项目介绍

2026年10月2日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Economy and Society at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg is announcing 1 doctoral student position in Human Geography at the Unit for Human Geography.

Human Geography concerns how people, companies and regions develop in relation to the outside world. We study the geographical conditions, relationships and processes of change, and all the factors that influence the development of the society in different places around the world. We take a holistic approach to the development of the society – locally, regionally and globally. Our courses look at how people, companies and regions develop in relation to their surroundings. We are interested in geographical conditions, relations and change processes. We study the diversity of factors which affect the development of society, the constructed environment and human culture in various locations around the world.

The unit offers a bachelor’s programme in social analysis as well as courses at undergraduate and graduate level. For more information: Unit for Human Geography | University of Gothenburg.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages: https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies.

Duties

We are looking for a doctoral student for the research project CLOSE – Consequences of Local Service Expansions. The work in the project will begin immediately after the employment begins.

For more information about the duties, see “About the research project”.

Doctoral studies comprise four years of full-time study and lead to a doctoral degree.    

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20% of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, which results in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels but may also include research and administration.

More information about the doctoral education at the department can be found at: Doctoral Studies | University of Gothenburg.

About the research project

CLOSE – Consequences of Local Service Expansions examines the long-term social and economic consequences of introducing new neighbourhood services in Swedish cities and urban neighbourhoods. The project takes as its point of departure the growing interest in proximity-based urban planning, for example ideas associated with the “15-minute city”, where everyday services such as grocery stores, schools, healthcare centres, culture, leisure activities and other services are located close to people’s homes.

Good geographical proximity to everyday services can contribute to more vibrant neighbourhoods, reduce car dependency and create better conditions for walking and cycling. At the same time, new service establishments may also increase the attractiveness of an area, affect housing prices and rents, change residential mobility patterns and contribute to the displacement of certain groups or businesses. The project therefore examines both the opportunities and risks associated with improved proximity to services, with a particular focus on neighbourhood change, segregation, gentrification and local business dynamics.

The project analyses developments in Swedish cities over the period 1995–2025 using Swedish longitudinal register data. These data contain annual information on individuals and workplaces with precise geographical coordinates, making it possible to follow how people move, how neighbourhoods change, and how services and firms are established, develop and disappear over time. Methodologically, the project builds on quantitative and spatial analyses.

The project centres on two overarching research questions. The first concerns how new service establishments affect residential mobility and the social composition of neighbourhoods: do they attract new groups, contribute to social mixing, or reinforce segregation and displacement? The second concerns how new service establishments affect local service and business environments: do certain services function as anchors that stimulate further establishments, or do they contribute to commercial gentrification in which small and locally rooted actors are replaced by other types of businesses?

The doctoral student’s work will be an integrated part of the project. The doctoral student is expected to work with quantitative analyses of register data, spatial data and longitudinal processes of change. Within the framework of the project, there is scope to place greater emphasis on, for example, residential mobility and population composition, socio-economic neighbourhood change, service provision and local business dynamics. The doctoral project can thus be adapted to the doctoral student’s research interests, while contributing to the overall aims of the project.

Eligibility

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:    

• having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
• the fulfilment of course requirements totaling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
• the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad. 

To meet the specific entry requirements for doctoral studies in Human Geography, applicants must have completed 90 credits in Human Geography/Geography, of which at least 15 credits, consist of a degree project at advanced level, in the subject or in a related subject.

To be qualified, the applicant must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in both spoken and written English corresponding to English 6/English B at Swedish upper secondary school level, or an equivalent level demonstrated through an internationally recognised test. For more information about general entrance requirements, see www.universityadmissions.se (English) and www.antagning.se.

Applicants who do not speak Swedish already will be expected to learn Swedish during the doctoral education.

Applicants can apply before fulfilling all these requirements but the decision for admission can only be made after all requirements are fulfilled.

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate doctoral studies.   

During the assessment, we will specifically evaluate and place a high value upon documented experience of:

• Education of relevance to the research project, in addition to that which provides general and specific entry requirements.
• Experience of qualified research and investigative work of relevance to the research project.
• Experience with quantitative methods relevant to the project, such as analysis of large datasets, statistical analysis, longitudinal analyses, spatial analyses or other quantitative approaches.
• Experience of empirical studies focused on urban development, urban proximity, mobility, service provision, neighbourhood change, segregation, gentrification, local economy, community planning or related areas.
• Ability to independently acquire and use relevant quantitative analysis tools, software and data environments.
• Publications and theses at bachelor’s, one-year master’s and two-year master’s level.
• Research plan: relevance to the project, ability to formulate a research problem, processing of previous research, methodological and theoretical awareness, independent ideas and academic writing.

Great importance will be placed on personal suitability. You should have a very good ability to work independently, but also very good collaboration skills as you will work closely with the supervisor, the research environment and the project’s external reference group.

Proficiency in Swedish is considered a merit, corresponding to the Swedish upper secondary school courses Swedish 3 (Svenska 3) or Swedish as a Second Language 3 (Svenska som andraspråk 3).

Admission and employment

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

The position is located at the Unit for Human Geography, Department of Economy and Society.

The position is funded by Formas together with the University of Gothenburg

Starting date is 2027-01-04 or as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at Department of Economy and Society require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, Department of Economy and Society has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

For applicants with a foreign degree

If your degree is from a university/HEI outside of Sweden or has not been examined by a Swedish authority, it is important that you include diploma and transcript of records to facilitate evaluation. Please also provide contact details (telephone number or email address) for the awarding institution so that the degree can be verified.

For information on how to meet the specific English language requirement, see: https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/.

For information on how to document the Swedish language proficiency considered a merit, see: Tisus – Test in Swedish for university studies.

Selection process

The selection process may include interviews and checks of applicants’ references.

Contact information

If you have questions about the employment, you are welcome to contact:

Erik Elldér, Associate professor, Project manager, erik.ellder@geography.gu.se

Jerry Olsson, Associate professor, Responsible for Research Education, jerry.olsson@geography.gu.se

Jonas Lindberg, Senior Lecturer, Head of Unit, jonas.lindberg@geography.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position

Application

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

Please attach the following in the application:

• Cover letter (max 1 page) with a short motivation why you are interested in doctoral education.

• CV (max 2 pages).

• Research plan (max 2,000 words, including references) based on the description of the research project CLOSE – Konsekvenser av lokala serviceetableringar. The plan will be assessed based on the applicant’s ability to formulate a research problem and the applicant’s familiarity with and handling of methodological and theoretical issues. The research plan must contain a proposal for a research problem and the following:

1. Purpose, goals and research questions.
2. Preliminary ideas about theory, research design, methods and data.
3. Indicative timetable.
4. Reference List; use APA.

• Certified copies of degree certificates and proof of specific entry requirements.
• Copies of cited essays, degree projects and other publications.
• Academic references, such as thesis supervisors.

Applicants who complete their thesis after the application deadline can still apply. The selection committee may request additional information (for example, master’s theses completed after the application deadline).

Applications must be received by: 2026-10-21

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.