Vacant job

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading universities. It has approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of humanity.

Lund University welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Gender equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all aspects 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 the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. The School of Economics and Management has close collaborations with businesses and authorities both nationally and internationally. We strive for a positive, stimulating work environment and continuously work to develop as an attractive employer.

Lund University, School of Economics and Management, Department of Economic History

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's top universities.

The university has approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of humanity.

Lund University welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We see gender equality and diversity as strengths and assets.

The School of Economics and Management at Lund University is one of eight faculties within the university. Education and research in economic history, business administration, commercial law, informatics, economics, statistics, and research policy are conducted here by more than 4,000 students and 450 researchers, teachers, and other staff.

The School of Economics and Management is accredited by the three largest and most influential accreditation bodies for business schools: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. Only about 100 business schools worldwide have achieved this prestigious Triple Crown accreditation.

The Department of Economic History has a well-established reputation for broad research programs focusing on long-term processes, where economic theory and quantitative methods are important tools. The research addresses socially relevant issues and has a strong international publication profile. The department is very successful in obtaining external funding – more than 80 percent of the budget is allocated to research.

The staff group is young and international, with representatives from around 30 countries. The department's researchers have extensive international networks and actively participate in international conferences. There is a close relationship between strong research areas and the development of teaching.

As a government authority, Lund University offers special benefits, generous vacation, and a favorable occupational pension. Wellness grants and a paid wellness hour are included.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Economic History

The Department of Economic History is seeking two postdoctoral researchers for the Wallenberg Academy Fellow project Diseases on the Move: Understanding Long-Term Disease Patterns in Africa, 1850–1960. The project is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and runs until July 2028. It is led by Professor Jutta Bolt and aims to map the historical dynamics of diseases in Africa and analyze how colonial governments attempted to combat major epidemics.

The project is based on a unique historical source material: the annual colonial medical reports from both French and British colonies, which have largely already been digitized. The postdoctoral researchers will work on various subprojects related to diseases and the development of healthcare, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, where GIS and spatial analysis are central elements. An important part of the work will be to investigate the effectiveness of colonial health policy interventions over time and space by linking observed disease patterns to underlying geographical and socioeconomic factors such as rivers, elevation, trade routes, settlement patterns, and precipitation. This aspect involves the use of spatial statistics and time-space modeling in GIS and/or statistical software (e.g., R) to visualize and analyze the spread and control of diseases in colonial Africa.

The postdoctoral researchers will work closely with the project leader and other project members, contribute to joint publications, and develop their own research agenda within the project's framework. The position may involve a minor amount of teaching and/or supervision at the undergraduate or master's level.

Eligibility/Qualifications

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher, the applicant must have a doctoral degree in economic history or a related field (e.g., economics, economic geography, statistics, history) obtained within the last three years. If there are special reasons, such a degree may have been obtained earlier. Applications are also accepted from individuals who have not yet obtained their doctoral degree, but the requirement must be fulfilled at the time of employment.

Requirements

• High degree of scientific competence
• Very good knowledge of English

Assessment Criteria

The applicant must have demonstrated a high degree of research competence, which should be evident from the quality of the doctoral thesis and/or publications. Documented experience working with colonial documents and data as well as experience with GIS is required, as well as documented experience in data management and statistical analysis using STATA or R.

In the selection process, personal qualities such as collaboration skills, academic independence, and communication skills will also be considered.

Application

The application must be written in English and include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Publication list and relevant certificates
• Two letters of recommendation

Lund University promotes gender equality and equal opportunities. We encourage both men and women to apply for this position.

Application deadline: December 13, 2025

Employment Conditions

Start date: March 1, 2026, or by agreement

Employment type: Fixed-term employment, two years

Extent: 100%

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