PhD Student in Sports Science

The Department of Health Sciences (HOV) at Mid Sweden University offers education and conducts research in areas such as public health science, sports science, medical science, nursing, and occupational health science.

The department has doctoral education in public health, rehabilitation, and sports science and is represented on campuses in both Sundsvall and Östersund. Mid Sweden University, Östersund campus, offers sports science education at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels. In addition to the sports science programs, there is also the National Winter Sports Centre (NVC), which is a modern and international testing and research environment with five specialized laboratories in physiology, biomechanics, and biomedicine, as well as extensive expertise and resources for field-based sports research. Physiological testing and research are conducted in close collaboration with athletes and sports federations, with a particular focus on winter sports such as cross-country skiing and biathlon. Additionally, research is conducted in several other sports.

The PhD program in Sports Science is seeking a doctoral student for a project that investigates how physiological and biomechanical factors affect performance in cross-country skiing and biathlon. The project involves data collection both in the testing lab at NVC and in the field at the ski stadium in Östersund. Possible research directions could include studying how tactical ability and pacing affect performance in both cross-country skiing and biathlon. Relationships between biomechanics, skiing economy, and/or speed could also be relevant research questions. The goal is to conduct practice-oriented research that directly benefits active athletes and coaches through increased research-based knowledge. The doctoral student is planned to be supervised by Associate Professor Erik Andersson as the main supervisor and Dr. Malin Jonsson Kårström as the co-supervisor, with the possibility of additional co-supervisors if needed.

Job Responsibilities

Independent doctoral education including research (80%) and teaching and administrative work (20%). Practical work in a laboratory environment is included, and regular physical presence on the Östersund campus for data collection and collaboration in the research group is expected.

Eligibility

Basic eligibility is met by those who have obtained a degree at the advanced level or completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or in some other way acquired equivalent knowledge within or outside the country. Specific eligibility is met by those who have at least 90 higher education credits in sports science, or a related field, or in some other way acquired equivalent knowledge within or outside the country. In addition, very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, is a requirement.

Personal Qualities

We are looking for a person who has good collaboration skills and enjoys working in a multidisciplinary team. You need to be flexible and able to adapt to changes in the project's direction. Attention to detail and analytical ability are important to ensure high quality in the research. We value initiative and a structured working style, as well as good communication skills to present and discuss research results with both researchers and practitioners in various sports environments. The ability to build trust and act professionally in applied sports environments is also significant.

Assessment Criteria

Crucial selection criteria for admission to doctoral education is the ability to benefit from doctoral education, assessed according to the following criteria:

• Documented scientific competence (e.g., abstract, publications) and relevant educational background.
• Quality and feasibility of the written research plan submitted with the application, as well as the project's relevance to the subject's competence and strategy.
• Interview, where we assess the candidate's ability to reason about research questions, methodological choices, and the project's relevance.
• Experience in data analysis, statistics, and/or programming.
• Personal qualities as described above.

In addition, consideration will also be given to the applicant's knowledge of Swedish, both spoken and written, previous experience in data collection in testing labs, and experience working in performance environments in sports as merits.

Processing

The preparation of the employment follows the procedures stated in Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance and proceeds in accordance with here (https://www.miun.se/medarbetare/styrdokument/ny-styrning-planering-och-uppfoljning/Personal/Anstalla-personal/?item=311447).

Employment and Start Date

The doctoral position corresponds to an employment of five years and is expected to lead to a doctoral degree. In addition to doctoral studies comprising 80% of full-time, teaching and administrative work of 20% will be included in the employment, corresponding to a full-time position. If the pace of study in the doctoral education changes, the employment period will be adjusted accordingly. A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year, and the employment may then be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. Regulations regarding employment as a doctoral student can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

Start date 2026-04-01 or by agreement.

Place of Employment

Östersund

Salary

According to Mid Sweden University's salary scale for doctoral students.

Information

Further information can be obtained from the project leader Erik Andersson ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])) or 010 142 88 63 and the deputy head Marko Laaksonen, [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

Application

Application documents must be in Swedish or English. Mandatory documents to be attached to the application are:

• Cover letter.
• CV (and any scientific publications).
• Degree certificate and other certificates referred to in the application system.
• Project description of a maximum of 17,000 characters including spaces (approximately five A4 pages).
• A letter of recommendation or indication of at least one reference person (e.g., university teacher or employer).

Welcome with your application via our recruitment system no later than 2026-02-20.