Vacant job

Description

The Department of Cultural Geography is a medium-sized department at Uppsala University.

We conduct research and teach in many areas within cultural geography. Today, nearly 45 people are employed at the department.

The Department of Cultural Geography is now announcing two PhD positions in cultural geography. The positions will commence on September 1, 2026, and are funded for four years as doctoral employment. The doctoral education comprises 240 higher education credits (4 years), of which the doctoral thesis constitutes 180 credits and courses a total of 60 higher education credits.

The department has several of the central fields of cultural geography represented (including urban planning), and we have expertise in many different methods, both qualitative and quantitative, as well as GIS and spatial analysis. We encourage all interested parties to visit our website to see what types of research directions and supervisory competencies are available here (see https://www.uu.se/institution/kulturgeografiska/kontakt (https://www.uu.se/institution/kulturgeografiska/kontakt)). The applicant does not need to contact potential supervisors. All applications are written individually by the applicant and do not need to be pre-approved by any staff member at the department.

Job Duties

A PhD candidate will primarily focus on their own education at the doctoral level (4 years full-time). Other duties at the department may include teaching and administrative work (up to 20 percent).

Position 1: Housing and Urban Geography

This position is located at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF), and the selected candidate is expected to conduct research related to housing and/or urban geography. Additionally, they will participate in the regular doctoral education at the Department of Cultural Geography. More information about IBF's activities is available at https://www.uu.se/institution/bostads-och-urbanforskning/ (https://www.uu.se/institution/bostads-och-urbanforskning/).

Position 2: Political Ecology

This position, based at the Department of Cultural Geography, is focused on political ecology, including feminist and decolonial political ecology. However, we welcome applications for all types of projects with a political-ecological focus.

Qualifications

Eligible for doctoral education in cultural geography is someone who has 1) completed a Master's degree in cultural geography; or 2) completed at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, including an independent project of at least 15 higher education credits; or 3) acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way.

For admission, it is also required that the applicant is assessed to have the ability otherwise needed to complete the doctoral education. The qualification requirements do not need to be met when the application deadline expires, but must be met no later than June 30, 2026.

Application Procedure

A recruitment group will make a preliminary selection through a review of submitted documents and after contacting the cited referees. A group of applicants will then be invited for an interview with some representatives from the doctoral program, after which a final assessment will be made. Interviews are planned to take place during April. The results of the admission process will be communicated individually sometime in May 2026. Criteria for assessing applicants are described on our website (https://www.uu.se/institution/kulturgeografiska/utbildning/forskarutbildning (https://www.uu.se/institution/kulturgeografiska/utbildning/forskarutbildning)).

Applications for admission must be made via the link at the bottom of the page and must include:

• A personal letter (max 2 pages). The letter gives you an opportunity to present yourself to us in a personal, and possibly creative, way. Here you can tell us who you are and explain why you are interested in cultural geography as an academic subject. We also want you to highlight why you are interested in becoming a PhD candidate at the Department of Cultural Geography in Uppsala.
• CV (Curriculum Vitae), including your educational background and previous work experience.
• A brief description (3-4 pages, including references) of the applicant's intended research plan. This includes a background/introduction to your intended research project, the question(s) you would like to investigate, a justification of why it is important, a brief overview of relevant literature and how your project can contribute to it, as well as a description of the method(s) you plan to use.
• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts that support the basic and specific eligibility, with information about courses and grades.
• One (or more) copies of the independent academic works authored by the applicant, in Swedish or English.
• Contact details for two academic referees (but not the reference letters themselves).

Inquiries about the position can be made to the director of doctoral studies, David Jansson. Tel. 072–999 9155. Email: [email protected].

Other

Regulations regarding doctoral studies can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, Sections 1-7, as well as in the university's rules and guidelines (http://regler.uu.se (http://regler.uu.se)) and in the General Study Plan for doctoral education in cultural geography, Uppsala University (https://www.uu.se/download/18.773af7981919740a5cc20f8f/1725373119581/SAMFAK 2021-166 Allmän studieplan kulturgeografi.pdf (https://www.uu.se/download/18.773af7981919740a5cc20f8f/1725373119581/SAMFAK%202021-166%20Allm%C3%83%C2%A4n%20studieplan%20kulturgeografi.pdf)).

About the Position

The position is temporary, according to HF Chapter 5, Section 7. The extent is full-time. Start date is September 1, 2026, or by agreement. Place of employment: Uppsala.

We welcome your application by March 16, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/58

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/)

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment in the case of security clearance is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - [email protected], Seko - [email protected], ST (OFR/S) - [email protected]