Malmo

Reference number P 2026/1150

Malmö University is an innovative, urban, and internationally-oriented academic institution that, thanks to its committed and experienced staff, contributes to societal development. Here, teachers, researchers, and other employees with various competencies work together to conduct high-quality education and research. All professional categories and roles are important. You are welcome to apply for a job with us!

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We are looking for
Doctoral student in Organization Studies at the Faculty of Culture and Society, Department of Urban Studies.

Work duties
Those appointed to an employment as av doctoral student shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to an employment as a doctoral student may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research and administration, however, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral program consists of four years of full-time study and leads to a doctoral degree (240 credits). The program comprises coursework and writing a dissertation. As a doctoral student, you are expected to actively participate in the research and educational environment at the department, which includes, for example, attending and presenting at research seminars.

As a doctoral student, you will play a central role in the research project “Understanding degrowth and business – exploring the case of craft,” funded by Formas. You will be expected to formulate and carry out an independent and individual dissertation project addressing the theme of degrowth and business, grounded in craft-based organization (see also below under "The Research Project and Research Environment"). The research results will form the basis of your doctoral dissertation. You will work closely with junior and senior researchers in the research environment of Organization Studies, and, in close dialogue with the project leader, be responsible for ensuring that the dissertation project is aligned with the overall research project.

Qualifications
To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question. Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education.

General entry requirements for doctoral studies and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements have those who possess knowledge and skills equivalent to an advanced-level degree in organization studies or in another subject relevant to the doctoral program in organization studies, or if they have acquired equivalent knowledge either in Sweden or abroad. Given the interdisciplinary nature of organization studies, subjects in the social sciences as well as the arts and technical fields may be relevant and form the basis for special eligibility.

Project-specific requirements

• Very good knowledge of English.
• Documented experience in collecting and analyzing qualitative data

Selection criteria
The following general selection criteria will be used:

• Independence in analysis and approach in previous work
• Problem formulation and rigor in previous work and the research plan
• Methodological and scientific maturity

The following specific selection criteria will be used:

• Knowledge and experience of academic and practical work within the topic of the research project
• Experience of collecting and analyzing qualitative data
• Ability to express oneself fluently in English at a professional level, both orally and in writing
• Authoring of an independent thesis/degree project relevant to the doctoral program, comprising at least 15 ECTS
• Good knowledge of Swedish is advantageous (but not a requirement)

Faculty, department and research environment
The Faculty of Culture and Society
The Faculty of Culture and Society is a multidisciplinary faculty that includes three departments: the Department of Global Political Studies (GPS) the School of Arts and Communication (K3) and the Department of Urban Studies (US). The faculty conducts doctoral studies in the following subjects: Global Politics, Interaction Design, International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Media and Communication Studies, Organisation Studies, and Urban Studies. The faculty hosts four of the university’s nine research centres. Read more about the Faculty of Culture and Society here.

The Department of Urban Studies
The Department of Urban Studies (US) is characterised by three core features: dynamic interdisciplinary research; a professional organisation; and a highly qualified faculty. The Department comprises around 95 researchers and teachers, as well as 2000 students. We have a strong emphasis on theory-driven empirical research and teaching informed by the social and behavioural sciences. Our research centres around five fields: Urban Studies, Transport Studies, Real Estate Science, Sustainable Studies, and Organisation Studies. Across these fields, we unite around cultural, economic, material, social and discursive processes of change. Furthermore, we collaborate with our well-established networks within the public sector, the corporate sector and civil society.

The department offers doctoral educations, as well as several master’s programmes, in Urban Studies and Organisation Studies. The bachelor programmes encompass city planning, Environmental Studies, Transport Management, Real Estate Science, and Organisation and Leadership Studies. US offers two doctoral programmes: Urban Studies and Organisation Studies.
Read more about the Department of Urban Studies here.

The Research Project and Research Environment
The project, Understanding degrowth and business – exploring the case of craft, aims to develop knowledge about the role of business in a society where economic growth is no longer the overarching goal. It builds on the growing body of degrowth and postgrowth research, which argues that we need to free ourselves from the assumption that economic growth is an end in itself, and that the goal should instead be ecological and social sustainability as well as human well-being.

The project addresses the paradox that, although we know we cannot continue growing as we do, business – a central engine of the economy – is still largely built on the assumption that it should strive for economic growth. To explore this paradox empirically, the project focuses on craft-based organizations, which previous research has highlighted as businesses that in many ways embody degrowth ideals. As such, they offer a source of inspiration for exploring alternatives to industrial mass production and may contribute new perspectives on sustainable production and consumption. The project will examine various aspects of these companies, including how they organize their operations, the norms and values that shape their work, and how they manage tensions with growth-oriented ideals. The study employs a qualitative methodology.

The PhD project will make up a central part of this project. This involves independently designing and carrying out an empirical study within the project framework, which will lead to a doctoral dissertation. A proposal outlining how this research might be conducted shall be described in a research plan attached to the application (see below under “Application”).

The work will be carried out in close collaboration with project leader Jens Rennstam, the other project participant Alexander Paulsson, and with researchers in the Organization Studies research group at Malmö University. The doctoral student will also become part of a broader, national and international network of researchers with an interest in degrowth as well as craft-based organization. Further information about the Organization Studies research environment can be found here.

Further information
For questions about the project, please contact Professor Jens Rennstam, project leader: [email protected]

For questions about the doctoral program, please contact Professor Karin Grundström, Director of the Doctoral Program: [email protected]

For other questions, please contact Professor Marcus Knutagård, Head of Department, Urban Studies: [email protected]

For general questions regarding employment and formalities, please contact HR Partner Rebecca Nordh, Human Resources: [email protected]

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: Work in Sweden – Careers, work permits and moving to Sweden

Application
You apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the job advertisement, and that it is submitted to the University no later than 2026-08-14. The application must be written in Swedish, English or any of the Nordic languages. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the position
• A brief research plan that outlines a research focus and thesis proposal, and explains how these relate to this specific call for proposals and the project. For information about the project, see the section entitled “The Research Project and Research Environment”, bearing in mind that you should formulate an independent project proposal.
  The research proposal should be no more than 2,000 words, including references. It is important that you do not exceed this word limit.

The proposal must include the following sections:
a. Purpose and research question
b. Description of the methodological approach, including a description of data collection and the type of research data you intend to collect
c. Brief description of the theoretical framework

The research plan should address two fundamental questions:
1) What do you want to study and why is it relevant?
2) How do you intend to study this (method)?

• Independent work at advanced level (including master thesis or equivalent)
• Abstract/summary of the thesis, no more than 500 words.

Miscellaneous
Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to doctoral level courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (HEO Chapter 5, section 3).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the HEO Chapter 5, section 7. A doctoral student shall be employed for an indefinite period but for no longer than until a specified date, and never for longer than a year after the doctoral degree or artistic doctoral degree has been completed. The first appointment must be limited to one year at the most. The appointment can be extended by a maximum of two years at a time.

Malmö University actively promotes gender equality and equal opportunities in order to offer a workplace and a university characterised by an open and inclusive approach.

As part of this:

• Applicants of an underrepresented gender are given priority for admission, if they are equally able to benefit from the programme.
• Doctoral students with permanent disabilities are given the opportunity to receive support and adaptations during their studies, so that everyone can study on equal terms in a good study environment.

Employees who do not speak Swedish should learn Swedish in the long term so that they can participate in the daily and ongoing work of the institution or department.

Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.

If the admitted person requires a residence permit to live in Sweden and pursue their studies, the University reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted person cannot present a valid residence permit as required on the date they are due to commence their education.

Start date
November 1 2026, or as agreed

Union representatives
Saco-S: Rebecka Johansson, [email protected]

SEKO: Anne Sundel, [email protected]

OFR/ST: Lutfi Zuta, [email protected]

PhD Student Union representative
Fredrik Linander, [email protected]

We are looking forward to receiving your application!
You apply no later than 14/08/2026 by clicking the apply button.