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Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest institutions of higher education with over 37,000 students and approximately 4,700 employees. The university offers a variety of high-quality programs and world-leading research in several fields of science, and it was here that the groundbreaking discovery of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, collaborate, and exchange knowledge, fostering a dynamic and open culture.

The societal transformation and significant green investments we see in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, this means conducting research on – and within – a society in transformation. It is also about delivering education for regions that need to expand quickly and sustainably. Simply put, this is where the future is created.

Are you interested in learning more? https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/om-universitetet-som-arbetsplats/ (https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/om-universitetet-som-arbetsplats/)

The Unit for Demography and Aging Research (CEDAR) at Umeå University is seeking a project assistant for the project “The Effect of Unemployment on Family Members' Health” (HEALFAM), funded by the European Research Council (ERC) and led by Professor Anna Baranowska-Rataj.

The position is full-time and is a fixed-term employment for up to 5 months, starting on January 1, 2026, or by agreement.

Project Description and Responsibilities The purpose of the HEALFAM project is to investigate how job loss affects the health of partners, children, and elderly parents of unemployed individuals, and whether the extent of the impact varies between families and communities. The HEALFAM team evaluates the consequences of unemployment for family members through a multi-actor perspective and an internationally comparative approach.

As a project assistant, your responsibilities will include planning and conducting research in collaboration with project members, attending meetings and seminars at CEDAR. You will be specifically involved in the part of the HEALFAM project that examines the effects of adult children's unemployment on parents' health using data from a longitudinal study on health and aging. Some analyses will also be conducted with registry data.

For more information about the HEALFAM project, please visit the website: https://sites.google.com/view/healfam/home (https://sites.google.com/view/healfam/home)

Qualifications We are looking for someone with a PhD in sociology. You have documented knowledge in demography and experience using advanced statistical methods. The work requires good proficiency in spoken and written English.

We place great emphasis on your personal qualities, such as good collaboration and communication skills. Physical presence at the workplace and participation in the research environment's joint activities are also expected of you.

It is advantageous if you have experience analyzing quantitative longitudinal data, such as the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) or registry data, as well as the ability to conduct academic presentations in English. Experience working in an interdisciplinary environment is desirable, as is working on ERC projects similar to HEALFAM.

Application Can be written in Swedish or English - A complete CV, including a list of publications and conference contributions. - A copy of your degree certificate - A personal letter describing what you can contribute to the HEALFAM project - Other documents that the applicant wishes to invoke - Contact information for at least two referees.

Applications should be made via the e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted no later than December 26, 2025.

For further information about the position, please contact the principal investigator Anna Baranowska-Rataj ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])).

Conditions The position is a fixed-term full-time employment for 5 months with a start date of January 1, 2026, or by agreement. The place of work is Umeå.

More about us At CEDAR, interdisciplinary research is conducted on demographic change and aging at the individual and societal level over a long time perspective. Research on aging encompasses both the opportunities and challenges posed by an older population, as well as the effort to understand aging processes from a life course perspective.

A central theme is the transformation from a young to an aging society and how people's living conditions are shaped by aging or when the population structure transforms. Other central themes concern demographic processes both in the present and historical times, as well as how the living situation and living conditions for vulnerable groups change over time.

At CEDAR, there are several large databases, and the majority of researchers at CEDAR use registry data, survey data, or longitudinal population data for their research. Research is conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods, although quantitative research predominates.

At CEDAR, there are also two of the Swedish Research Council's national infrastructures: SHARE and SwedPop. CEDAR plays an active role in several national and international networks, and the research conducted has a high degree of internationalization. Researchers at CEDAR publish annually significant contributions to research on population changes in both historical and modern times, focusing on demographic aging and the living conditions and participation of the elderly in societal life.

For more information about CEDAR, please visit our website: https://www.umu.se/enheten-for-demografi-och-aldrandeforskning/ (https://www.umu.se/enheten-for-demografi-och-aldrandeforskning/)

Umeå University aims to provide an equal and inclusive environment where open conversations between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity, and development. We therefore welcome individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current position.

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