Up to three doctoral studentships in Environmental Science, specialising in ecological and environmental change

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.

Research in Environmental Science at Södertörn University focuses on two integrated themes: (1) Sustainability Challenges and Pathways and (2) Environment. These themes, as well as research in Environmental Science at Södertörn University, are described in more detail here. 

Environmental Science is within the research education area Environmental Studies at Södertörn University, for more information please click here.

DESCRIPTION

These doctoral studentships are within the Environment research theme, where research topics include climate and environmental change, ecosystem functioning, ecological processes, and human impacts. The overarching objective is to understand human-nature interactions in a changing environment. We are particularly interested in research into blue carbon and microbial carbon transformation, palaeoecology, landscape and seascape analysis of global environmental change, aquatic ecotoxicology, forest and urban ecology, tick-borne disease distributions and spatial health analysis. The positions are affiliated with the Baltic and Eastern European Graduate School (BEEGS) which is financed by the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, and is part of the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University. The planned research must make a concrete contribution to knowledge about the Baltic Sea region or Eastern Europe (as specified here), as well as for the Environment research theme. It is important to note that research exclusively focusing on Swedish issues and cases is unlikely to align with BEEGS’ relevance criteria. 

These doctoral positions include admission to third-cycle education, i.e. research level, and employment on a doctoral studentship at the School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies. The intended outcome for students admitted to third-cycle education is a PhD. The programme covers 240 credits, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study. A doctoral student’s working hours should primarily be dedicated to third-cycle studies, but may include education, research and/or administration up to 20% of full-time. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND SELECTION

The general entry requirements are:

1. a second-cycle/Master’s level qualification,
2. fulfilment of the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are awarded at second-cycle/Master’s level, or
3. the acquisition of substantially equivalent knowledge 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). 

The specific entry requirements are:

A qualified applicant has the equivalent of 90 credits, including a degree project worth at least 15 credits at second-cycle level, in Environmental Science or a related subject with an environmental natural science specialisation (e.g. Biology/Ecology, Earth Science) that is of central importance to the Environment research theme. The suggested topic for the doctoral thesis, as described in your proposed research plan, must be relevant to the study of the Baltic Sea region or the Eastern European area, as well as to the Environmentresearch theme.

Applications should be written in English and must include:

• An application letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Degree certificates and proof that the entry requirements are fulfilled (if written in another language than English or Swedish/Norwegian/Danish, you must enclose translated versions in English)
• Bachelor’s essay and Master’s dissertation in the field in accordance with the entry requirements (if written in another language than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, you must enclose a summary of the essay, approx. 14,000 characters, in English)
• A research plan consisting of between 1000 and 1500 words. The plan should: identify and justify the relevance of a research problem to be addressed; clearly state the research aims and question(s); outline the proposed theoretical-analytical and methodological approaches of the study. The project’s relevance to the Environmentresearch theme and of the study of the Baltic Sea region or the Eastern European area must be clear.
• Two references, with contact details
• A maximum of three publications may be appended 

Incomplete applications will not be processed. 

The following criteria are considered during selection:

• autonomy and originality in the formulation of research questions, analysis and presentation of previous work.
• theoretical and methodological stringency in previous work and in the research plan.
• research experience or relevant professional activity in Environmental Science or an equivalent subject as described in the specific entry requirements.
• good skills in the English language and any other languages that are important for work on the thesis.
• a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary background relevant to Environmental Science or an equivalent subject as described in the specific entry requirements.
• relevance of the research plan to the study of the Baltic Sea region or the Eastern European area.
• relevance of the research plan to the Environment research theme.
• feasibility of the research plan in terms of time, resources and practical requirements.
• communication and cooperation skills. 

Other considerations: 

The successful completion of a doctoral degree requires guidance and a suitable research environment, so a lack of supervisory capacity pertinent to the suggested research topic may mean that applicants cannot be admitted to the doctoral programme. To minimise this risk, applicants are advised to link their research plan to relevant parts of the Environment research theme and to existing research interests and research projects in Environmental Science at Södertörn University (some of which are mentioned above in the Description section). 

The application deadline is 13 February 2024 at 23:59. 

ADMISSION AND EMPLOYMENT

An application for a place on a third-cycle programme is also an application for employment on a doctoral studentship. Employment is for no longer than the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The provisions relating to employment on a doctoral studentship are stated in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Sections 1-7. Doctoral students will be employed by the School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies at Södertörn University. The first date of employment is 1 September 2024. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

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

General Syllabus for third-cycle programmes in Environmental Science: English version

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

Elinor Andrén, Director of Doctoral Studies in Environmental Science, elinor.andren@sh.se
Florence Fröhlig, Director of Studies, Baltic and East European Graduate School (BEEGS), florence.frohlig@sh.se
Marie Granroth, Human Resources Officer, School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, marie.granroth@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 

Södertörn University has made strategic advertisement choices for this recruitment. Therefore, we decline all contact with advertisers and other salespersons of advertisement.