Postdoctoral Researcher in Media and Communication Studies

Södertörn University is an institution in Stockholm that educates, researches, and collaborates for sustainable societal development. Approximately 14,000 students study here across about 80 programs and over 300 courses. Education and research are conducted in the fields of humanities, social sciences, engineering, and natural sciences. The university also offers teacher education with an intercultural profile and police education. Much of the research focuses on issues related to the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe. At Södertörn University, subjects, perspectives, people, and experiences are mixed. Here, you will find the curious and the questioning, those seeking unexpected combinations, development, and challenges.

Media and Communication Studies (MCS) is part of the Department of Culture and Learning (IKL) at Södertörn University. MCS constitutes a research-intensive environment characterized by nationally and internationally oriented research and education based on social science and humanities. The profile of the subject at Södertörn University is to study the contemporary digital media society from a historicizing and critical perspective. MCS at Södertörn places some emphasis on interpretive perspectives and qualitative methods. The subject has more than twenty employees and conducts education at the basic level in programs and standalone courses, at the advanced level in a two-year master's program, and offers doctoral education in the field of Critical Cultural Theory. MCS collaborates with other subjects such as environmental science and is part of the teacher education at Södertörn University.

The research project “The Disappearing Paper: How Digitalization Reshapes Everyday Life and Society” (2025-03973_VR) investigates the gradual disappearance of paper-based media – a phenomenon we call infrastructural shift. We want to understand how this shift is implemented by politicians and companies, how it affects ordinary people in their daily lives, and what consequences it has for society at large. For certain groups, particularly the elderly and those living in rural areas, the digital transition can create problems, while others have the resources to adapt. The project studies two cases: 1) the transition from printed to digital news and 2) the reduction of mail delivery. We map political decisions, corporate strategies, and people's experiences through interviews and field studies at newspaper houses, distribution companies, and households in various parts of Sweden.

Job Responsibilities

A postdoctoral researcher's responsibilities primarily include research but may also involve the development of research activities and participation in the scientific community through commitments such as reviewer, expert, and speaker. A certain degree of teaching may be included in the job responsibilities, but no more than 20 percent of the total employment rate. Administrative tasks may also occur, such as project communication through the project’s website or social media channels, organization of research seminars and networking events. Teaching is conducted in Swedish and/or English.

In addition, tasks related to the research project “The Disappearing Paper: How Digitalization Reshapes Everyday Life and Society” will include:

• working as part of the research project and participating in its joint activities
• conducting an empirical project on changes in mail delivery
• presenting research results at (inter)national conferences
• publishing research results in academic channels and contributing to co-authored publications
• communicating research results to a non-academic audience
• conducting research that enables the achievement of the project’s goals
• organizing academic workshops and events
• contributing to other project-relevant activities

Employment

The position is temporary for 36 months with a workload of 80% starting in the autumn of 2026. There is some flexibility regarding the extent and period, where a higher workload results in a correspondingly shorter period. However, the workload cannot be lower than 80% or the end date later than 2029-08-31. Start date by agreement.

To see the full advertisement, follow the link to the advertisement on our website. There you will find information about eligibility requirements, assessment criteria, and how to apply.

Application

The deadline for applications is 2026-02-03.

Further Information

Lars Lundgren, Head of Department, [email protected]
Martina Sundström, HR Generalist/Personnel Officer, [email protected]

Welcome with your application!

On our website sh.se/ledigajobb there is a template for applications that applicants need to follow. Publications cited should be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or is received by Södertörn University after the application deadline may be rejected.

Union Contacts:

SACO: [email protected]
ST: [email protected]
SEKO: [email protected]
and Robert Lindberg [email protected]

Södertörn University has made a conscious choice of media for this recruitment, and we therefore ask for no contact with ad sellers or other sellers of recruitment services.

Common approach for employees and managers.