Two PhD Students in Business Studies at Campus Gotland, Visby

The Department of Business Studies offers undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate education at two locations, in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland in Visby. The department strives for a broad and open scientific profile. For more information, see the department's website https://www.uu.se/en/department/business-studies

At Uppsala University, a graduate school in sustainability studies – GRASS – was established in 2021. Now, a second cohort of the graduate school is starting. The main mission of the graduate school is to conduct research based on key social challenges, where local relevance meets international excellence. It examines fields such as cultural heritage, digital methods, sustainable consumption and future energy systems, and addresses significant aspects of preservation and change, as well as the definition and management of resources. The graduate school is rooted in ongoing interdisciplinary collaborations in research and education, conducted in an international environment. Uppsala University Campus Gotland, where the graduate school is located, is a hub for the University's research and education in sustainability. We work with international partners, guest researchers and local actors with a special focus on knowledge development to manage and cope with the transition needed to live well in a world with climate change. As a doctoral student, you will be part of this interdisciplinary research environment. You will also benefit from courses, seminars and first-class doctoral supervision offered at the graduate school.

The department has Swedish as its working language, but most research at the department is conducted in English.

The two PhD student positions are announced related to the following research projects:

Project 1: Glocal

The project is a collaboration between the Departments of Business Studies and Earth Sciences: Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and marine biodiversity loss represent two interlinked global threats that demand urgent action and public engagement. For the doctoral student at the Department of Business Studies, the focus will be on increasing understanding and awareness of how consumers' individual food purchasing decisions affect the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. A significant challenge in both AMR is that the available information is often complex, where consumers do not always understand how their food choices may contribute to problems with AMR and marine biodiversity loss, and their daily food purchasing decisions affect these global issues. The project aims to investigate the intersection between consumer behavior and these two serious global threats, including a holistic approach to sustainability concerning health, environmental integrity and social justice. The project will contribute with important knowledge and educational strategies to promote global sustainability efforts and show how informed individuals, end users, and communities can implement meaningful change for a resilient future and sustainable societal development.

The doctoral student is placed at the graduate school on Campus Gotland, Visby where he/she is expected to be on site, participating in the activities of the graduate school and the department.

Number of positions: 1

Project 2: Orchestration of Digital Sustainability in the Grocery Retail

The project explores the role and impact of digitalisation on sustainability initiatives within the Swedish grocery sector. By integrating knowledge from Information Systems and Business Studies, it addresses challenges and opportunities related to the design of digital infrastructure to reduce climate impact, in relation to the governance and management of sustainability practices in organisations. The entire value chain is studied, from food producers to retailers, including the need for standardised handling of sustainability data and compliance with new regulations, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

The project involves two doctoral students, one with a focus on Information System and one with a focus on Business Studies. The Business Studies doctoral student is expected to research the consequences of new mandatory sustainability reporting directives and regulations and how these affect emerging sustainability standards in the grocery retail sector. Furthermore, how this influences the development of sustainable food strategies among different actors.

The doctoral student is placed at the graduate school on Campus Gotland, Visby where he/she is expected to be on site, participating in the activities of the graduate school and the department.

Number of positions: 1

General information

Duties: The duties of a PhD student are primarily focused on his/her own research education, (4 years full-time), 90 academic credits of courses and 150 credits research for the doctoral thesis. To a limited extent (maximum 20%), the work may also involve other departmental duties, mainly related to teaching undergraduate courses – in which case the position may be extended to maximum five years. General rules about PhD education can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, §§ 1-7, in Uppsala University rules and in the General Study Plan for PhD studies at the Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University. 

Requirements: General entry requirement: an advanced level qualification, has satisfied fulfillment of the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits awarded at the advanced level, including at least 15 credits for an individual piece of work, or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.
Specific entry requirement: courses in Business Studies comprising 90 credits.

In order to receive a PhD position, the candidate needs to be admitted to the doctoral programme, and for this, his/her potential ability to pursue the programme is decisive.

Note that a master thesis that has not yet been completed and assessed by the application deadline is given respite until June 5, 2025.

Requirements - Language requirement in English: All applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.

The minimum test scores are:

• IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
• TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90
• Cambridge: CAE, CPE

More information about English language requirements

Additional qualifications

Ability to read, write and speak Swedish is an advantage.

Criteria for assessment of applications: please see the criteria.

The application must include:

• A short cover letter that include

1. The applicant's motivation for applying for the position (max. 500 words).
2. A list and short description of the documents attached to the application
3. If more than one academic work (thesis, article, etc.) has been submitted for assessment, the cover letter should state which of these are the main academic work.

• Copy of the main academic work that the applicant has written. Note that a master thesis that has not yet been completed and assessed by the application deadline is given respite until june 5, 2025.
•  CV
• Certified copies of academic documents, e.g. academic degrees. 
• TOEFL/IELTS-test (or equivalent). Note that applicants with a master’s degree from an English-speaking university or programme do not need to prove their English skills by submitting a TOEFL/IELTS-test.
• Two letters of reference/recommendation (for example, from university teachers or employers). The letters have to include the contact information to the referees (e-mail address and phone number). The recommendation should state in what way the referent has known the applicant. We are particularly interested in an assessment of the applicant in terms of our admissions criteria. Instructions for recommendation letters.

Interview: An evaluation committee assesses the applications and provides a recommendation for which candidates should be called for interviews. Call for interviews will take place April 14-16 2025, and (if necessary) May 8-9, 2025 to selected candidates. Those who successfully pass the interviews will have to do a written assignment.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date August 25, 2025. Placement: Visby, Gotland.

For further information about the positions, please contact Associate Professor Mathias Cöster, ph +46 (0)76 785 22 20, mathias.coster@fek.uu.se or administrator for PhD studies Golondrian Janke, ph +46 (0)18 471 1369, golondrian.janke@fek.uu.se.

You are welcome to submit your application by March 31, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/507. Only complete applications with supporting documents will be reviewed.

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In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.