PhD position in philosophy (4-year, salaried) with focus on gender

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace

In collaboration with the Gender Research School at Umeå Centre for Gender Studies, the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies is looking for a doctoral student in philosophy with a focus on gender.  

About the Gender Research School

Since 2001, The Gender Research School has co-financed doctoral students across all faculties at Umeå University. A doctoral student affiliated with the Graduate School gains access to a unique and dynamic research training environment, currently involving around 20 active doctoral students. For more information, see: https://www.umu.se/en/umea-centre-for-gender-studies/the-gender-research-school/about-the-gender-reserach-school/  

About the Department

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Umeå University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities conducts education and research in archaeology, philosophy, history, history with a focus on education, history of ideas, religious studies, and theology. For more information, see: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-historical-philosophical-and-religious-studies/  

The department offers courses and awards degrees in philosophy at the undergraduate (first-cycle), advanced (second-cycle), and graduate (third-cycle) level. There are 18 permanently employed faculty members in the subject. The research activity is high and research is pursued over a broad range of philosophical areas, including aesthetics, applied ethics, epistemology, history of philosophy, metaethics, metaphysics, normative ethics, philosophy of artificial intelligence, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and political philosophy. A research seminar for the whole subject typically meets weekly during semesters. In addition, guest lectures, reading groups, workshops and conferences are organized. The research is highly internationalized and contributes to the advancement of knowledge through peer-reviewed publications in international journals and in books from international publishers. Researchers are engaged in extensive networks and collaborate with colleagues nationally and internationally. More information about the research environment is available on individual researchers' webpages (https://www.umu.se/en/staff/org/4864cb4234d0bf7c77c65d7f78ffca7ecaf285c7/?avd=fd07f6b0985c3309cf2eb9a689fab86cd30c028a ).

Being a Doctoral Student at the Department

Doctoral students formulate their research plan and independently advance their dissertation project in consultation with supervisors assigned according to the project’s academic orientation. Supervision and progress reviews take place continuously with both supervisors and the director of doctoral studies. Doctoral students are a central part of the research environment and are expected to be actively engaged through participation in seminars, research networks, academic conferences, subject meetings, workplace gatherings, and staff days at the department.  

Being a Doctoral student at The Gender Research School

Being a co-financed doctoral student in the Graduate School of Gender Studies means, among other things, participating in an interdisciplinary seminar group that meets regularly. The doctoral student also takes part in the school’s semester kick-off, residential retreats (once per term), and ensures that half of the courses in the doctoral program include a gender perspective.

Qualifications General requirements

To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, i.e. doctoral education, the applicant must meet both general and specific eligibility requirements. General requirements: a Master’s or equivalent degree in a relevant field, having completed course requirements worth at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle (Master’s) level, or in some other way – either in Sweden or abroad – having acquired equivalent knowledge.

Specific requirements

To meet the specific eligibility requirements for third-cycle (doctoral level) education in philosophy one must have completed a minimum of 30 credits on second-cycle level in philosophy, practical philosophy or theoretical philosophy, including a degree project of at least 15 credits. Students who have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way may be admitted to the third-cycle education after an assessment.

See general Syllabi.

The degree must be completed at the latest at the end of the application period. 

Assessment criteria

Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. The assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to essays, and the quality of the research plan as well as the gender perspective and its relevance for the subject area. The assessment is also based on references and interviews, and additional possible evaluations of the main candidates.

Terms of employment

Doctoral students will mainly devote themselves to their own doctoral studies. Employment as a doctoral student will be for the time deemed necessary for the completion of doctoral studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. An initial contract of twelve months is extended with up to two years at a time provided that the individual study plan is followed. A doctoral student may, to a limited extent, also work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of a full-time position. The period of employment may thus be extended up to a maximum of five years. The entry level salary is SEK 30,900 and rises in three steps to SEK 35,600.

Other information

The doctoral student who is admitted participates compulsorily in the Graduate School of Gender Studies.  The studies within the Graduate School of Gender Studies are coordinated with regular doctoral education conducted at the Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.  Doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 1 September 2026. The place of work is Umeå University. Doctoral students are expected to contribute actively to the research environment. A high level of presence in the environment is required. 
According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12, Section 2, a decision of appointment for a doctoral student position may not be appealed.

For further information, please contact Professor Pär Sundström, [email protected]  

Application

An application must contain:

• A degree certificate, transcript from the Ladok student registry, and/or equivalent attested copies of your academic transcripts proving that general and specific entry requirements are met.
• Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons.
• Copies of relevant Bachelor’s and Master’s theses and other relevant publications.
• A letter that states your motivation for undertaking doctoral studies, and that specifies what expertise at the department is needed for carrying out your research.
• Research plan with a gender focus should normally not exceed 30,000 characters including spaces – that contains a description of the proposed: 
  - purpose and research problem; 
  - previous research; 
  - implementation, that is, method, material and theory; 
  - relevance; and 
  - time plan. 

Applications must be submitted no later than 30 January 2026 via the e-recruitment system Varbi.

Welcome with your application!