Postdoctoral Researcher in Product Innovation

Luleå University of Technology is experiencing strong growth with world-leading expertise in several research areas. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national, and regional companies, public actors, and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has an annual turnover of over 2.3 billion SEK. We have more than 1,800 employees and nearly 21,600 students. We are looking for someone with high ambitions in research, learning, and teaching for a postdoctoral position in product innovation.

Subject Description

Product innovation encompasses theories and methods for needs- and knowledge-driven development processes where product and service development are linked together.

Project Description

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will work within the research on digitalization as a strategic driver for sustainable product innovation in the manufacturing industry. The research examines how AI, IoT, digital twins, and data analytics can be integrated in the early stages of product and production development to develop resilient, circular, and long-term competitive solutions.

The starting point is the role of product innovation in the sustainable and digital transition. The focus is on how companies, in collaboration with system suppliers and other actors, can integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability into their development and production processes.

The work is conducted in close collaboration with industrial partners and contributes to knowledge development regarding the next generation of sustainable product and production systems.

Job Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of a postdoctoral researcher are primarily research. Teaching and pedagogical development work may be included in the responsibilities, with a maximum of one-fifth of the working time. You will participate in and actively contribute to collaboration with both national and international partners as well as with research groups within and outside Luleå University of Technology. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to participate in applying for external funding.

Qualifications

To be eligible for the position, a doctoral degree or equivalent foreign degree in the relevant research area is required. It is advantageous if your degree was obtained no more than three years before the application deadline for this position. If there are special reasons, those who obtained their doctoral degree earlier may also be considered, for example, due to various types of statutory leave.

Merits from collaboration with the community that the university is a part of, as well as national and international experience and mobility, are highly valued. You should be recognized and leading among junior researchers in your field and be able to demonstrate documented experience of research of very high quality. Good oral and written communication skills in English are required; Swedish is advantageous.

Great emphasis is also placed on suitability. Desirable personal qualities include good collaboration skills, initiative, interest in development work, and the ability and willingness to pursue an academic career.

Information

This position is for a full-time employment for two years with the possibility of extension for a maximum of three years. The workplace is Luleå. Expected start date is April 1, 2026.

For further information, please contact: subject representative for product innovation Anna Öhrwall Rönnbäck, 0920-49 3262, [email protected] or department head Jörgen Normark, 0920-49 1480, [email protected]

Union representatives:
SACO-S Diana Chroneer, 0920-49 2037 [email protected]
OFR-S Lars Frisk, 0920-49 1792 [email protected]

Application

We prefer that you apply for the position via the application button below, attaching a personal letter as well as a CV/resume and copies of verified degree certificates. Please label your application with the reference number below. Both the application and degree certificates should be written in Swedish or English. We would like you to describe your research profile in your application and how it complements our research subject and research questions.

Application deadline: March 13, 2026
Reference number: 2186-2026