Postdoctoral fellow in Human Geography

The Department of Human Geography is one of the departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences at Stockholm University. The position is advertised within the research group Historical Geography and Landscape Studies.

More information about us, please visit: the Department of Human geography.

Project description

The applicant will conduct research together with an international research team of geographers, planners and architects. The Swedish part of the project is led by Professor Anders Wästfelt in a research project funded by the Swedish Energy Agency within the European program Driving Urban Transition.

The project is an international and interdisciplinary umbrella project in collaboration with researchers from Tallinn University (Jenni Partanen), the University of Lisbon (Teresa Marat-Mendes) and Concordia University in Montreal (Pierre Gauthier). The postdoc will be based at Stockholm University and work in the project Hyping Agriculture and Transit (HAT) in 15-minute Cities (15mC) – Food-growing public transport-oriented communities driving urban transitions as green Proximity Oriented Developments (PODs).

The project investigates both food production and distribution in Stockholm and the potential for new sustainable mobility models. Through historical geographical and morphological analyses of the city's changes and how food and transport systems have changed, Stockholm is analyzed and compared with two other European cities and Montreal in Canada. The postdoc will be responsible for the Swedish sub-study together with researchers at the Department of Human Geography and KTH.

Main responsibilities

The research task includes investigating geographical patterns of food production and distribution at different scales (regional and within 15 minutes City) and independently carrying out the fieldwork for the Swedish sub-study, mainly by using quantitative and qualitative geographical methods e.g. geographic information systems (GIS), time geography, typologies, etc. The study in Sweden will also focus on the food supply of Stockholm in the past through analyses of historical records and maps that will be compared to current and future food supply. The applicant will also collaborate with architects, agri-tech startups, and other companies.

The work will be discussed on an ongoing basis in the international research group. The work is expected to result in a number of publications, partly as contributions to joint publications, and partly as a couple of research articles that highlight the Swedish part of the project. In addition, some teaching in human geography may be added.

Qualification requirements

Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria

The applicant's PhD degree must be completed no later than when the employment decision is made but no more than three years before the application deadline. The doctoral degree may have been completed earlier if there are special reasons. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical duties or duties relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment, special emphasis will be placed on research expertise.

The applicant should be able to demonstrate good research competence in human geography with the ability to carry out historical analyses and spatial analyses in GIS software, and have good knowledge of land use and food supply. Previous studies of regional and urban analyses, the relationship between production and consumption of food in the intersection between urban centers and rural surroundings are meritorious.

Good oral and written proficiency in Swedish and English is a requirement.

About the employment

The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2025-03-01 or as per agreement.

We offer

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information about the position can be obtained from the project leader Anders Wästfelt, phone: +46 8 16 48 56, anders.wastfelt@humangeo.su.se.

Application

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach a personal letter and CV as well as the attachments requested in the application form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.