynamics, and health disparities. The PhD candidate will contribute to uncovering historical connections and their significance for contemporary challenges in maternal and child health in the region.

Read the full advertisement here: https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:808817/ (https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:808817/)

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