Umeå University - with its 29,000 students and over 4,000 employees - is an organisation in constant change and development. Umeå University conducts groundbreaking research within several areas - several in which we are among the best in the world - within others regarded as the leaders in Sweden. We are one of Sweden’s largest providers of education and offer a broad and attractive range of courses and programmes. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment for everyone that studies and works here. We wish to co-operate with companies and organisations throughout the Umeå region and all over the world.

One PhD student position in Social and Economic Geography

The Department of Social and Economic Geography at Umeå University is an interdisciplinary research environment of around 45 employees. Social and Economic Geography is concerned with the world’s peoples and how their lives and activities are influenced by distance to natural resources, other activities and other people. The department provides a spatial perspective on demographic, economic, social and cultural conditions and processes, from the local to the global. For further information about the department see: www.umu.se/soc_econ_geography and for more information about the PhD programme in general see http://www8.umu.se/soc_econ_geography/forskning/Fo-utbplan.pdf

Eligible applicants must fulfil the following prerequisites: 240 ECTS-credits of higher education studies of which 60 should be on an advanced level (Master level), at least 90 credits must be in social and economic geography or related disciplines, and at least 30 credits have to be awarded for successful thesis work in social and economic geography or related disciplines. Eligible are also applicants who have gained equivalent knowledge in other ways.

In case the studies were completed prior to 1 July 2007 the following prerequisites are applicable: 180 ECTS-credits (120 svenska poäng) of higher education studies, at least 90 credits must be in social and economic geography or related disciplines including 22.5 credits for thesis work.

Three copies of the application and enclosed documents should be submitted to the Registrar at Umeå University. The application should be accompanied by a CV in which referred educations, publications and other activities are presented. A short description (1-2 pages) of your research interests should be enclosed to the application.

The successful candidate is expected to enter the PhD program on September 1, 2009.

This PhD project will be carried out in close cooperation with scholars participating in the multidisciplinary research programme ‘Microdata research on childhood for lifelong health and welfare’ (the Umeå SIMSAM Node) which is funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR). The research agenda of the PhD project involves the study of how different mobility strategies, e.g. migration, commuting and job changes, interplay with family situation and long-term health. The ongoing economic restructuring of labour markets, where expanding economic activities tend to agglomerate in metropolitan areas, gradually reshape the geography of jobs. In contrast to this development, population redistribution is working in a much slower pace, which gives rise to a spatial mismatch between jobs and people. Extended local labour markets have been suggested as one possible solution to this problem. By accepting job opportunities further away from the place of residence and engaging in longer trips to work sustained regional development and regional economic growth is supposed to take place. However, changes in mobility patterns may also have broader implications for the daily lives of families and individuals. Within this PhD project the candidate is presumed to continue along this avenue of research by focussing on the interactions between mobility strategies, family situation and health.

For further information, please contact Prof. Urban Lindgren, phone: 090-786 55 39, urban.lindgren@geography.umu.se

Union information is available from SACO, +46-(0)90-786 53 65, SEKO, +46-(0)90-786 52 96 and ST, +46-(0)90-786 54 31.

The procedure for recruitment for the position is in accordance with the
Higher Education Ordinance (chapt. 12, 2 §) and the decision regarding the position cannot be appealed.

Your complete application, marked with reference number 313-449-09, should be sent to the Registrar, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden to arrive June 16, 2009 at the latest.

We look forward to receiving your application!