Vacant job

Sapere Aude – Dare to be wise – is our motto. Our students and staff develop socially significant knowledge that enriches the individual and the world. Our academic environment is characterized by curiosity, courage, and openness, with close connections between people, roles, subjects, and research. The foundation of our operations is gender equality, diversity, and a democratic perspective. We are located in Värmland, a nature-rich and culturally vibrant region where we act as a driver for sustainable development in close collaboration with society.

Karlstad University has approximately 1,400 employees and 18,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. Read more about us at: kau.se/jobb (https://kau.se/jobb)

Description

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Karlstad University is now advertising a postdoctoral position within the research group Privacy & Security (PriSec), focusing on usable privacy. The research conducted within PriSec focuses on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), network security, as well as usable security and privacy.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will conduct technical and interdisciplinary research with a focus on usable privacy and technologies for increased transparency, as part of a new Horizon Europe project for research and innovation in privacy-enhancing technologies. The project is expected to start on October 1, 2026. Within the project, Karlstad University, together with eight other European partners from academia and industry, will contribute to research on usable PETs to counter non-transparent tracking across different online platforms and enable privacy-preserving analysis.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will have the opportunity to develop your creative and innovative ideas within the field of usable PETs. You will work closely with the PriSec research group at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, which offers an stimulating and international work environment characterized by collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Since a postdoctoral appointment constitutes a merit-building position for junior researchers, we are targeting you who have a doctoral degree that is no more than three years old, calculated from the last application date. The appointment is fixed-term for two years with the possibility of extension for one year.

Tasks

Your main task will be to contribute to the development of human-centered design and usability for PET solutions within the EU project. This will include analyzing users' needs and requirements for usable PET solutions, followed by human-centered and inclusive development and evaluation of usable and accessible user interfaces and prototypes for transparency and configuration of PETs. Additionally, you are expected to contribute to the development of usability guidelines for PET developers and evaluate PET solutions through appropriate user studies based on the project's development phase.

To fulfill these tasks and meet these expectations, you will work in close collaboration with the project group at Karlstad University and our European project partners. You are also expected to collaborate with the surrounding society for mutual exchange and to ensure that the knowledge and competence available at the university benefit society. Participation in teaching, for example by contributing to courses or supervising student theses and independent projects in areas relevant to the project, is a mandatory part of the postdoctoral position and may amount to a maximum of 20% of working hours according to the current agreement.

To contribute to a good work environment and the development of operations, you will be present and participate in the daily work and community.

For eligibility requirements, assessment criteria, and what the application should contain, see the full advertisement via the application link.

Conditions

Fixed-term full-time position for 2 years with possible extension for 1 year, starting October 1, 2026, or as agreed.

Last application date: 2026-08-07

Reference number: REK2026/142

We look forward to receiving your application!