4 PhD candidate positions, Department of Social and Economic Geography - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Uppsala University, founded in 1477, is Scandinavia’s oldest university and one of the largest. The University is among the foremost research environments in Europe and has extensive library facilities and data resources. It grants around 300 doctoral degrees each year (see www.uu.se). The University is located centrally in lively and historic Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth largest city, and only 68 km north of the capital, Stockholm.

Applications are invited for 4 fully funded PhD candidate positions in the Department of Social and Economic Geography’s doctoral program in human geography. The positions are available from the 1st of September 2019 and offer full funding for four years. Three of the positions are open to students with experience in all areas of human geography; one of the positions is connected to a specific research project with its own knowledge requirements (see “Qualifications expected” below for more details).

Our department engages in world class research and education within the field of human geography. Today about 50 persons are affiliated with the department.

The doctoral program is designed as four years of full-time studies. There are two main components of the program: course work (60 credits) and work in connection with the PhD dissertation, including seminars, theoretical work, data collection of different kinds, problem analysis, thesis authorship and supervision by highly qualified researchers (180 credits). Doctoral students are provided with their own workplace, computer, and some research expenses, and have access to excellent research resources and libraries. The Department is international in focus, and good oral and written skills in English is required. Applicants must also be willing to learn Swedish rapidly.

Current research directions and areas of expertise at the department: In the selection process of suitable PhD candidates, we consider specifically to what extent we have resources for supervision and possibilities for external funding for the considered candidates. We conduct research within the full range of human geography subjects, and we encourage all applicants to visit our departmental website (www.kultgeog.uu.se) to review the kinds of research being conducted within the department and to assess the extent to which their research interests align with our research profiles (see www.kultgeog.uu.se/staff/ and www.kultgeog.uu.se/research-en/).

Qualifications expected: To be considered for admission to postgraduate studies in Human Geography, the applicant must have completed a Master’s degree, equivalent to 240 Swedish university credits (including at least 60 credits at an advanced level) from a recognised university or third level institution. Specific entry requirements for admission to postgraduate studies in Human Geography are the completion of an equivalent to 90 Swedish university credits in Human Geography, or other academic qualifications assessed by the recruitment committee to be of an equivalent level.

CALISTA project qualifications: One of the four positions is affiliated with the CALISTA research group and involves a research project (funded jointly by Formas and Uppsala University) that seeks to estimate demand for public transport using cell phone geolocation data. This research project focuses on spatiotemporal quantitative analysis of mobility behaviour to assess the usage of and the demand for public transport as a service. For this position, we encourage applications from candidates with a background in geocomputational research, including experience with spatial analysis, geoinformatics, geocomputation, transport analysis, spatial economics, or the equivalent, as well as working knowledge of GIS software and at least one programming language.

The project team integrates several unique geospatial databases to analyse variability in travel across different temporal and spatial scales, between urban and rural areas, and with attention to the socio-economic composition of the potential travellers. The project is managed in Sweden, but the study will be done in close collaboration with international researchers. The project aims to enhance public transport planning with the larger goal of improving social integration.

Application procedure: A recruitment committee will make an initial selection of applicants through a review of submitted documents and contacts with referees. The selected group of candidates will then be invited to interview with representatives of the department. The interviews will take place during April or the beginning of May. Candidates will be informed of the results of the selection process at the end of May. Criteria for assessing applications to the PhD program are described in a separate document here .

Applications are due on March 15th and should consist of:

• A completed application form available here
• A cover letter that briefly introduces yourself and explains why you are interested in the Department of Social and Economic Geography at Uppsala University. Indicate here whether you want to be considered for the CALISTA project.
• Curriculum Vitae/Résumé (including your education and previous work experience)
• A short description (2-3 pages) of your research interests and plans
• Certified transcript(s) of your academic record/degree(s) to date, including information on courses taken and grades received
• At least one example of recent written (academic) work
• Contact information for two academic references

The rules governing the process can be found (in Swedish) in Högskoleförordningen 5 Chapter 1-7 §§ and in University rules http://regler.uu.se/.

Uppsala University values the qualities that even gender distribution and diversity add to the business. We therefore look forward to receiving applications from everyone regardless of sex/gender, nationality, and physical ability.

Salary: Fixed salary.

Starting date: 2019-09-01.

Type of position: Temporary position.

For more information, please contact: Associate Professor David Jansson, director of postgraduate studies, phone +46-72-999 91 55; e- mail david.jansson@kultgeog.uu.se.

Use the link below to access the application form.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than March 15th, 2019, UFV-PA 2019/511.