PhD student in Sustainability Science

Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC) is a research centre on resilience and sustainability science at Stockholm University. The Centre advances the scientific understanding of the complex, dynamic interactions of people and nature in the Biosphere; train the next generation of sustainability researchers and leaders; and engage in collaborations with change agents. It is a joint initiative between Stockholm University and the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The SRC currently employs around 160 members of staff. More information about us, please visit: Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC).

The SRC aims to foster new generations of researchers and academic leaders through our Resilience Research School. The school equips students with a theoretical and practical foundation in Sustainability Science with a focus on resilience in social-ecological systems. Students are encouraged to develop new approaches that integrate methods and concepts from the social, natural and applied sciences. Emphasis is placed on developing student ability to define a problem, develop research methods, and communicate research findings within international scientific and science-policy discussions.

Project description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary team of researchers at SRC working on resilience and sustainability with a focus on transformative capacities, defined as the skills, capabilities and resources needed to achieve and navigate systemic transformation.

The research project will focus on understanding transformative capacities among civil society actors in Sweden. Two transformations are in focus: the shift to a fossil free Sweden and the shift to a resilient food system. The project will use a mixed methods approach, with a focus on qualitative analyses using e.g interviews, document analysis, workshops and observation. Tasks will include to analyse the effects of efforts to include civil society organisations (CSOs) in transformation processes to a fair and fossil free future and a resilient food system. In addition, we will analyse the capacities of CSOs and their networks to shape a fair climate transformation in Sweden. The main focus of this work will be on social learning and co-creation of transformative capacities.

The PhD position is part of two research programmes: FAIRTRANS – Fair transition to a fossil green future (funded by Mistra), and PLATE – Swedish research centre for resilient meals (funded by Formas). The vision of FAIRTRANS is that policymaking in Sweden and the EU ensures a fair climate transformation in line with the Paris agreement. The programme aims to provide transdisciplinary scientific knowledge on a fair climate transformation, engage a broad range of actors to co-produce and inform transformative policies, and establish a lasting research and collaboration environment dedicated to climate transformation. The programme is a collaboration between the SRC at Stockholm University, University of Gävle, and Uppsala University, together with other universities and partners from civil society organisations. The vision of PLATE is a strengthened food service sector that plays a crucial role in creating a resilient, sustainable and competitive Swedish food system that ensures well-being for all. The SRC hosts the center, which is a collaboration among researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, KTH and the Beijer Institute at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, as well as with other partners from the private and public catering sector including municipalities, regions, authorities and civil society.

As a PhD student, you will be embedded in both FAIRTRANS and PLATE. You will also participate in SRC:s Resilience Research School.

The PhD candidate will be employed at the SRC and supervised by Docent. Lisen Schultz (SRC) and Docent Per Olsson (SRC). The PhD student will have opportunities to collaborate with and benefit from other students and researchers with diverse research interests and perspectives. 

Qualification requirements

In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet general entry requirements if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

Specific entry requirements for admission to postgraduate studies in Sustainability Science are that the applicant has a total of at least 30 credits, or equivalent, at advanced level in Natural Science, as well as a thesis of at least 30 credits at advanced level in a relevant subject, or equivalent knowledge.

Selection

The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Subject knowledge relevant to the research task, including about transformation theory, research about social-ecological resilience and research about civil society organisations
•  Understanding of complex adaptive systems research, combining theoretical and empirical approaches
• Familiarity with social learning design and transdisciplinary methods such as transformation labs, systems analysis, qualitative data collection, coding and analysis
• Ability to facilitate meetings and collaborative processes in situations with high uncertainty and complexity
• Ability to work in teams, preferably in an inter- or transdisciplinary setting Analytical ability and academic writing as demonstrated by, e.g. a scientific report/s, research article/s, or degree project thesis
• Fluent in English and Swedish and skilled in written and oral communication
• The applicant’s personal references.

In addition, the following would be desirable:

• Familiarity with the Swedish food system and/or Sweden’s transition to a fossil-free future.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

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

Contact

For more information, about the PhD programme or Sustainability Science at Stockholm Resilience Centre, please contact the Director of PhD programme Victor Galaz, phone: +46 8 674 70 83, victor.galaz@su.se or Head of Subject, Professor Örjan Bodin, phone: +46 8 674 76 71, orjan.bodin@su.se.

For more information about the project or the position, please contact Lisen Schultz, lisen.schultz@su.se, or Per Olsson per.olsson@su.se.

Application

Apply for the PhD student 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.