PhD Candidate in Educational Work

We are now seeking a PhD candidate in educational work for the project: Socialization, Identity, and Epistemology in Vocational Education Practices

The project is part of a national graduate school with nine doctoral students and ten researchers, aimed at developing new knowledge about vocational education and training to strengthen future teacher educators based on scientific grounds.

The PhD project at Kristianstad University investigates how vocational identities are formed, negotiated, and reconsidered in teaching and workplace-based learning. The focus is on vocational socialization as an ongoing and reciprocal process where individuals become part of a professional collective while simultaneously developing epistemologies regarding practical, tacit, and theoretical knowledge. The PhD candidate is expected to contribute to the development of vocational didactic knowledge in collaboration with school authorities and the labor market, through methods, models, and empirical analyses that strengthen future vocational teacher education.

The project is linked to the graduate school FYSALIS – Graduate School for Vocational Didactics and School, Work Life, and Teacher Education in Collaboration, funded by the Swedish Research Council. The graduate school is based at Linnaeus University and is conducted in collaboration with Stockholm University, Umeå University, Malmö University, and Kristianstad University. The graduate school targets teacher educators within the vocational teacher program and has the overarching aim of strengthening the research base within vocational teacher programs by exploring vocational teaching and learning and developing knowledge about vocational didactics in collaboration between school authorities and representatives from the labor market. For more information about FYSALIS, see: FYSALIS (https://lnu.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/pedagogik/forskarskolan-for-yrkesdidaktik-och-skola-arbetsliv-och-lararutbildning-i-samverkan-fysalis/)

Job Responsibilities

As a PhD candidate, you will participate in the overall activities of the current research project, but also work independently on your own dissertation work, which includes mandatory elective courses. Your responsibilities also include oral and written scientific communication of research results.

If you are offered a position as a PhD candidate, you will be employed and have your workplace at Kristianstad University and will be admitted to the doctoral education in educational work at Kristianstad University. As a PhD candidate, you will be part of a seminar group with other doctoral students in the faculty's research environments. The education includes mandatory courses at Kristianstad University and elective courses that are often conducted at other institutions. Studies can be combined with a maximum of 20% institutional service, provided that space is available at the institution. For employment, it is required that you are admitted, or will be admitted, to doctoral education. HKR applies salary placement and salary development according to local agreements and strives for an even gender distribution and diversity.

You will be linked to one of the faculty's research environments depending on the project's design. At the Faculty of Teacher Education, research and education are conducted in a wide range of areas. To learn more about the faculty's research, see faculty research (https://www.hkr.se/forskning/).

Eligibility and Qualifications

To be eligible for admission to doctoral education, you must meet the requirements for basic and specific eligibility and have the necessary ability to complete the education.

You have basic eligibility through a completed master's degree or completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the master's level, or have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country (HF, Chapter 7, Section 39). For specific eligibility, it is required that you have basic eligibility, teacher education, and at least two years of pedagogical professional experience, or have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country (HF Chapter 7, Section 40).

In addition to the above, an assessment of the applicant's ability to benefit from the education will be of great importance. At Kristianstad University, the following assessment criteria are applied: previous academic results, the quality of previous independent work, motivation and expectations for the doctoral education, theoretical awareness, ability to benefit from supervision, ability to work independently, as well as linguistic and analytical ability. Documented experience of teaching in vocational programs at upper secondary school, adult education, or in vocational teacher education is meritorious. You should have an interest and goal to work within teacher education.

You have good computer skills and can communicate well both orally and in writing in Swedish and English. In the role of PhD candidate, it is important that you have a good ability to communicate and interact with different groups. You collaborate well with others, can work independently, are stable and creative. You take initiative, are flexible, structured, and pedagogical by adapting your message to the recipient.

Other Information

The start date is 2026-09-01 or by agreement. The position is full-time or another working degree by agreement. Regulations for employment as a PhD candidate can be found in the ordinance SFS 1993:100, Chapter 5. The employment concerns doctoral studies leading to a PhD. As a PhD candidate, you will receive a fixed-term employment covering four years of full-time studies regulated by HF Chapter 5, Sections 3 a, 7. The first employment may last for a maximum of one year. The employment may then be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. The education, which concludes with a PhD, comprises 240 higher education credits. In cases where institutional service occurs, the doctoral education must be extended accordingly.

Application

The application must include:

• CV/Resume
• A description of your motivations for applying for a PhD position within the framework of the research project and your expectations for the doctoral education in both subject and research area (maximum 3 pages, 12 points, 1.5 line spacing)
• Attach the works (master's thesis, reports, scientific articles, etc.) that you have completed.

The deadline for applications is 2026-03-01.

If you have questions, please contact:

About the project: Sara Lenninger, Associate Professor in Cognitive Semiotics
About the doctoral education: Anders Jönsson, Professor in Didactics, Director of Studies for Doctoral Education in Educational Work: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

If you have questions about how to submit your application, please contact the system's support at 0520-58 00 50 or via the support box.

See more PhD positions in educational work here (http://www.hkr.se/jobb).