Postdoctoral appointment in gender studies

Sapere Aude – dare to know – is our motto. Our students and employees develop important knowledge that enrich both the individual and the community. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and openness, with a close connection between people, professional roles, disciplines and research. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. Located in Värmland, a scenic region with a rich cultural life, we are committed to promoting sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider community.
 
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 18,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us

Description

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher in gender studies to join the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Due to the postdoctoral appointment’s nature as a career-development position for junior researchers, we are looking for candidates who have completed their PhD no more than three years before the application deadline.

The position is based in the discipline of Gender Studies, within the Department of Social and Psychological Studies, a multidisciplinary department that also includes Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology. The discipline includes around 8 researchers and teachers engaged in research and education. You will have the opportunity to work closely with colleagues from various disciplines, with excellent conditions for interdisciplinary research collaboration.

The position is part of the interdisciplinary research project “Strategic litigation as an advocacy tool: Experiences of Litigating Women’s Rights in Peru and South Africa”. The project aims to explain why women’s rights organizations in the Global South increasingly prefer strategic litigation as a tool for advocacy of women’s rights and to produce new explanations of the challenges they face when litigating cases relating to sexual and reproductive health rights and gender-based violence. This project explores the interplay between legal and coalition strategies in promoting women’s rights to gain further insight into how they promote sustainable social change through legal avenues.

You will work with dedicated colleagues in a creative and international environment that supports professional growth. Welcome to a workplace where you can grow, make a difference and be part of an inclusive university guided by curiosity!

Duties

As a postdoctoral fellow, you will primarily dedicate your time to research in the relevant subject area. The project is conducted in collaboration with the project team, but you are expected to work with a high degree of independence in developing, leading and contributing to all parts of the research process.

In this position, you will primarily be responsible for planning, collecting and processing data material, analysing, reporting and disseminating the findings, while ensuring that the work is grounded in the objectives and framework of the project. The position entails conducting research on legal processes with qualitative data collection and analysis of interviews and legal documents. You will work together with the project team at Karlstad University, and our research participants and collaborative partners in South Africa and Peru.

The work aims to generate new knowledge and contribute to the continued development of the scientific field. As a postdoctoral fellow, you are expected to publish your findings in scientific journals and present them at national and international conferences. You will head the work on at least two scientific articles for which you will be the lead author.

The position also includes actively contributing to the academic environment, participating in seminars and supporting the development of research projects. To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community. Teaching duties are included, but will not constitute more than 20% of full-time.

In summary, the role combines independent research with active participation in the academic environment, as well as a commitment to making the research relevant and accessible beyond the university, including through popular scientific communication.

The position is full-time and fixed-term for two years and seven months.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the postdoctoral appointment, applicants are required to hold a PhD in law, or other related subject, such as gender legal studies or legal sociology, or have equivalent qualifications from abroad.

The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the application deadline. Qualifications obtained earlier may be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, service as a union representative, military service or similar, or service/ assignment of relevance to the appointment.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct and develop high-quality research. For other qualification requirements, refer to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure.

The position requires proficiency in English, both in speech and writing.

Assessment criteria

In the assessment, special weight will be placed on research expertise and the applicant’s ability to conduct independent and methodologically high-quality research. Documented experience in research on legal processes, especially with qualitative methods such as interviews, document analysis, and/or feminist legal theory, is an asset.

Special weight will also be placed on personal qualities; we are seeking a candidate who is outgoing and flexible with the ability to show initiative, work independently and take responsibility for their own work in a structured manner. Strong teamwork skills and the ability to build respectful and constructive relationships within as well as outside Karlstad University will also be given special weight.

Considerable weight will be placed on the ability to plan and conduct research within given time frames. Considerable weight will also be placed on experience conducting research in Southern African, especially South Africa.

Valuable qualifications are documented teaching experience at the university level and completed training in higher education pedagogy.

Terms

Fixed-term full-time employment of 2 years and 7 months. Start date as agreed by both parties

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and research interests in relation to the duties of the position and reasons for applying for the position (no more than two pages, approximately 1,000 words)
• CV/list of qualifications, including a list of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
• a critical reflection on the applicant’s own research (no more than 1,000 words)
• no more than 3 scientific publications of greatest relevance to the position
• copy of PhD degree or information on when it is expected to be completed
• copy of doctoral thesis and other relevant publications
• an account/certificate of language skills
• a research plan outlining how the applicant intends to contribute their own research within the framework of the project (maximum 2,500 words including references)
• at least two references, of which at least one is a current or former supervisor. Reference letters may also be requested.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content. Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:

Karlstad University
HR-administratör
651 88 Karlstad
SWEDEN

Application deadline: 15 August 2026
State the ref. no.: REK 2026/115
We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

This translation carries no legal weight.

https://kau.varbi.com/se/what:job/jobID:930970/

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r

1. Anna-Britt Coe, [email protected]
2. Erik Wästlund, [email protected]

1. Denita Gustavsson, OFR, [email protected]
2. OFR/S Sveriges lärare Madeleine Wiker, [email protected]
3. Per Hurtig, Saco, [email protected]