Vacant job

The research project PREPARE (PREhosPital cARE in Risk Environments) aims to strengthen prehospital emergency care's ability to treat a large number of injured people in threatening and insecure environments. The University of Borås is now seeking a doctoral student for the DISASTER-CARE doctoral school within the subject of nursing science, focusing on prehospital emergency care in threatening and insecure environments.

Apply by July 31st.

Research Background

Prehospital emergency care is conducted in complex, unpredictable, and sometimes directly threatening environments where caregivers are forced to make critical decisions under time pressure, uncertainty, and in some cases, danger to life. Prehospital teams increasingly encounter situations characterized by unclear threat profiles, difficult communication, rapidly changing conditions, and high demands for interprofessional collaboration. The work is characterized by incomplete information, varying threat levels, the need for coordination with other emergency services, and the risk of secondary incidents and multiple patients – while both patient safety and staff safety must be maintained.

A particularly challenging scenario within this context is ongoing lethal violence (OLV). Effective interventions in OLV incidents require close and well-functioning cooperation between several actors: ambulance services, police, rescue services, and – in wartime – also the Swedish Armed Forces. OLV management places high demands on mental preparedness, joint planning, rapid decision-making, and a strong cross-organizational ability to act despite an uncertain situation.

Care is influenced by the interaction between the individual's cognitive processes (situational awareness, stress management, and decision-making), the team's communicative and tactical coordination, the organizations' structural preparations, and environmental factors such as threat profile, mobility, noise, limited visibility, or communication breakdowns. Deficiencies in any of these domains can have directly life-threatening consequences.

From a nursing science perspective, it is central to understand how care, clinical decision-making, and collaboration are affected when care is provided under insecure and potentially life-threatening conditions. This knowledge is crucial for developing care that simultaneously safeguards the patient's needs and the caregivers' safety. The overarching aim of the thesis is therefore to investigate and develop knowledge about how prehospital emergency care can be conducted safely, effectively, and with patient safety in mind in threatening and insecure environments with many affected individuals in peacetime.

The DISASTER-CARE Doctoral School

As a doctoral student, you will join the national doctoral school DISASTER-CARE. It is Sweden's first national doctoral school in disaster medicine – a field that is gaining increasing importance in today's society, characterized by global crises and a changed international security situation. The initiative is funded by the Swedish Research Council and is based on a government assignment. The doctoral school is coordinated by the University of Gothenburg and is carried out in close collaboration between some of Sweden's leading higher education institutions in disaster medicine. It is aimed at you who, after completing the education, will work as a teacher in health and medical education with a focus on disaster medicine and crisis preparedness.

As a doctoral student in DISASTER-CARE, you will become part of an interdisciplinary research environment where medicine, nursing science, technology, and social sciences meet. You will have access to a strong national context with doctoral students and teachers from all over the country, as well as international opportunities through collaborations, guest lectures, and participation in conferences and research environments.

Read more about the DISASTER-CARE doctoral school (https://www.gu.se/katastrofmedicin/forskning-och-utbildning/forskarskolan-disaster-care)

The Doctoral Education "The Human in Care"

The doctoral student will be admitted to the Doctoral Education within the research area "The Human in Care," which is conducted within the subject of nursing science. The area is anchored in nursing science with a focus on prehospital emergency care in threatening and insecure environments. The focus is on care personnel and on how cognitive, organizational, and interprofessional factors affect decision-making, communication, and care in situations such as ongoing lethal violence. The knowledge ultimately aims to strengthen the conditions for safe and patient-centered care.

Read more about the research area "The Human in Care" (https://www.hb.se/forskning/forskningsportal/forskningomraden/manniskan-i-varden/)

Doctoral students admitted to the doctoral school will be admitted to regular doctoral education and follow the institution's general study plan. Participation in the doctoral school runs parallel to the regular doctoral education, and the school's program consists of two mandatory courses, elective courses, internships, seminars, and the opportunity for international exchange.

Your Tasks and Qualifications

See the advertisement on the University of Borås website for complete information.

Your Employment

Type of Employment: The doctoral employment refers to an employment equivalent to four years of full-time studies and is expected to lead to a doctoral degree.

Start Date: December 1, 2026, or as agreed.

Location: Borås.

Reference Number: PA2026/81

A new employment as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year; the employment may thereafter be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. Regulations concerning employment as a doctoral student can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), Chapter 5, Sections 1-7.

How to Apply

We welcome your complete application, including the reference number and attachments, via our recruitment system by July 31st.

Clearly state in your application which of the two advertised doctoral positions you are applying for.

Information on how to apply for a job with us (https://www.hb.se/om-hogskolan/jobba-hos-oss/sa-har-soker-du-jobb-hos-oss/)

The page linked above specifies what should be included in your application. In addition to these documents, it is voluntary to attach:

• publications you wish to cite (maximum three, e.g., research reports or scientific articles).
• certificates proving any potentially merit-based work experience according to the qualifications above.

The University of Borås encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives as this enriches and strengthens our operations. We strive for a balanced gender distribution among employees and value diversity in our activities.