Postdoctoral Researcher in Gender Studies with an Educational Science Orientation

Tasks

The person employed as a postdoctoral researcher will conduct their own research within the field of gender studies with an educational science orientation on the theme: Youth, violence, and gender in schools.

Schools play a central role in work regarding safety, democratic values, and equality. Issues concerning violence in young people's close relationships, honor-related violence, youth violence, and recruitment to criminal environments simultaneously highlight the school's responsibility as a learning environment and social arena. Against a background of increasing polarization and the report Skolor mot brott (SOU 2024:14), we want to strengthen research on violence, safety, and gender in school environments. Research may, for example, address how issues of violence, safety, and vulnerability are shaped in relation to norms, gender relations, and the school's values-based work. Critical perspectives on norm criticism, safety, and inclusion in school environments are also relevant within the framework of the call's theme.

The research shall be described by the applicant in a research plan attached to the application for employment. As a postdoctoral researcher, you are also expected to contribute to the unit's shared research environment and be part of, and contribute to, a pedagogical environment. Teaching and supervision at undergraduate and advanced levels, as well as potentially doctoral level, as well as certain other research-related administrative tasks, may be included up to a maximum of 20% of the working time.

The employment is at Umeå centrum för genusstudier but also aims to strengthen educational science research throughout Umeå universitet. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will therefore actively contribute to the interdisciplinary career program for recent PhD graduates that Lärarhögskolan operates.

There are also opportunities for collaboration with other research environments at the university, for example, research environments within pedagogy, didactics, and social work, as well as with researchers working with issues of violence, safety, and gender.

Eligibility

Applicants for this position must hold a doctoral degree in gender studies, in educational science with a gender orientation, or in another closely related subject area deemed relevant in relation to the research conducted at Umeå centrum för genusstudier and the theme of the call. Those with a foreign degree deemed to correspond to the above may also be assessed as eligible. To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, one must have obtained a doctoral degree no later than the time the employment decision is made. To be eligible, you must not have previously been employed as a postdoctoral researcher for more than one year within the same or a related subject area at Umeå universitet.

In the first instance, consideration should be given to those who obtained their doctoral degree at most three years before the end of the application period. If there are special reasons, consideration may be given to those who obtained their doctoral degree earlier. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within trade unions, or other similar circumstances.

A requirement is that the applicant can express themselves well in English, both orally and in writing; good knowledge of Swedish, both orally and in writing, is a merit.

Assessment Criteria

We welcome applicants who conduct or have conducted research on violence, safety, gender, and norms with relevance to school environments and educational science issues. Research with norm-critical or critically examining perspectives on the school's values-based work, safety, and inclusion is also relevant to the call.

The most important assessment criterion is the contribution to the research area as described in the applicant's research plan, as well as previous scientific production. The ability to conduct independent research as well as the ability to participate in research collaborations are also important merits.

Teaching is included as part of the employment, and documented experience of teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels, as well as university pedagogical training, are therefore meritorious. Since the main part of the postdoctoral employment consists of independent research, scientific competence carries more weight than pedagogical and educational competence in the assessment of the applicants' qualifications.

Other assessment criteria include good collaborative skills and other suitability deemed to be a prerequisite for the full implementation of tasks.

About the Employment

The employment is at Umeå centrum för genusstudier at Umeå universitet and the place of work is Umeå. Regular presence at the workplace is expected, as well as active participation and engagement in the unit's activities.

The employment is a fixed-term position at full-time for two years. The employment includes independent research for at least 80% of the working time. Commencement on 1 December 2026 or by agreement.

Application

The application must be written in Swedish or English and include the following documents:

• A personal letter with a concise description of your qualifications, your scientific interests, and your motives for applying for the position (max two pages)
• CV/list of merits
• Max 3 scientific publications
• Certified copies of grades and degree certificates
• A research plan (max 2500 words) describing the research you plan to conduct on the theme: Youth, violence, and gender in schools within the framework of the employment
• Contact details for at least two references
• Any other merits you wish to invoke

You apply via our recruitment system Varbi. The application must be received no later than 30 August 2026.

Further information is provided by Director Åsa Karlsson Sjögren, asa.karlsson.sjogren@umu.se, +46 90 786 62 48

Welcome with your application!

About Umeå Centrum för Genusstudier

Umeå centrum för genusstudier (UCGS) is one of the largest gender environments in Sweden. It is a gathering place for gender studies/gender research and education with a gender orientation at Umeå universitet. UCGS offers education in gender studies at all levels, from undergraduate and advanced levels to doctoral education. The research environment is lively and creative: it promotes cross-sectoral meetings and scientific collaborations and actively strives to meet current societal challenges through knowledge development and education.