4 Doctoral Candidates in the History of Political Thought

The Department of History of Science and Ideas is a vibrant and excellent research environment, with outstanding research groups in political history, history of medicine and history of science, as well as strong profiles in global intellectual history, media history and the history of education. Around 50 teachers, researchers and fellows work at the department, including 12 PhD students. See our website for more information: http://www.idehist.uu.se/. 

As part of the new Doctoral school in the History of Political Thought, the Department of the History of Ideas and Science at Uppsala University is recruiting up to four doctoral candidates.  The doctoral school consists of the departments of the history of ideas at Uppsala University, Stockholm University, Södertörn University and Gothenburg University, funded by the Swedish national research council for the doctoral cycle 2023–2027. The doctoral school will train a new generation of doctoral students in historical analysis of the political. We welcome applications addressing a wide area of research interests with relevance to the history of political thought, for instance: the histories of thinking the environment, intellectual histories of the market and political economy; the history of ideologies including, but not limited to, populism, neoliberalism and fascism; histories of memory, future, temporality and scale. We welcome a plurality of geographical scopes and chronologies. The working language is English. https://www.idehist.uu.se/doctoral-school-in-the-history-of-political-thought/

Uppsala University offers excellent conditions for doctoral research.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

Duties                                                                                                                                                   

Successful candidates will pursue their doctoral studies full-time in Uppsala and are expected to participate actively in departmental activities such as seminars, workshops, etc. Doctoral candidates are expected to follow the school’s course cycle. The position is a 4-year full-time employment (starting salary is currently 29 000 SEK/month). The position might also entail teaching and other assignments up to 20 % of the full-time position (extending the position proportionally).

Requirements                                                                                                                                  

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree relevant to research in the broad field of the History of Ideas, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Be proficient in English in speech and writing.

Additional qualifications

We encourage applicants from all countries to apply. Swedish reading and listening comprehension is expected within two years. 

Application                                                                                                                                      

Your application can be written in English or Swedish and should include:

1) a brief CV outlining your academic progress to date,

2) a copy of your MA thesis, or, if this is not complete, a summary and table of contents as well as at least one sample section,

3) a statement (of no more than 10 000 signs) outlining your proposed research. This outline should describe your research question and how it is related to the current state of research. The outline should also have a short discussion of possible sources for answering your question and methodological considerations regarding the potential of these sources,

4) an authorized copy of your Master’s degree and course grades, OR, a signed certificate from supervisor or dean of studies testifying to the completion of the thesis before the end of term

5) name and e-mail addresses of at least two referees.

Evaluation                                                                                                                                     

We rank candidates according to a measured judgement of the quality of the submitted master thesis and the originality and relevance of the research plan. Final candidates will be interviewed.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date September 1, 2023, or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact:

Head of department, Thomas Karlsohn, thomas.karlsohn@idehist.uu.se, or Director of PhD Studies and coordinator of the doctoral school, Jenny Andersson, jenny.andersson@idehist.uu.se

Please submit your application by May 10 2023, UFV-PA 2023/712.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden. 

Advert information