Postdoktor i Rysslands- och Eurasienstudier

Postdoctoral Position in Russian and Eurasian Studies

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research university with a strong international standing. Our mission is to pursue education and research of the highest quality and relevance to society. Our most valuable assets are the individuals who—with their curiosity and dedication—make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has approximately 42,000 students, 7,000 employees and a turnover of SEK 6.7 billion.

The Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies (IRES) is a multidisciplinary research environment in the humanities and social sciences, focused on the study of Russia and the post-Soviet states. IRES hosts some forty affiliated researchers.

Russian and Eurasian studies have been part of Uppsala University for nearly fifty years. Our research addresses processes of social, political, and economic transformation in Russia and the post-Soviet region. We also explore more specific themes such as democratization and state-building, international and regional cooperation, environmental issues, nation and empire, transnational minorities, historical memory, identity formation, gender and ethnicity from historical, cultural, political, and social perspectives.

IRES is home to the editorial offices of the Journal of Baltic Studies and the Uppsala Yearbook of Eurasian Studies. The institute also hosts an international visiting scholar programme, which has welcomed over 80 researchers from around the world.

We are looking for an early-career researcher for a two-year postdoctoral position in the social sciences, with documented area expertise on both Russia and Ukraine.
The postdoctoral research project is expected to address issues related to Russian–Ukrainian relations and to contribute to an enhanced academic understanding of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, its consequences, and broader processes of political, economic, and social transformation in the post-Soviet region. The position is part of IRES’s strategic effort to advance high-level research competence on Ukraine at Uppsala University and aims to strengthen both the academic environment and the international profile of the field.

Duties:
Research within the scope of the position and participation in the planning of research activities (including applications for external research funding). Teaching and administrative duties may be included, but will not exceed 20 percent of the full-time position. Some research administration may also be required.

Qualifications:
To be eligible for the position, the applicant must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant humanities or social science discipline, or have obtained an equivalent foreign degree. The doctoral degree must have been awarded no more than three years before the application deadline. A degree obtained earlier may be accepted under special circumstances, such as parental leave, sick leave, or service in trade unions or similar commitments.

In the selection among eligible applicants, particular emphasis will be placed on scientific excellence and previous research within the field. The assessment will also include the following:- Documented teaching experience relevant to IRES’s MA programme, especially in international security and international relations theory
- A clearly defined and promising research trajectory, including peer-reviewed publications in both area studies and disciplinary journals
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams, strong critical thinking, and excellent organizational skills
- Proficiency in the Russian language and/or another official language of the post-Soviet region is required
- Excellent command of spoken and written English is necessary

Additional qualifications considered as merits:
- Experience of teaching at university level
- Strong commitment to interdisciplinary area studies and the ability to contribute to a collaborative academic environment where social science perspectives are combined with deep regional expertise

Assessment criteria:
The primary basis for selection is scientific excellence. The university will consider the applicant who, following a qualitative assessment of skills and qualifications, is deemed most capable of carrying out the proposed research and contributing to the development of the research environment at IRES.

Parental leave, part-time work due to care of children, union activities, military service or similar are considered as relevant work experience and should be stated in the CV.

The application should include:
- A short research project description (maximum two pages)
- CV, including a description of qualifications and experience, and a full list of publications
- Copy of doctoral degree certificate and official transcripts
- Copy of the doctoral thesis (or a summary thereof)
- Contact details of at least two, preferably three, referees who can provide letters of recommendation. Please specify your relationship to the referees.

Uppsala University values gender equality and diversity and welcomes applicants of all genders and with diverse backgrounds, functional abilities, and life experiences.

Starting date: 1 February2026 or as otherwise agreed.
Form of employment: Full-time, fixed-term for a maximum of two years.
For further information: Contact Claes Levinsson: claes.levinsson@ires.uu.se, +46 (0)18 471 1696 or +46 (0)70 167 95 01.
Application deadline: 20 December 2025
Reference number: UFV-PA 2025/3310.