PhD Candidate for Licentiate Degree in Humanity in the Welfare Society

We are looking for a PhD candidate for our doctoral education in the field of Humanity in the Welfare Society.

The candidate will be part of a research project in civil society science focusing on employers within the civil society. The overall aim of the project is to contribute to a deeper understanding of employers' conditions, prerequisites, and experiences in non-profit organizations.

Research in civil society science with a focus on organizing, governance, and management of non-profit activities is based on theoretical perspectives and understandings of individuals, organization, and society that have primarily developed within social science disciplines such as sociology, national and business economics, political science, social work, and political history. The subject area also encompasses more critically oriented theoretical frameworks, including feminist theory and critical management theory, which contribute central aspects regarding power, representation, and societal change.

The candidate will, within the framework of their dissertation work, study employers' conditions, prerequisites, and experiences in non-profit organizations. Possible thematic approaches for the current licentiate project include digitalization and technological change in civil society; strategic governance and management from the perspective of managers and leaders; employers' conditions in comparative perspective; organizational culture, leadership practices, and work environment; HRM practices specific to the non-profit sector; emotional labor and affective engagement; sustainability and climate responsibility as governance practice; diversity and representation among employees; non-profit organizations as places for experimental work forms; civil society as an arena for resistance and social change.

The doctoral education at Marie Cederschiöld University is conducted in accordance with the degree objectives in the Higher Education Ordinance.

Eligibility

To be admitted to the doctoral education in the field of Humanity in the Welfare Society, basic and specific eligibility and the ability to benefit from the education are required, see the university's admission regulations here (https://www.mchs.se/forskning/forskarutbildning.html).

Basic eligibility is held by those who have:

• completed a degree at an advanced level
• fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level or
• acquired equivalent knowledge in other ways.

Specific eligibility consists of completed course requirements of at least 30 higher education credits in subjects relevant to the respective doctoral education subject at an advanced level, of which at least 15 higher education credits consist of an independent project at an advanced level, or equivalent knowledge.

It is particularly meritorious for applicants to have previous engagement and/or work experience from the non-profit sector and documented good knowledge of employers and their conditions and prerequisites in civil society organizations.

Furthermore, you have:

• Good collaboration skills
• Good ability to prioritize and structure your tasks
• Good ability to express yourself verbally and in writing in Swedish and English
• The ability to contribute to a good and healthy work environment

Decision on PhD Employment

Decisions on employment will be made in conjunction with decisions on admission to the doctoral education in Humanity in the Welfare Society.

Employment Conditions

The employment is a fixed-term position as a PhD candidate. The total employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for two years. The scope of the employment is 100%.

The salary for the PhD position follows a fixed salary scale based on achieved activity within the doctoral education. The starting salary is 31,500 SEK per month.

Application

Applications are made via the university's recruitment system, Varbi. For more information about admission and doctoral education, visit our website here (https://www.mchs.se/forskning/forskarutbildning.html).

The application should be accompanied by the following attachments:

• Personal letter explaining why you are applying for the doctoral education, Humanity in the Welfare Society, the subject of civil society science at Marie Cederschiöld University, and the current project
• Application for assessment of eligibility (form see here (https://www.mchs.se/forskning/forskarutbildning.html))
• CV with degrees, work experience, and other relevant merits
• Certificates confirming eligibility for doctoral education. Foreign degrees and course certificates should normally be validated by the Swedish Council for Higher Education
• Master's thesis
• Research sketch/draft project plan for the licentiate work containing the following headings: background, problem formulation, purpose, method, and expected significance of the project (maximum word count: 3000)

Deadline for applications: 2026-02-01

After processing applications, a selection of candidates will be invited for an interview. All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed. Welcome with your application!

Inquiries

Responsible Researcher
Johan Hvenmark
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Phone: 076-636 51 31

Civil Society Science
Professor Johan von Essen
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Phone: 076-636 51 28

Program Director
Linda Jonsson
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Phone: 070-552 27 19

Study Administrator
Anna Lögdberg
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Phone: 076-636 50 38

For union information
Chair of the local SULF association
Elisabeth Christiansson Drake
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Phone: 076-636 50 79

For information from the PhD association
Chair of the PhD association: Josephine Ganebo-Skantz
Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Marie Cederschiöld University is a workplace and an educational institution characterized by an open and inclusive approach, where equality and equal opportunities add value to our activities.

Marie Cederschiöld University has made a conscious choice of media for this recruitment and therefore requests no contact with advertising sellers or other sellers of recruitment services.

At Marie Cederschiöld University, research is conducted in the humanities, social sciences, and health sciences. The university's doctoral education exists in the field of Humanity in the Welfare Society with three doctoral subjects; health sciences, social work, and civil society science. The university also offers education at undergraduate and advanced levels in health sciences, social work, and theology, as well as commissioned education. The university changed its name in 2022 to Marie Cederschiöld University from the previous Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University.