Vacant job

The Swedish Defence University is an internationally renowned institution in defense, crisis management, and security. We offer a unique academic environment where civilian meets military. We train civilian and military leaders, experts, and researchers who will analyze and manage today's and future crisis situations and security problems. The Swedish Defence University trains Sweden's officers and leads the academic development of the officer profession. We conduct research in law focusing on operational law and international law, defense systems, war science, leadership and management, military history, and political science.

Defense systems is a subject at the intersection of social sciences and engineering that examines how technical and social components affect the systems used for the defense and security of society. Within the subject of defense systems, both research and education address how military units with new material should be organized or how the next generation of combat aircraft should be designed to achieve the greatest possible air defense effect or other critical societal areas such as energy supply under stressful conditions. Please read more about the subject and our activities here: Defense Systems (https://www.fhs.se/utbildning/vara-amnen/forsvarssystem.html).

The Swedish Defence University hereby announces a position as a postdoctoral researcher focused on cyber defense and deterrence, located at the Department of Defense Systems in Stockholm.

Research Area

As cyber defense evolves, the need to better understand the opportunities and limitations of different types of cyber operations increases. An interesting question at the strategic and operational level concerns the relationship between cyber operations and deterrence, that is, the ability to persuade an adversary to refrain from or cease a certain action.

At a broad level, there are at least three interesting questions to ask: Can one's own cyber operations persuade an adversary to refrain from or cease cyber operations? Can one's own cyber operations persuade an adversary to refrain from or cease operations in other domains? Can one's own operations in other domains persuade an adversary to refrain from or cease cyber operations?

Responsibilities

You will, individually and in collaboration with other researchers at the Swedish Defence University, conduct research focused on cyber defense and deterrence. The area can be fruitfully studied from many perspectives and with different methods, such as literature reviews, mathematical game theory, case studies, close readings of doctrinal documents, experiments in connection with exercises, systematic comparisons with other areas such as nuclear deterrence, and more. Your own academic background and ideas about how the area should be studied will influence the design of the work.

You will disseminate your results in peer-reviewed scientific journals, at (international) conferences, and internal seminars. Administrative tasks and teaching-related duties may be included in your work, up to 20%.

Who are you?

We are looking for someone who has obtained a doctorate (or equivalent) by the time of hiring, in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, mathematics, economics, political science, international relations). You work independently and with precision. You have good communication skills and are proficient in English, both spoken and written.

Qualifications:

• Scientific publications on cyber defense
• Scientific publications using game-theoretical methods
• Military experience
• Experience in cybersecurity work at the policy level, for example at a regulatory authority, governmental inquiry, or insurance company
• Experience in practical work with international relations, for example at an embassy or intergovernmental organization
• Experience in legislative and other policy work, for example in parliament or government offices
• Proficiency in the Swedish language.

You thrive in the university's work community. You are present and active to perform your tasks in the best possible way. You share knowledge and contribute to the professional development, collegial working methods, and social community of the Swedish Defence University.

The Position

Fixed-term full-time (100%) employment for two years. Start date as soon as possible or by agreement.

The position is classified in a security class, which requires a successful security clearance with a background check. Applicants with Swedish citizenship or citizenship in another EU or NATO country are welcome.

Applicants who have obtained a doctorate no more than three years before the application deadline will be prioritized. If there are special reasons, such a degree may have been obtained earlier. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, union duties, service in total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or relevant service/assignments for the subject area.

Salary and Benefits

The Swedish Defence University applies individual salary setting.

Benefits for employees at the Swedish Defence University - FHS/Benefits/employee

Application

Your application should include:

• a personal letter with your motivation for applying for this position
• your CV including a publication list and (planned) date for your doctorate
• a research plan of max. 2 pages describing your research interest and approach to this project
• a description of specific projects relevant to the position in which you have participated
• your previous publications relevant to the position (max. 10)

Apply by following the link via the Swedish Defence University's recruitment system.

The complete application must be received by the Swedish Defence University no later than the application deadline at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Welcome with your application by March 4, 2026!

For contact with the employee organizations at the Swedish Defence University, please email [email protected], OFR/[email protected], and OFR/[email protected].

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance due to government procurement regulations.