Cultural Geography Department

The Cultural Geography Department is one of the departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University.

Project Description

The successful candidate will conduct research alongside an international team of geographers, planners, and architects. The Swedish part of the project is led by Professor Anders Wästfelt in a research project funded by the Swedish Energy Agency within the European program Driving Urban Transition.

The project is an international and interdisciplinary umbrella project in collaboration with researchers from Tallinn University (Jenni Partanen), the University of Lisbon (Teresa Marat-Mendes), and Concordia University in Montreal (Pierre Gauthier). The postdoctoral researcher will be based at Stockholm University and work on the project Hyping Agriculture and Transit (HAT) in 15-minute Cities (15mC) – Food-growing public transport-oriented communities driving urban transitions as green Proximity Oriented Developments (PODs).

The project examines both food production and distribution in Stockholm and the potential for new sustainable mobility models. Through historical geographic and morphological analyses of the city's changes and how food and transport systems have evolved, Stockholm is compared with two other European cities and Montreal in Canada. The postdoc will be responsible for the Swedish sub-study together with researchers at the Cultural Geography Department and KTH.

Responsibilities

The research task includes investigating geographical patterns of food production and distribution at various scales (regional and accessibility within 15 minutes) and independently conducting fieldwork for the Swedish sub-study, primarily using quantitative and qualitative geographic methods such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), time geography, typologies, etc. The study in Sweden will also focus on historical food supply in Stockholm and analyses of historical maps in relation to contemporary and future food supply. The candidate will also collaborate with architects, agritech startups, and other companies.

The work will be continuously discussed within the international research group. The work is expected to result in a series of publications, both as contributions to joint publications and a couple of research articles highlighting the Swedish part of the project. Additionally, some teaching in cultural geography may be included.

Eligibility Requirements

A postdoctoral researcher is defined as an employee primarily hired for research who has obtained a doctoral degree or has a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree.

Assessment Criteria

The degree must be obtained no later than when the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, the doctoral degree may have been obtained earlier. Special reasons include leave due to illness, parental leave, union duties, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or relevant assignments for the subject area.

In the appointment process, particular importance will be attached to scientific competence.

The applicant must demonstrate good research competence in cultural geography with the ability to conduct geo-historical analyses and spatial analyses in GIS software, as well as have a good understanding of land use and food supply. Previous studies of regional and urban analyses, the relationship between food production and consumption at the intersection of urban centers and rural hinterlands are meritorious.

Good knowledge of Swedish and English, both spoken and written, is a requirement.

About the Employment

The position is full-time and is permanent, but for at least two years and at most three years, with the possibility of extension if there are special reasons. Start date is 2025-03-01 or as agreed.

We Offer

Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free from discrimination and providing equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

For inquiries about the position, please contact project leader Anders Wästfelt, phone 08-16 48 56, email: [email protected].

Application

You apply for the position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the documents requested in the application form. You, as the applicant, are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete and that it reaches the university no later than the application deadline.

Instructions for applicants can be found on the website: https://www.su.se/om-universitetet/jobba-på-su/att-söka-en-anställning (https://www.su.se/om-universitetet/jobba-p%C3%A5-su/att-s%C3%B6ka-en-anst%C3%A4llning).

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