PhD Position at the Department of Geography, Media and Communication

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences announces a PhD position at the Department of Geography, Media and Communication.

The position focuses on place design.

At Karlstad University, tourism and place design have been established as a new profile aimed at developing research and knowledge on how places can be designed and developed to become sustainable and attractive environments with high quality of life. This profile aligns with the new initiative within the Tourism and Place Design program that started in the autumn semester of 2024.

Place design encompasses more than physical design and also includes cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions, which together contribute to creating sustainable and attractive places. An increasingly digitalized world places higher demands on relevant skills to plan, visualize, and communicate places in innovative, sustainable, and quality-of-life-enhancing ways. In place design, digital tools and methods such as visualization and interactivity are used to make places more accessible, engaging, and attractive for both residents and visitors.

Cultural geography research at Karlstad University has long focused on issues related to tourism geography, identity, culture, mobility and migration, spatial theory, media geography, digitalization, planning, and urbanization. The research at the department meets high international standards, and staff frequently publish articles in international journals, participate in international networks and conferences, and collaborate with the surrounding community. Several researchers and PhD students in the field are part of the interdisciplinary research group Geomedia, which is internationally unique and conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of geography and media. Geomedia explores the complex interactions between material, perceived, and imagined spaces in an increasingly fluid and mediated world.

Cultural geographers at Karlstad University are also active within the Centre for Research on Sustainable Societal Change, CRS, which hosts the graduate school in sustainable societal change. As a PhD student in cultural geography, you will be offered the opportunity to participate in the graduate school's activities and its supportive environment, where courses and seminars are also offered.

Job Responsibilities

As a PhD student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral education. The doctoral education, which consists of 240 ECTS for a doctoral degree and 120 ECTS for a licentiate degree, provides opportunities for advanced studies and an academic career. As a PhD student, you will work independently and be prepared to contribute in various ways to the subject's and department's work and development. It may be agreed that you participate in teaching and administration, known as departmental service. Such work may comprise a maximum of 20 percent of full working time. The work as a PhD student gives you great freedom to plan and structure your day. It requires commitment, self-drive, and the ability to organize to achieve your thesis goals. Experienced supervisors will support you along the way. To contribute to a good working environment and the development of the organization, you are present and participate in daily work and community.

Eligibility

To be admitted to the doctoral program, you must meet both general and specific eligibility requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 35).

General eligibility is held by those who have obtained a master's degree, completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the master's level, or who have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in other ways, within or outside the country (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 39).

Specific eligibility for admission to the doctoral program in cultural geography is held by those who have completed courses of at least 90 ECTS in cultural geography. Those who have acquired substantially equivalent education in other ways, within or outside the country, are also eligible for doctoral education in cultural geography.

Admission and Assessment Criteria

To be admitted to the doctoral program, you must be assessed to have the ability to benefit from the education (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

Of particular importance is your research plan and its relevance to tourism and place design. In your research plan, you outline your research idea and your intended dissertation project. It should include purpose, theory, method, and implementation plan. You must be proficient in English, both spoken and written. Previous work and/or education that has focused on place-making, place development, place design, or equivalent is meritorious.

We also value personal qualities such as good collaboration skills, sound judgment, responsibility, a positive attitude towards colleagues and students, and an intention to be present and participate in the subject's research environment.

HR Excellence in Research

Karlstad University received the HR Excellence in Research award in September 2020. This award is given to employers who provide a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and continuously work to develop these. The award demonstrates the institution's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more at https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r (https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r)