Researcher in AI-assisted and computational social science

Försvarshögskolan is an internationally prominent higher education institution in defense, crisis management, and security. We offer a unique academic environment where civilian meets military. We educate civilian and military leaders, experts, and researchers who will analyze and manage today's and future crisis situations and security problems. Försvarshögskolan educates Sweden's officers and leads the academic development of the officer profession. We conduct research in law with a focus on operational law and international law, defense systems, war studies, leadership and management, military history, and political science.

Political science at Försvarshögskolan is unique in its particular focus on security and crisis management. The subject is simultaneously theoretically broad and built upon a wide spectrum of related areas, such as international relations, political communication, public administration, and political theory, as well as drawing inspiration from other research within and outside of political science.

The Department of Political Science is now seeking a researcher in AI-assisted and computational social science for a research group conducting commissioned research on information influence and disinformation. The place of work is Stockholm.

Tasks The employment is focused on AI-assisted social science research, computational social science, and quantitative methods. The research may, for example, concern information influence, political and strategic communication, media, and narratives.

A central part is to develop and test scientifically sustainable ways to use large language models (LLM) and other AI-based methods in social science research.

The researcher is expected to plan and conduct their own and joint research as well as contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

The researcher works in a research group conducting commissioned research on information influence and disinformation. A central part of the employment is also to strengthen the research group's competence in AI-assisted research, computational social science, and quantitative methods. The researcher is therefore expected to actively educate and supervise other researchers in the group and contribute to building long-term methodological competence.

The tasks include, among other things: plan and conduct own and joint research using AI-based, computational, and quantitative methods; develop and evaluate methods for, among other things, LLM, quantitative text analysis, machine learning, and NLP; investigate the use of local and open-source-based language models on own research data, with a focus on validation and reproducibility; strengthen the research group's methodological competence through workshops, individual supervision, and support in programming and analysis; contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and research applications.

Qualifications We are seeking a researcher who has obtained a doctoral degree or has a foreign degree deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree. For the employment, the following are also required: experience of quantitative and/or computational social science methods, including analysis of text and/or images and processing of data from social media/platforms, as well as the ability to use Python and/or R for analysis and research. experience of machine learning, NLP, or quantitative text analysis, with a particular focus on LLM-based methods, good understanding of research design, validation, and reproducible research, Very good ability to communicate in English. Great importance is placed on the ability to communicate advanced methodological issues in a clear and pedagogical manner and to collaborate well with researchers with varying methodological prior knowledge. Very great importance is placed on personal suitability. We are looking for someone who is independent, proactive, and communicative, and who has a good ability to collaborate with researchers with different methodological backgrounds.

Meritorious Experience with local or open-source-based language models, RAG, fine-tuning, multilingual NLP, or advanced quantitative methods is meritorious. Experience of research in political science, media studies, computational social science, or other relevant social science areas is meritorious. Experience of supervision, teaching, or methodological support is meritorious. Good knowledge of Swedish or another Scandinavian language is meritorious.

Application The application is designed in applicable parts in accordance with Försvarshögskolan's template for academic positions. The application shall contain: A cover letter where you motivate why you are qualified for the position, CV including scientific publications or a project portfolio, Degree certificates and transcripts from previous studies.

The application is submitted via Försvarshögskolan's recruitment system by clicking on the link "Logga in och sök jobbet" on the advertisement page. Mark your application with dnr HR 180/2026. Your application must be submitted no later than 2026-10-18. A complete application must be available to Försvarshögskolan no later than the last application date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time). In cases where there is no gender balance, Försvarshögskolan may, in the case of equal or substantially equal qualifications among applicants, hire the underrepresented gender.

About the employment This is a fixed-term employment at full-time for 12 months. An employment at Försvarshögskolan may involve a security clearance for placement in a security class, which means a registry check and, in some cases, a security interview with Säkerhetspolisen. The employment may involve military placement (krigsplacering). If you are already militarily placed in your current employment at an authority and your competence is needed in Försvarshögskolan's war organization, a negotiation will take place between the relevant authority and Försvarshögskolan regarding where you should be placed.

Commencement January 1, 2027, or by agreement.

Salary and benefits Försvarshögskolan applies individual salary setting. Benefits for employees at Försvarshögskolan - https://www.fhs.se/om-forsvarshogskolan/jobba-hos-oss/formaner.html Welcome with your application by October 18th! For contact with the employee organizations at Försvarshögskolan, email saco@fhs.se, OFR/O@fhs.se, and OFR/S@fhs.se. We decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance due to government procurement rules.