2 Doctoral candidates in peace and conflict research

2 Doctoral candidates in peace and conflict research

The Department of Peace and Conflict Research was established in 1971 to conduct peace research and offer courses in peace and conflict studies. The department hosts a dynamic research milieu and is internationally oriented. Currently approx. 90 persons are employed at the Department and some 1000 students from around the world are enrolled every academic year. For more information, visit our website at www.pcr.uu.se.

We are seeking to fill:

• One general PhD position in peace and conflict research. The applicant shall submit a project plan with a proposed PhD theme related to peace and conflict research.
  
  
• One PhD position in peace and conflict research with a focus on nuclear disarmament

The PhD student will be part of the Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC) at Uppsala University. AMC is a multidisciplinary centre connecting peace and conflict, physics, and policy. The PhD student will be placed at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. The PhD student is to pursue research on nuclear disarmament broadly defined. This could include questions about arms control, risk reduction, non-proliferation, and disarmament, and it could cover themes like nuclear weapons negotiations and treaties, nuclear diplomacy, sanctions and inducements, and the impact of emerging technologies such as advanced AI in nuclear disarmament and verification. Projects should be situated in the tradition of peace and conflict research, and candidates are encouraged to think about ways to advance the frontiers of research through innovative methodology (quantitative or qualitative). The successful candidate is free to define and develop their project idea within the parameters of the overall goals of the AMC (please visit the website www.uu.se/amc for more information) and shall submit their project plan on this topic as part of the application.  Further information is available upon request from the AMC Director (lisa.hultman@pcr.uu.se). 

Work description: PhD candidates primarily focus on their own doctoral education. A maximum of 20% of the position can involve teaching and administrative responsibilities at the Department, as decided by the Head of Department.

Qualifications: Employment as a PhD candidate requires acceptance into the DPCR’s PhD program, which is decided through an evaluation of the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the program. Information concerning applications, acceptance guidelines, and other related matters may be obtained at the Department’s homepage. 

The application should be filed on-line at the web address given below, should preferably be in English and shall include:

1) a completed application form for doctoral studies 


2) a short personal letter (1-2 pages) 


3) CV 


4) certified transcripts of academic records 


5) a project plan (3-5 pages, excluding reference list). If you are applying for both positions, it is possible, but not required, to submit two separate project plans. Please note, however, that the proposal for the specialized position needs to focus on that topic.

6) letters of reference/recommendation (max 2 letters) or a list of references (max 2) who can be contacted

7) writing samples (1-3 samples)

8) an indication in the web-formula of whether you apply for 1) the general position, 2) the specialized position with a focus on nuclear disarmament, or 3) both the general and the specialized position.

Candidates may use generative AI tools to polish their proposal. However, if you do use AI tools, we urge you to use caution and to do so to improve the exposition of your proposal and not to generate your research question, develop your theoretical framework, or specify your research design. We receive hundreds of qualified applications, meaning that proposals partially or entirely generated using AI will likely be too generic and unspecific to be competitive.

The application form for doctoral studies is available at the address below, along with detailed instructions for completing the application.

Through reference to the general syllabus for graduate studies, the applicant should first ensure that they meet the requirements for general or special eligibility for studies in the field of peace and conflict research at the post-graduate level. Full information is available here.  

Regulations concerning post-graduate students are to be found in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, §§1-7, and in the University’s rules and guidelines. The latter may be found at http://regler.uu.se.

Uppsala University aims for gender balance and diversity in all activities in order to achieve a higher quality at all levels of the organization. We therefore welcome applicants of any gender and with different birth background, functionality and life experience.

Pay: The positions are fully funded. Local salary rules will apply.

Start date: 1 September 2026, or as otherwise agreed.

Working hours: 100 %

Further information about the positions, please contact: Desirée Nilsson (director of studies, DPCR PhD Program) email: (phdprogramme@pcr.uu.se).

For information about the specialized position, please contact Lisa Hultman (AMC Director) email: (lisa.hultman@pcr.uu.se).

The deadline for the submission of applications is 25 March 2026. UFV-PA 2026/218.