Guest Researcher in Child and Youth Sports

Description
The National Center for Child and Youth Sports (NFBU) is an interdisciplinary research environment at Karlstad University focusing on children's and young people's sports, movement, and health.

The center conducts research on topics such as participation, inclusion, motivation, leadership, policy, and organization of child and youth sports. The research is carried out in close collaboration with the sports movement, schools, municipalities, and other societal actors.

We offer a research environment where collaboration across disciplinary boundaries is a natural part of everyday life. Here, you will have the opportunity to contribute to and further develop research that has both scientific and societal relevance. The work takes place in an environment characterized by collegiality, openness, and a shared interest in the living conditions of children and young people.

Responsibilities

The position as a guest researcher is placed at the Department of Educational Studies and is linked to ongoing research within the National Research Center for Child and Youth Sports (NFBU). More precisely, the guest researcher will contribute to developing research on sports and physical activity among youth with neuropsychiatric disabilities.

The responsibilities include:

• Conducting research on sports and physical training among youth with neuropsychiatric disabilities
• Participating in analysis work and scientific publishing
• Co-authoring articles and applications for external research funding
• Participating in seminar activities and contributing to the scientific environment at the center

The position is part-time and requires presence at Karlstad University to the extent required by the activities, with the possibility of some remote work by agreement.

Eligibility

Eligible for the position of guest researcher is someone who has obtained a doctoral degree in sports science or another relevant subject for the position, such as pedagogy, psychology, physiotherapy, or public health. The applicant must have documented scientific competence in research relevant to child and youth sports, with a particular focus on children and young people with disabilities.

Assessment Criteria

Of particular importance:

• Scientific competence demonstrated through publications in international journals relevant to child and youth sports, with a particular focus on children and young people with disabilities.
• Experience of independent research work in the field
• Good knowledge of Swedish and English

Of great importance:

• Experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Experience using visual support in interviews with children and youth
• Documented experience of obtaining research funding applied for competitively

Meritorious:

• Experience collaborating with the sports movement, schools, or other societal actors
• Documented experience in international and interdisciplinary research environments

We emphasize good collaboration skills, independence, and the ability to contribute constructively to a collegial research environment.

Conditions

The position is part-time with a scope of 10% and is limited until 2026-12-31. The scope may be adjusted. Start date will be agreed upon, but no later than April 2026. The position requires the applicant to bring their own funding.

Application

Applications are made in the university's web-based recruitment tool Varbi. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete in accordance with the advertisement, that any documents in languages other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, or English are translated, and that your qualifications are documented in a way that allows for an objective, qualitative assessment. A complete application must be submitted by the end of the application period. An incomplete application may result in your qualifications not being assessed in all respects.

The application should include:

• A personal letter describing yourself and your research interests in relation to the focus of the position (max 2-3 pages)
• A CV with certified copies of diplomas, degree certificates, etc.
• A copy of the doctoral thesis and other relevant publications
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to invoke
• Two references, at least one of whom is from a previous or current supervisor

All documents and publications that you wish to be part of your application must be attached to the digital application (not just links) and clearly named. Documents that cannot be submitted digitally should be sent to:

Karlstad University
HR Administrator
651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 2026-03-24

Reference number: REK2026/63

Welcome with your application!

Karlstad University has made a medieval for this recruitment, and we therefore ask for no contact with advertisement sellers and recruitment service sellers.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the HR Excellence in Research award in September 2020. The award is given to employers who have a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and continuously work to develop these. The award demonstrates the institution's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment and favorable professional development for researchers. Read more at https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r (https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r)