Vacant job

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading universities. We have approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our strive to understand, explain, and improve our world and people's conditions.

The Research Institute for Psychological Defence is seeking a Project Assistant for a fixed-term position of six months, starting on 2026-08-01.

Description of the workplace

The Research Institute for Psychological Defence was established in 2022 at Lund University's Department of Communication, with support from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency's Psychological Defence unit (MPF). The purpose of psychological defence is to protect the open and democratic society, free opinion formation, Sweden's fundamental freedoms, and ultimately our independence. The institute conducts research that contributes to developing society's ability to identify and counteract the effects of undue information influence and other false or misleading information directed at Sweden, with the aim of influencing decision-making, perceptions, or behaviors.

What we offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you receive special benefits, generous vacation time, and a favorable occupational pension. Read more on the university's website about working with us Work with us (#).

Tasks and responsibilities

As a research assistant, you will work in various research projects within the field of psychological defence. Our research projects require prior knowledge of relevant academic fields, policy issues, and applied research such as collection and analysis from open sources. Knowledge of national, EU, and NATO structures is an advantage.

The work includes, among other things:

Preparing literature reviews and other texts to support publications such as research reports and academic articles, as well as using both scientific and other open information sources and methods to collect data and analyze empirical material from various sources. These may include government agencies, media, social media, research reports, and official reports.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position are:

• A master's degree in a relevant subject (e.g., strategic communication, political science, or security studies), or a bachelor's degree plus at least 3 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in analytical work within information influence or other related areas
• Experience using various scientific research methods, including policy analysis and qualitative interviews
• Flexible and independent, with readiness to take on varied tasks and perform them with high quality
• Documented experience of independent research work under time pressure
• Ability to handle parallel tasks
• Very good proficiency in English.

Qualifications that are meritorious for the position include:

• Shown interest in developing within research, for example through doctoral studies or work in policy-oriented organizations.
• Experience working with authorities, for example through work experience within or with public administration or equivalent.
• Languages relevant to the specific research field in addition to English.
• Previous background in areas such as defense, information security, and information influence.
• Experience from data collection and report writing.

Other

The position is fixed-term for 6 months and is full-time (100%). Start date 2026-08-01.

How to apply

You apply via Lund University's digital recruitment system. Attached to the application should be:

a cover letter (max 2 pages), CV including any publication list (max 3 pages).

The university applies individual salary setting.

The Faculty of Social Sciences at Lund University is one of the country's leading knowledge centers for research and education in social and behavioral sciences. With activities in both Lund and Helsingborg, over 700 employees, and approximately 5,700 full-time equivalent students, the faculty is one of Lund University's largest. We offer a creative academic environment with engaged students and staff. Our main task is to develop, disseminate, and manage knowledge about society, humans, and organizations in an environment characterized by openness, tolerance, and curiosity.

The Department of Communication offers an international, interdisciplinary, and dynamic environment for education and research in journalism, strategic communication, and media and communication studies. Our programs combine theoretical insights with practical skills to equip students for working life and further studies. We work closely with the media industry, civil society, businesses, and the public sector to give students and researchers the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from activities outside academia. Our researchers study the development of the communication and media landscape at local, national, and global levels. They explore and critically analyze how communication and digital media technologies affect organizations, politics, society, and culture.

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