One doctoral studentship in the Study of Religions as part of the Experimenting with Traditions: The Life and Afterlife of 20th Century Jewish Intellectual Culture in the Baltic Sea Region research project

Södertörn University is a higher education institution in Stockholm that conducts education, research and collaboration with the surrounding community for sustainable societal development. Education and research are conducted in the humanities, social sciences, technology and natural sciences. The university also provides police and teacher education programmes with intercultural profiles. A significant amount of our research is multidisciplinary and specialises in the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe. At Södertörn University we combine subjects, perspectives, people and experiences, searching for surprising syntheses, challenges and development.

Södertörn University welcomes doctoral proposals in the Study of Religions, to be conducted within the research project: “Experimenting with Traditions: The Life and Afterlife of 20th Century Jewish Intellectual Culture in the Baltic Sea Region”, funded by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (länka till projektet i projektdatabasen). This project explores the philosophical, theological, and literary developments within the Jewish minority of the Baltic Sea region in the first half of the 20th century. It examines how the encounter between Rabbinic-Hassidic thought and Enlightenment philosophy gave rise to unique intellectual experiments, combining religious and philosophical traditions into new forms of thought and expression. The aim of the project is to trace, describe, and explain these accomplishments, from within the tensions between margin and centre, minority and majority, national belonging and diaspora, and relate them to the larger context of Eastern European Rabbinic learning culture, and to the survival and reappearance of prewar Jewish philosophical and religious thought in intellectual developments into the present, especially in non-hegemonic discourses such as feminism and post-colonial thought.

The Study of Religions at Södertörn University is a research environment for the non-confessional, historical, ethnographic and social scientific study of religions worldwide. Important focus areas in our research are various aspects of religious pluralism in the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe. The Study of Religions is taught at all levels, from Bachelor’s courses and Master’s programmes to doctoral studies. The Study of Religions is also an important part of multidisciplinary programmes at Södertörn University. For more information, see https://www.sh.se/english/sodertorn-university/research/our-research/the-study-of-religions (English version) or https://www.sh.se/institutioner--amnen/institutionen-for-historia-och-samtidsstudier/religionsvetenskap- (Swedish version).

The Study of Religions is part of the Historical Studies research area at Södertörn University, an area of the humanities in which aspects of society, culture and heritage are studied from different perspectives. The area is characterised by an empirical and theoretical focus on societal and cultural change, and long time perspectives. Historical Studies includes five subject areas for doctoral studies: Archaeology, Ethnology, History, History of Ideas, and the Study of Religions. For more information, see Historical Studies - Södertörns högskola.

Description of the doctoral position: The project to be undertaken by the successful candidate will focus on the dissemination of works by specific Jewish thinkers in a selected region of Eastern Europe, which had a sizeable Jewish population in the early 20th century, such as the present-day Lithuania, Poland, or Ukraine. The task will be to study how these works were translated, published, and distributed throughout the region, by identifying and analysing hubs and agents who were instrumental to this dissemination (such as publishers, literary agents, libraries, private collectors, or institutions of Jewish learning).

The successful applicant will write their thesis as part of the research project “Experimenting with Traditions: The Life and Afterlife of 20th Century Jewish Intellectual Culture in the Baltic Sea Region”. For more information about this project as a whole, please contact the project manager (see below).

Entry requirements

The general entry requirements are:
1. a second-cycle qualification, 
2. fulfilled requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or 
3. substantially equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

The Faculty Board may permit an exemption from the general entry requirements for an individual applicant, if there are special grounds. (Ordinance 2010:1064)

Specific entry requirements

The specific entry requirements are met by someone who has knowledge equivalent to 90 credits in the Study of Religions or a closely related subject, including a degree project worth at least 15 credits at Master’s level. (Confessional religious education is not a qualification for the position.) Prerequisites for undertaking the degree programme are the ability to assimilate scientific work in English and to command the language necessary for work on the thesis.

An additional requirement for this position is proven language skills in one or more Eastern European languages relevant to the doctoral project outlined above. These language skills must be sufficient to be able to successfully conduct the outlined project.

Admission and employment 

This position includes admission to third-cycle education, i.e. research level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Historical and Contemporary Studies at Södertörn University. The intended outcome for admitted students is a PhD. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The position may be extended by a maximum of one year due to the inclusion of departmental duties, i.e. education, research and/or administration (equivalent to no more than 20% of full-time). Other grounds for extension could be leave of absence because of illness or for service in the defence forces, an elected position in a trade union/student organisation, or parental leave.  Provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7. The holder of the position is expected to take an active part in the academic environment at the University.

Date of employment: 1 September 2024.

General Syllabus for third-cycle programmes in the Study of Religions: English version or Swedish version.

Information about admission regulations including selection criteria, and third-cycle education at Södertörn University: English version or Swedish version

Application procedure

For more details, see this website under FAQ. Please use Södertörn University´s web-based recruitment system “ReachMee”. Click on the "ansök" (apply) link at the bottom of the advert.

Your application should be written in English and must include:

- an application letter

- curriculum vitae

- degree certificate and certificates that demonstrate eligibility to apply for the position (if not written in English or Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, you must enclose translated versions)

- Bachelor’s essay and dissertation at second-cycle level in the field in accordance with the entry requirements (if not written in English, Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish, you must enclose a summary of 5-6 pages, approx. 14,000 characters, to the copy of the essay).

- a statement outlining how your previous studies, language skills and other qualifications will enable you to successfully complete the project outlined above.

- two references, with contact details, and a short note on their relationship to the applicant (for example, supervisor).

If available, a maximum of three publications may also be attached.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Application deadline: 13 February 2024 at 23:59

Further information 
Lena Roos, Study of Religions, lena.roos@sh.se
Ulrika Björk, Philosophy, Project Manager ulrika.bjork@sh.se
Helena Bergman, Director of Studies (third cycle), helena.bergman@sh.se
Marianne Mosesson, Human Resources Officer, School of Historical and Contemporary Studies, marianne.mosesson@sh.se 

Welcome with your application! 

Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University after the closing date may be rejected.

The current employment is valid on condition that the employment decision becomes valid.

Union representatives:
SACO: info.saco@sh.se
ST: st@sh.se
SEKO: Henry Wölling tel: +46 8 524 840 80, henry.wolling@ki.se 

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