PhD student in Economic History, within Uppsala University’s graduate programme in medical humanities - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Economic History is a subject within the Social Science Faculty with a relative large body of research. The department has c. 45 employees. About 15 Doctoral students are active at the department. The doctoral programme is partly done as a collaboration with other departments of economic history in Sweden. The research profile at the department is focused on themes such as financial and business history, industrial relations, the history of modern economic thought, agrarian history, consumption and retail history and science and technology studies. Research is internationalized and largely externally funded.

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Project
Laboratories of the future? Complex buildings, flexible organizations and the research and education of life science. While research and education within the field of biomedicine are constantly evolving, they must be housed in capital-intensive, permanent physical infrastructure. Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, notions of ‘flexible buildings’ have therefore developed alongside new ideals of ‘flexible organizations’. The purpose of this PhD project is to investigate the historical development, and consequences of, this dynamic relationship: between the ways in which biomedical research and education have been organised, and the physical environments constructed and adapted for such pursuits. It is proposed that the focus of such a study would consist of analysing the planning, funding, adaptations and uses of the laboratory facilities at Uppsala Biomedical Centre (1966-). Applicants should thus have an interest in studying the relationship between life science research/education and its material conditions (economic and physical resources), and in historicizing this dynamic relationship from an STS-perspective.

More information about the project can be provided by project leader Daniel Normark 
daniel.normark@ekhist.uu.se

Medical humanities
This position is one of five doctoral positions in Uppsala University's graduate school in medical humanities (https://www.idehist.uu.se/centre-for-medical-humanities/). Medical humanities is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of medicine, pharmacy, humanities, art/literature and social sciences. It tackles issues such as the individual's experience of illness, the development of biomedical research and medical practices, and political perspectives on health care from different methodological and theoretical perspectives. Thus, the medical humanities create added value for biomedicine and healthcare by highlighting the social and cultural aspects of health and disease, and for the humanities and social sciences through a broader thematic approach to contemporary health-related societal challenges.

The graduate school (https://www.idehist.uu.se/news/?tarContentId=1019894) aims to create an environment for interdisciplinary research linked to central societal challenges. Each doctoral student will work towards a degree in their own home discipline, but will also have an assistant supervisor from another discipline and incorporate perspectives from other fields in their work. The doctoral students will have an office space at the Center for Medical Humanities, and joint activities such as courses and workshops. This creates an interdisciplinary doctoral program, where doctoral students through supervisors from different disciplines, collegial exchange within the group, and courses receive support to develop their projects across disciplinary boundaries. Applicants for this position are therefore expected to be highly motivated to take part in the graduate school's activities and to acquire an interdisciplinary approach.

Duties
The PhD program consists of four years of full-time studies. In terms of the Swedish university credit system, the program comprises 240 credits (30 credits = 1 semester of full-time study). There are two main components of the program: work that is related to the PhD dissertation (165 credits) and coursework (75 credits). Of the latter, a share of the credits are accrued at the Department of Economic History, and others are accrued within the framework of the graduate school for medical humanities. PhD students are expected to participate actively in activities such as seminars, and workshops hosted both by the Department of Economic History and by the graduate school for medical humanities.

Requirements
Entry requirements for third-cycle (doctoral) programmes require both general and specific eligibility. These should be upheld on the last day of application. The general entry requirements for third-cycle (doctoral) programmes are: academic degree at an advanced (Master’s) level, or attainment of at least 240 higher education (HE) credits for courses, of which at least 60 HE credits are awarded in the second cycle, or equivalent training either in Sweden or abroad. The specific eligibility for admission to the third-cycle programme in economic history is attainment of 90 higher education credits for courses in economic history at any level, achievement of equivalent training either in Sweden or abroad. 

For this research project, applicants must be able to read Swedish fluently since the research entails reading and collating archival sources. On admittance they must furthermore be able to participate in academic discussions held in Swedish and English. Qualified persons who do not speak Swedish fluently are expected to learn to speak the language during the period of employment. 

Additional qualifications
Applicants are expected to have an interest in interdisciplinary research and be well acquainted with qualitative research methods. 

Application
The application must include

• Certified transcript(s) of your academic record/degree(s) to date
• Academic reference letters (with contact details), primarily from teachers and/or supervisors
• A Curriculum Vitae
• A description (max. 2 pages) of your research interests, skills, outlook, and motivation for applying for the PhD program.
• Full-text copies of your thesis work (from bachelor and master degrees or equivalent academic papers)
• Declaration of language proficiency: State whether you are able to read and understand Swedish source materials, and whether you can participate in academic discussions in English and Swedish
• Other documents you may wish to attach (including, for instance, concerning relevant work-life experiences, additional written academic work, or other references)

Information about the process
The recruitment of PhD-students is prepared by a committee assembled by the Department’s supervisors, and ultimately decided by the Head of the Economic History Department. The assessment is based on the applicants’ ability to complete the graduate program. Particular emphasis is placed on the quality of the applicants’ independently authored academic work (eg. Master’s or Bachelor’s theses).

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100% for four years. Starting date January 2023. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Head of Department Fredrik Sandgren, fredrik.sandgren@ekhist.uu.se, or Director of Doctoral Studies Nikolas Glover Nikolas.glover@ekhist.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 7 October 2022, UFV-PA 2022/2197.

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