PhD in Environmental Science at Environmental Change

We have the power of over 40,000 students and co-workers. Students who provide hope for the future. Co-workers who contribute to Linköping University meeting the challenges of the day. Our fundamental values rest on credibility, trust and security. By having the courage to think freely and innovate, our actions together, large and small, contribute to a better world. We look forward to receiving your application!

Your work assignments

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

At the Department of Thematic studies, major societal issues are studied and analyzed from interdisciplinary perspectives. The unit of Environmental Change conducts research with a broad focus on how environmental and climate issues are understood and addressed as societal problems. In collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Science and Learning (IBL), the unit of Environmental Change is responsible for the GROWL (Greening of Working Life) research program, which includes the advertised position. The research program is interdisciplinary and deals with how the Swedish working life is affected by the EU Green Deal and climate policy objectives. The program analyzes how the green transition is interpreted and enacted in interplay between parliamentary policy, trade unions, business organizations, companies and individual workers.

We are now searching for a PhD student in the GROWL program. The holder of the position will work in a subproject that critically examines how the EU green transition is represented in Swedish climate policy debate and translated into policy practice by Swedish authorities, business organizations and trade unions. We approach the green transition as a discursive domain consisting of different actors with multiple, and often competing, aims, aspirations and agendas. 

The project includes both document analysis and interview studies. The PhD project will be conducted in a Swedish context, which means that data collection will be undertaken in Swedish. Article writing and publication in scientific journals will be conducted in English. In addition, the candidate will participate in international conferences where English is the standard language.

Your qualifications

You have completed a second-cycle degree or courses of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at second-cycle level, or have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way. Specific eligibility applies for those who have knowledge equivalent to 90 higher education credits in a subject of central importance to the position. Relevant educational background for the advertised position is political science, sociology, business administration, sustainable development, and interdisciplinary studies in environmental science or equivalent.

We are looking for a motivated person with good initiative and organizational skills. The person should have good interpersonal skills, be responsible and be able to work independently.

The following documented skills are required:

• Skills in social science studies of the environment, climate and sustainable development
• Proficiency in qualitative research methods
• Good knowledge of Swedish and English, both orally and in writing

The following documented qualifications are particularly meriting:

• Skills in critical interpretive methods such as discourse analysis.
• Skills in/knowledge of Swedish and/or European climate policy.

The following documented qualifications are meriting:

• Skills in/knowledge of Swedish forestry and/or basic industry.

Selection will be made on the basis of independent theses or reports, certificates of professional activity, grades and interviews. In addition, the applicant should attach a preliminary draft of a possible doctoral project within the framework described above (maximum 3 pages), which also constitutes the basis for assessment. Eligibility for employment as a doctoral student is limited to those who are admitted or have already been admitted to doctoral studies.

Your workplace

Your workplace will be at the Department of Thematic Studies: Environmental Change. The unit of Environmental Change focuses on interdisciplinary research and teaching on the interaction between environmental and social development. The department has postgraduate and undergraduate education with an environmental science focus. Undergraduate programs include a bachelor's and a master's program as well as independent and teacher training courses in environmental science, thematic natural science and geography.  

The employment

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than August 20th, 2024.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.




We look forward to receiving your application!





Linköping university has framework agreements and wishes to decline direct contacts from staffing- and recruitment companies as well as vendors of job advertisements.